Cinco de Mayo

First off, are we all clear that Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican Independence Day? Okay, great. That day is celebrated on September 16th and commemorates the call for separation from Spanish Rule. Cinco de Mayo is more of a regional event commemorating the Mexican army’s upset victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 15, 1862. The holiday is fairly minor in most of Mexico, with the obvious exception of Puebla. It isn’t even considered an obligatory federal holiday, just a voluntary one.

So, how did Cinco (we are on a first name basis) become such a big deal in the USA? For whatever reason, the Mexican community in California celebrated the victory starting in 1863 and the observance has pretty much been continuous ever since. Like many trends, Cinco celebrations spread from California to other states and developed in to a cultural celebration, much like St. Patrick’s Day, Chinese New Year and Oktoberfest have become in this country. Communities with larger Mexican populations embraced the day more than others. Which explains why Arizona has embraced the day so strongly. It does not, however, explain why Birmingham Alabama, which has a Mexican population so small it is included in the category “other ethnic groups”, makes such a big deal out of the day.

We’ve gone two paragraphs without once mentioning beer, well that’s about to change. Because Mexican beer has become such a big part of our culture, it’s only natural that these beers take center stage for Cinco. There are some domestic beers produced in an effort to replicate Mexican styles, but why drink a pretender when you can have the real thing? There are two major Mexican brewing companies, Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma and Grupo Modelo. The latter, as you might suspect, are responsible for the two Modelo beers, Especial and Negra. The Especial is a tasty pale lager produced in the style of most Mexican beers. Negra Modelo is thought by most Americans to be the best of the beers from south of the border. It is a dark Vienna Lager style beer brewed in the German tradition. It has a little more body and flavor than most Mexican beers, so it brings a different drinking experience. Modelo also makes Pacifico and a small brand called Corona. Corona is a phenomenon unto itself. First produced in 1925, it has become the number one Mexican beer in the world. It is also one of the top ten selling beers of any kind. Available in bottles only because they feel that “the best taste experience and maximum enjoyment comes from the glass bottle”, they have foregone a draft product. There are also some beers made by Modelo that are available only in Mexico, Victoria and León come to mind. Keep an eye out for these if you are vacationing in Mexico.

Moctezuma has the other well known Mexican beers, the most popular of which are the Dos Equis brands. The Special Lager is a Mexican style Pale Lager and Amber is a Vienna Lager, a little different than the Negra Modelo, but the same basic style. However the original beer from this brewery was Carta Blanca which was taken from the French, “Carte Blanche”, meaning blank check. Other beers from this brewery include Sol, Tecate and Bohemia. Bohemia is a European style pilsner brewed in the Czech tradition. Tecate is sometimes credited with starting the habit of putting a lime in Mexican beers. It seems they had a brewmaster of Scottish descent and adopted the tradition from Great Britain of providing sailors a lime with their daily beer ration to help prevent scurvy. And, we would be remiss if we didn’t remind you that Dos Equis does employ, The Most Interesting Man in the World. Stay thirsty, my friends!

Where do you find all these beers on Cinco? Well just about any Mexican restaurant is going to have something going on, but some of the bigger events will be taking place at the Sandbars in Scottsdale, Peoria and Chandler; Barrio Cantina, Eva’s in Casa Grande, Arribas, Dos Gringos and Macayo’s. You can also look for fun times at Salty Senorita, Valle Luna, Top Shelf and Fuego Bar and Grill in Tolleson.Devil’s Advocate in Tempe and Kiley’s Grill in Chandler will also have events. Much like St. Patrick’s Day, many of these events start as early as noon and will be in full stride as the work day ends. Get there early as there may be lines at many locations later in the evening.

Cinco is celebrated at more than just Mexican places. Cody’s in Cave Creek is planning a major event and is putting together what they say is the world’s largest piñata. If you have been looking for an excuse to get to Cave Creek, this could be it. Devil’s Advocate in Tempe and Kiley’s Grill in Chandler will also have events. Mill Street in Tempe will host several events at non-Mexican bars as well.

Most of the time, this column is about craft beers, but Cinco is one of those holidays that demand a break from tradition. If you’re a craft beer drinker, just embrace the spirit for one day, and enjoy a Corona or Tecate. If you have to have a craft beer, then there is only one choice. The only Mexican craft brewery available in Arizona is Cucapa which comes from Mexicali. With several flavors including the Chupacabras Pale Ale, named after the mythical, or not so mythical, Goat Sucker, a Yeti like beast that is blamed for livestock deaths across the Americas. You can find Cucapa at the Yard House, Blanco Tacos and Tequila, Old Chicago Mesa, and Los Sombreros to name a few.

Enjoy Cinco de Mayo, responsibly of course, and relax with some enjoyable Mexican beer. Don’t worry about what food you are pairing it with. Cinco is about friends and fun, and celebrating the Mexican culture. At least that’s my plan.