Grizzly Growler – Mexican edition

Just back from a great trip to Los Cabos, Mexico, and I have to say there’s not much in the way of craft beer down there. However, I did manage to check out the only brewery in southern Baja California, Baja Brewing Co. It was started in 2007 by several guys from Colorado who went down there and realized it was dry when it came to microbrews.

They now have two locations, one in San Jose del Cabo, which is where the brewery is, and another new location in Cabo San Lucas. Both locations have food, everything from burgers to pizza.

At the San Jose del Cabo spot last week they had seven beers on tap:

Baja Blonde - a Mexican style light lager, which also comes in a bottle. ABV – 4.5 percent, IBU – 20

Raspberry Beer - ABV – 4.5 percent, IBU – 14

Escorpion Negro - a black lager that’s smooth and light. ABV – 4.5 percent, IBU – 18

Peliroja Red - a malty, hoppy, fruity ale. ABV – 5.5 percent, IBU – 40

Burro Brown - a brown ale made with four kinds of English barley. It was smooth and just a little sour. Had a few over the trip. ABV – 6ish percent, IBU – 25

Mango Beer - comes with a chunk of mango. It wasn’t too sweet and wasn’t my favorite.

Belgian Double - this was the seasonal beer (pictured) and was rich, creamy, sweet and tasted a little like cake batter. It also packs a punch at 9.5 percent ABV.

They also have a drink where they mix their Raspberry Beer with the Escorpion Negro, the waitress called it the “girly warrior.” It basically tasted like raspberry soda.

David Hatfield, who manages the San Jose location, said it wasn’t easy setting up the brewery with all the red tape in Mexico. He said there are only two craft breweries in Baja California, their brewery and one in Tijuana. And even now it’s not all smooth, they have trucks drive all their ingredients (hops, barley, etc.) down the treacherous Mexican Federal Highway No. 1.

Baja Brewing Co. also must have the one of the best logos of any brewery, in the U.S. or Mexico. Hatfield said they looked at around 100 possibilities before settling on their choice.

It’s a fun place to check out if you happen to be down that way. I know I’ll be thinking of it all winter, just to stay warm.

- Matt Pritchard