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canyonwalkerIt's time for my Beer Tasting 2022 project— yes, it's into its second year now— to go south of the border, to Mexico. I've had several rounds in this comparison evaluating various German beers. This is the first one that's all Mexico. Why? Well, at the start of the project I was more familiar with Mexican beers than German ones. The top 8-10 Mexican beers are easy to find in the US, both in bottles and on tap. I began the project already knowing my preferences among Mexican beers. (Most of them suck, unfortunately.)
This round started several weeks ago, actually, when I bought a six-pack of Dos Equis Ambar Especial. It's one of only two Mexican beers I've liked in bars/restaurants, and even in there it's a distant second on my list. My top pick among Mexican beers, in glass and on tap, is Modelo Negra. But rather than just compare the top two— I absolutely know which one wins that match— I found a dark horse challenger. It's Trader Joe's private label "Trader José" Dark, made in Mexico.
Trader José pours darker than Dos Equis. "Isn't that's supposed to be TJ's version of Negra Modelo?" a friend asked. It's not that close... unlike how North Coast Laguna Baja was a carbon copy of Negra Modelo. TJ Dark is slightly lighter than Negra Modelo, both in color and taste. It's heavier (in a good way) than Dos Equis Ambar.
Part of the reason this round of taste testing has taken me so long to blog about is that Dos Equis Ambar Especial is... frankly not very good. I don't know if I got a bad batch or what, but every bottle I've opened has had a nasty taste right up front. It's not skunky.... It's more like a taste of stale Wonder bread on the first sip. That nasty taste mostly disappears when drinking it with food, but still, it's a big negative. FWIW, I've never found that taste the handful of times I've had Dos Equis on tap. So again, I don't know if I got a bad batch or it just tastes like crap in a bottle.
Trader José Dark, meanwhile.... Well, it may sound like damning it with faint praise, but it doesn't taste gross like Dos Equis. Aside from that it's got a richer flavor that remains mild, not getting in the way of enjoying food. Again, it's not as dark or as rich as Negra Modelo. It's a perfectly fine alternative, though, for anyone who thinks Negra Modelo is too dark. I happen to like Negra Modelo. It's one of my top few beers overall and one I try to keep in stock in my house. Now I'd be happy to grab a six-pack of Trader José Dark instead on occasion, especially because Trader Joes sells it cheap.
This round started several weeks ago, actually, when I bought a six-pack of Dos Equis Ambar Especial. It's one of only two Mexican beers I've liked in bars/restaurants, and even in there it's a distant second on my list. My top pick among Mexican beers, in glass and on tap, is Modelo Negra. But rather than just compare the top two— I absolutely know which one wins that match— I found a dark horse challenger. It's Trader Joe's private label "Trader José" Dark, made in Mexico.
Trader José pours darker than Dos Equis. "Isn't that's supposed to be TJ's version of Negra Modelo?" a friend asked. It's not that close... unlike how North Coast Laguna Baja was a carbon copy of Negra Modelo. TJ Dark is slightly lighter than Negra Modelo, both in color and taste. It's heavier (in a good way) than Dos Equis Ambar.
Part of the reason this round of taste testing has taken me so long to blog about is that Dos Equis Ambar Especial is... frankly not very good. I don't know if I got a bad batch or what, but every bottle I've opened has had a nasty taste right up front. It's not skunky.... It's more like a taste of stale Wonder bread on the first sip. That nasty taste mostly disappears when drinking it with food, but still, it's a big negative. FWIW, I've never found that taste the handful of times I've had Dos Equis on tap. So again, I don't know if I got a bad batch or it just tastes like crap in a bottle.
Trader José Dark, meanwhile.... Well, it may sound like damning it with faint praise, but it doesn't taste gross like Dos Equis. Aside from that it's got a richer flavor that remains mild, not getting in the way of enjoying food. Again, it's not as dark or as rich as Negra Modelo. It's a perfectly fine alternative, though, for anyone who thinks Negra Modelo is too dark. I happen to like Negra Modelo. It's one of my top few beers overall and one I try to keep in stock in my house. Now I'd be happy to grab a six-pack of Trader José Dark instead on occasion, especially because Trader Joes sells it cheap.
