Beer wasn’t introduced to Mexico by the Spanish, but they were the first who introduced mass-production in the !9th century. Mayas and Aztecs were brewing grain-based fermented drinks long before European arrival, and beer was already an important of Mesoamerican culture.

Perhaps the next most important event for the development of brewing in Mexico was the rule of the Habsburg emperor Maximillian. His era was brief and chaotic but it also saw a large influx of German-speaking peoples from all over Europe, who brought their own brewmasters and secrets of brewery to Mexico.Â

Finally, during the 1920′s the prohibition era saw an explosion of growth in Mexican beer industry, as many Americans chose to travel to the south to enjoy intoxicants.

FEMSA and Grupo Modelo today produce most brands of Mexican beers, but recently there has been an wave of small scale brewers trying to grasp a share of the market. As with most things, Mexico adds its own color to the crisp taste of this ancient drink.