From South of the Border

Further updates on my foray south. Went to Mexico yesterday, to the border town of Algodones, Mexico. I don't know the history of the town, but like other border towns, international commerce is a big feature of the location. In this case, that meant pharmacies, liquor stores, and dentists lining the roads into town. Lunch was at a wonderful little place that served a trancendent chicken mole (though for this vegetarian, heavenward is perhaps not the direction I'm headed). And the beer list? Pacifico, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, and Corona (The Grupo Modelo brands). Why is it that, with the exception of Corona, Mexico's national brands are so far superior to our own? Pacifico is one of my favorite light lagers, but since it was a bit nippy, I went for the Negra, another fave.

Tried the Four Peaks 8th Street Ale last night. It is a traditional English best bitter, with Fuggle and Golding hops. A bit watery in the middle, but crisp and authentic. A fine beer that I wasn't surprised to see earn some GABF hardware. At some point, I'm going to ruminate on the kind of beer you find in the sunbelts--and why I'm surprised that they haven't evolved beyond traditional examples of English and German ales. (Maybe Stan knows something.) But no time today.

Headed back to Beervana tomorrow, and out of the desert. Not a minute too soon.

In the Desert

I am in Yuma, Arizona, visiting my parents. This is certainly no one's idea of a beer haven, but when we went out to eat last night, I was rudely reminded of what a lot of America looks like beer-wise. We were celebrating Sally's birthday, so we went to the nicest restaurant in town. Three pages of wines, a full bar, and about a dozen beers available (none on tap). When we asked which ones, the list started out "Bud, Bud Light, Coors, Coors Light, MGD," and continued in that vein until finally they came to Sierra Nevada Pale and Guinness. Those thrown in, obviously, for the out-town-freaks who like that "heavy" beer.

On the positive side, I tracked down a micro from Tempe. The only one in the local store (though they did have BridgePort IPA, Pyramid and Widmer Hef, and Mirror Pond), but I snatched it up.