Parsons North’s Mexican Lager adds local flavor to Cinco de Mayo
Mexican Lager and Chili Lime Mexican Lager; Parsons North Brewing, Columbus
Details: Widely available; both $11.99 for a six-pack and 5% alcohol by volume
Notes: Both pour a cloudy gold (a little deeper in color than expected), with a white head; the chili lime version is a touch more reddish in hue.
Thoughts: What better way for central Ohioans to celebrate Cinco de Mayo — in honor of the Mexican army’s victory over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 — than with a locally made Mexican lager? (Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not a celebration of Mexican independence.)
Parsons North, maker of many fine brews, offers two versions of this beer — regular Mexican Lager and Chili Lime Mexican Lager, if you want to make your holiday a little spicier. And it never is an issue to get to review two beers in a given week.
I’m not necessarily a fan of “tricked up” beers (like pizza, if someone has a beautiful pepperoni pie, for example, I don’t need a spicy honey glaze on it, the pie stands on its own — I know, get off my lawn.)
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However, the chili lime version was very drinkable. The aroma of both chili and lime are detectable upon pouring it into a glass, though I tasted more lime than chili while drinking. It was not overly spicy to my palate.
I also was perfectly fine with Option A, the “regular” Mexican lager. It has surprising body and color for a lower-alcohol lager, and had almost no trace of bitterness (as its low 30 on the International Bitterness Units scale would suggest), which makes it a clean and refreshing drink.
Cinco de Mayo is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico; it has grown into a much bigger celebration in the United States, as a way to honor Mexican heritage and culture.
And it’s not a bad reason to celebrate with some Mexican Lager — either version — by Parsons North.
— Patrick Holbrook, Dispatch beer reviewer
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