Graciela, Taller de Cerveza - Part 2

Last week I blogged about a new brewpub that just opened up in Colonía Roma, Graciela Taller de Cerveza. On my first visit, they only had a couple Tempus beers on tap but their menu did state they were going to have a draft pale ale in the future. Well, I just returned from there and their house draft beers are now available. They offer a blond ale, a brown ale, and a pale ale, none of which are available in bottles from Cervecería Primus, the owners of the bar. All three beers are excellent and I highly recommend trying them out. The pale ale is a solid English-style pale, the brown ale is slightly hoppy and very drinkable, and the blond is one of the best I've had from a Mexican craft brewer. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me, but that just gives me an excuse to return soon to take pictures and write up some more detailed reviews of these great new additions to the craft brew scene in Mexico City.

Cosaco Blond Ale

Cosaco Güera/Rubia/Clara Blond Ale

????ABV

2 out of 5

This Blond Ale by Cosaco goes by many names, depending on where you find it. The first craft brew I ever had in Mexico City was a Cosaco, and so I have had their beers many many times. Cosaco was my gateway into the world of Mexican cervezas artesanales, so I definitely thank them for that, but now that I have had many other craft beers in D.F., I tend to avoid Cosaco beers primarily for their terrible inconsistency and off-putting flavors.

The Blond Ale is my favorite of the three Cosaco beers (Blond, Red, and Porter), but it is by no means refreshing. The breadiness is very extreme, almost like a liquified baguette. I do consider it fairly drinkable, but I wish they would work more on their recipe. The Blond is also much more consistent than the Porter or the Red Ale they produce.

If a bar or restaurant is going to have craft beers on tap in Mexico City, the most common beer you will find is Cosaco. To sample Cosaco, go to Lucille's, Zazá, or Makena. The Cosaco webpage also has an incomplete (and potentially out of date) list of other locations where Cosaco is available in Colonia Roma, Condesa, Portales, Coyoacán, and Mineral del Chico. The cheapest place I have found to drink Cosaco is Cafe Toscano (@45 pesos/pint), right on Plaza Rio de Janeiro in Roma Norte. The linked map says it is on the corner of Orizaba and Puebla, but that is not right. Cafe Toscano is right on the corner of Orizaba and the Plaza, the only cafe on the plaza. Cafe Toscano is within walking distance of Metro/Metrobus Insurgentes.

Corazón de Maguey

Corazón de Maguey is a great mescalería located on the plaza in Coyoacán. In addition to a large selection of mezcal, they brew their own beer, and offer a few beers from Minerva and TJ Beer. They also have excellent food, offering interesting versions of traditional Oaxacan cuisine. On my recent visit, they had a special insect menu offering various dishes with gusanos de maguey, chapulines, escamoles, and hormigas chicatanas. Their own craft beers are excellent as well, making this one of favorite places to visit whenever I am in Coyoacán.


Blond Ale

4 out of 5

This blond ale has a nice bready flavor and is very easy to drink. It is slightly watery, but still a very solid beer.

 Imperial Stout w/cacao

5 out of 5

The imperial stout is one of the best stouts I have tasted made by a Mexican brewer. It is full bodied as an imperial stout should be, with great flavors of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla. There is a slight alcohol flavor to it, but it isn't that off-putting.

 Red Ale w/Agave

2 out of 5


This red ale is extremely disappointing. Not only is it the most expensive of their craft beers, but it is also the worst. Both times that I have tried this beer, it has been sour without much flavor. The agave gives it a slight vegetable flavor, but overall this beer is pretty bland.

Porter

4 out of 5

This medium-bodied porter has a nice toasted malt flavor, as one should expect from a porter, and is also slightly hoppy. It is also very easy to drink. The one complaint is that it is slightly watery. Nevertheless, I will keep coming back to this beer.










The beers at Corazón de Maguey are fairly consistent over time, although occasionally I will get a beer that is not as good as it was on my previous visit. The first time I had the Blond Ale, it was not as bready as it was on my most recent visit. The Imperial Stout is also sometimes a little flat and sometimes tastes more like alcohol than on other visits. However, these are minor quibbles and I almost always enjoy the beer here (except the Red Ale).

The prices at Corazón de Maguey are fairly high, with the craft beers running anywhere from 60-85 pesos. Beers from Minerva and TJ Beer are about 60 pesos. But, the atmosphere is great and the quality of the food and drink is high.

Corazón de Maguey is located at Plaza Jardín Centenario 9-A, right in the center of Coyoacán. You can also visit them on facebook or check out their website to peak at their menu. If you do not know how to get to the center of Coyoacán, the easiest way is to exit the Metro at Viveros or Coyoacán stops, and catch a cab. It is also walkable. Check out the map to find the best route. Finally, there are buses that leave from the Coyoacán metro stop that head towards the plaza (opposite the mall).

Baja Blond

Baja Brewing Company Cream Ale

5.5%ABV

4 out 5

This cream ale made by Baja Brewing Company out of Baja California Sur is an excellent light, crisp ale which would be perfect for sitting outside on a hot day, or on the beach somewhere. Cream ales are supposed to be very similar to lagers, and that is exactly what it tastes like to me, a high quality lager. Just a hint of maltiness and very refreshing.



Unfortunately I have had a hard time finding this beer, and finally broke down and spent 50 pesos for a single bottle at The Beer Box. Their Baja Red is only 33 pesos at La Belga, so I'm not sure why this particular beer was so expensive, but Beer Box prices are some of the highest I've seen in the city. Because of the price, I probably won't be drinking this beer often (or ever), but it is a really good example of light, refreshing beer.

UPDATE June 16, 2011: I just saw this at La Belga, so pick it up there for cheaper.