Mexico in 2024 had its best year ever at the world’s “most prestigious” beer competition, with breweries in Hermosillo, Querétaro and Ensenada winning a total of four awards including two golds.
The World Beer Cup, a United States Brewers Association event which promotes itself as “the most prestigious beer competition in the world,” was held last week in Las Vegas.
Judges tasted beers across a total of 110 categories, including ones for American wheat beer, German-style pilsener, Belgian-style sour ale, English mild or bitter, robust porter, and even gluten-free beer and non-alcoholic beer.
Cervezas mexicanas came out on top in the German-style kölsch and export stout categories, and took the silver awards in the American-style pale ale and American-style black ale or American-style stout categories.
It was the first time ever that two Mexican breweries won gold at the same edition of the World Beer Cup, which was first held in 1996.
Over 2,000 breweries from 50 countries entered 9,300 beers in this year’s competition. A total of 280 judges from 37 countries including Mexico tasted the beers.
Without further ado, here are the Mexican breweries and beers that won awards at the 2024 World Beer cup, which is also known as “the Olympics of beer competitions.”
Buqui Bichi Brewing takes the gold for its German-style kölsch
Located in Hermosillo, Sonora, this brewery‘s German-style kölsch was deemed the best among 151 entries.
Called Banquetera, the 4.8% ABV brew is described as “light” and “refreshing” by Buqui Bichi Brewing.
Ramón Osuna, a founding partner of the brewery, attributed the win at the World Beer Cup to the dedication of Buqui Bichi’s team to improve every day.
“After winning the prize for the best brewery in the country at the Copa Cerveza México, our next objective was to win an award at the World Beer Cup. With this gold award for our kölsch, Banquetera, we’ve managed to achieve this goal. As a Sonoran and Mexican company we are very proud,” he said.
In a tongue-in-cheek comment on its website, Buqui Bichi says that “a few Banqueteras is the best therapy for this life.”
The beer’s name is a derivative of banqueta, the Spanish word for sidewalk.
The brewery recommends drinking a Banquetera on the sidewalk with friends while sharing “life’s best stories.”
Compañia Cervecera Hércules wins gold for its export stout
Querétaro city’s Hércules also won a gold award, taking the top prize in the export stout category for its 7.5% Irish export stout Pueblito. There were a total of 45 entries in the category.
The recognition shows “we’re on the right path,” said head brewer Josh Brengle, who last year spoke to Mexico News Daily about the beers he and his team make at Hércules.
According to the brewery, Pueblito is an “extremely dark” beer with “predominantly toasted notes” reminiscent of coffee and dark chocolate.
It is a “robust, complex and elegant beer of Irish origin that now feels 100% queretana,” Hércules says.
At the 2022 edition of the World Beer Cup, the brewery’s “summer ale” Caballo Blanco was awarded bronze in the English ale category.
Cervecería Wendlandt takes silver for its American-style pale ale and stout
Ensenada’s Wendlandt, another previous winner of the best brewery award at the Copa Cerveza México, took home silver awards for its pale ale Vaquita Marina and its stout Foca Parlante.
“We’re full of happiness and pride at being the first Mexican craft brewery to take home two awards at the same edition of the World Beer Cup,” the brewery said in a post to Instagram.
Named after the critically-endangered porpoise, the 5.2% Vaquita Marina pale ale is a “refreshing” and “hoppy beer” with a citrusy bouquet and taste, according to Wendlandt.
View this post on Instagram
Wendlandt’s Vaquita Marina beer won silver in the category of American-style pale ale.
The Foca Parlante is a dark and creamy 5.4% stout with a “flavor of toasted grains and a light touch of oatmeal,” the brewery says.
The beer, whose name means “Talking Seal,” was awarded bronze at the 2023 edition of the World Beer cup.
Mexico’s gold and silver award-winning beers can be purchased online. Check the breweries’ websites for details.
With reports from Periodismo de la Barra and El Universal
