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Well, I can’t say I’m on a roll here with The Brew Club Mexican beer reviews lately! The second installment of our Cinco de Mayo beer-review fest is the Mexican beer Tecate.
Maybe I’m just getting tired of drinking and writing about essentially the same type of beer over and over, but as it happens, that’s what I have to do!
Tecate beer comes in a brown bottle, which distinguishes it from Corona, and there are a few interesting theories as to why it comes in a brown bottle instead of a clear one. One theory is that sun is the enemy of beer. Clear glass offers no protection to the beer inside while brown glass does. Is this true? It sure is! One of the worst things for beer is sunlight. There’s an actual chemical reaction that creates that lovely ‘skunky’ smell so brown glass is actually good when it comes to beer. I’ve noticed many Mexican Beers come in clear bottles instead of green or brown.
Anyway, getting back to the Tecate, opening the beer of course produced no Genie, and it poured into the glass producing a very slight, rapidly
disappearing head with minimal lacing on the glass. There was nothing interesting in the smell department either. It has the typical golden-yellow color that Corona had, and for the most-part tasted to me just like Corona.
I would imagine that if you wanted to save a little money, you could get a lime, (or artificial lime flavor for even more savings) squeeze it into the Tecate, and have a less expensive alternative to Corona. The same could also be said without using the lime. I think the Tecate has a slightly more bitter taste that lingers and lingers in the mouth than Corona does.
Tecate seems to be your basic, basic beer. After drinking it, I would not buy it again unless my only goal was to get drunk – I would rather drink almost anything else I think – even something with amoebas in it. There was no enjoyment in consuming this beer, and as you may be able to detect, it is rather hard writing this review. Sorry, but beer should be enjoyable, and the Tecate just aint!
What’s your take on Tecate? Do you like it? Do you drink it straight up or do you add stuff like lime and salt to it? I’ve also heard from more than one person that Tecate in cans is better than the stuff in bottles. That wouldn’t surprise me, but I’m not going to bother making the comparison.
Rating: 
@Scott
“you have to hide the beer with lime and salt”
Ah, I see.
For me however, that is my preference. I would drink Tecate before Corona with or without l & s any time
Actually, I think a person’s preference for Corona vs. Tecate depends
on what beer they drank first. Skoal.
@j. mann – I agree its a preference thing and that’s cool! Honestly, I’m just about people being happy with their beer and I too have enjoyed the lime/salt on Dos XX now and then. I just feel that the beer itself really can’t be enjoyed as-is when masked.
Well, IN Mexico I loved Victoria, which I have never seen in the US, and Carta Blanca which is, happily available to me, nearby, but was indifferent to Tecate and loathed Sol. So how come I’m thrilled to find a Beers of Mexico 24 pack at my local Sam’s Club that has six each of Sol, Tecate, Dos Equis Amber and Dos Equis pale? I don’t know..I guess it was because the last of the Bud Light with Lime had gone, thankfully, and in comparison this selection seems positively exotic. I don’t know, ice cold and nursed by a barbecue perhaps, in their own way, they will pass muster. Like your blog and yes, dammitt, it’s YOUR blog and so opinionize away mate!
@Mike L – I say to each his own! I’ve enjoyed all of those beers as you do with friends @ a BBQ or Tex-Mex place. ANY beer is better with friends or good food I think. And so, I am happy my friend that you are enjoying your beers, whatever they are!
I’ve always liked Coronoa and Sol, and several of the other mexican beers, but never cared for Tecate. I found it harsh and bitter, with or without lime. Over the past year or so we’ve been buying a 24-variety pack of mexican beers. It always comes with 6 Tecates. My wife doesn’t like the Tecates, so I’ve been stuck drinking them. About a month ago I discovered I no longer disliked the Tecates, and last week I drank a Dos Equis and it tasted like a flat sprite to me, but my wife said it tasted fine. Now I find the Tecates DELICIOUS and many other beers weak and watery… So perhaps it is a bit of an acquired taste, like some of the ales, stouts, etc.
@Bob – your tastes will change over time, I know mine do. Just be sure you don’t just drink Tecate – mix it up a bit to keep your edge! Thanks for commenting too!
This beer always shows up @ family gatherings. So when I drink it, it’s free. If I drink enough, it makes me angry. Artificial cabonation is a bad thing. I prefer home brew.
@russell – beer shouldn’t make you angry, and if it does, that’s probably a good clue to switch brands!!!
This negative review is nothin but boulderdash I tells ya! Check out this beer’s rating world wide and youll see that it outranks corona. As a person living in Tecate I can tell you that I DONT drink anything lighter than Tecate Reds (as opposed to whites which is the light version) because theyre flavorless. Heineken now owns half of Tecate Brewery for a lot of reasons, million dollar making reasons sucka. Keep up the crappy work steve or scott wgasa? If you can get your gritty lil paws on some INDIO BEER, try it and youll love it and feel like a jackass for talking smack about Mexican beers A! Lates Holmes
Wow. It outranked Corona worldwide. Case closed! Best. Beer. Ever.
Did I just read in the comment section that someone opened their Tecate and couldn’t even finish it? Did I seriously just read that? This is basic beer that you can get cheap. Given that, it’s very drinkable and doesn’t taste horrible like your generic American beers. That being said, there’s nothing exotic or unique about it, but it will get you drunk. Why complain about that?
@williewanka – believe it or not, a lot of people don’t drink beer to get drunk. I drink beer because its enjoyable. If it isn’t enjoyable, I’d not waste time finishing it. Life’s too short for crappy beer. Of course, that’s just my opinion and you’re entitled to yours and I do thank you for sharing it!
Tecate in cans is very delicious – on a hot summer day or any day. Prechill your glass and beer. Pour beer into glass and put into freezer for 5 min. Add juice and pulp of half a lime to the beer. Shake on some salt. Best refreshment ever.
My favorite beer.
@Margo – that doesn’t sound bad actually, but between the cold, the lime and the salt, there’s not much in the way of tasting the Tecate anymore!
@Scott
If you recall, our first “discussion” on this site (which thankfully you deleted) was over Tecate…..
FYI – I don’t care for it anymore.
@Steve – I remember well!
A beer that i bought once and was arguably surprise by the lack of amertume and no harsh after taste… taken at a low temperature it is tasty and refreshing and has a nice numby feeling that reach the face; i would buy it again
My favorite summer beer with salt & Lime. Now I have found I have a
gluten allergy……….so long old friend !!
Maybe try the salt and lime with one of the gluten-free beers? Can’t be too bad I’m thinking.
Hey there Scott, honestly I know this’ll sound strange, but you should try drinking Tacate out of the can. It’s one of very few beers that actually have an improved taste when drank out of the can as opposed to the bottle.
Hey Aaron – Tnx for the tip!
Actually, I’ve grown quite fond of beer from cans. There are many benefits over the bottle, but the biggest one is that light just can’t get to the beer, and light is what turns beer. (skunky) Cans have come a long way technologically, and gone are the days of metallic flavors.
If you like Bud youll like Tecate. I buy it because it is the chearest beer in the NY area aither generic. Tastes like Budweiser with body.
I’m sitting here drinking a tecate. I can truthly say, I can’t taste it at all. Before I got the tecate, I had just finished off a pabst blue ribbon 16 oz. The blue ribbon came from the liquor store. In my state, the liquor store sells 5. whatever beer. The quickstops sell 2. whatever. The beer from the liquor store isn’t refrigerated. If I can’t get a kick from the beer, I’m drinking the wrong thing.
I’ve been drinking Tecate off and on since 1985. It has a unique taste which isn’t that bad. I’ve always noticed that Tecate gives me a different type of buzz than any other beer I’ve tried (and there has been hundreds). Heck. Any beer good enough for Hellboy is good enough for me.
Jeez, this Tecate review is the thread that never ends…
I am a home brewer and I never thought I would actually choose to drink a Mexican beer. In fact, I often made fun of my buddies who drank Mexican beers, like Dos Equis Lager, Sol and Tecate. My typical joke: “hey bro, can you give me a couple of those Tecates so that I can put them in my water bottle to make sure I stay hydrated on our ride? Nothing better than Mexican water!” Well, I must now secretly confess that I am a huge fan of T-Cats, as they are affectionately known around my parts. Tecate’s taste is crisp and refreshing yet complex and infinitely satisfying. I’m hanging up my home brewing tools and have made my last pilgrimage to Belgium. From here on forward, I’m sticking with our friends south of the border and their ever-so-satisfying cerveza. Like Tecate’s can says, “sabor con caracter.” Well, the only thing I can add is, “ole!!”