By Henrietta Weekes
Feeling thirsty on these hot summer days? There’s a new pub in town, and we highly recommend heading over there to relish an award-winning San Miguel craft beer paired with a classic Americana bar menu with a Mexican twist.
Cerveceria Allende, familiar to a large contingent in San Miguel, now has a tap room on the corner of Stirling Dickinson, right next to Hotel Real de Minas. Their five beers, a light lager, a golden ale, a darker lager, a brown ale, and an I.P.A, are all on draft, pulled fresh from the keg. And the seasonal summer beer, a wheat beer, with overtones of mandarina and mango, the top award winner, is simply delicious.
You can prop up the bar, spread out at one of the tables in the light and airy wood interior or relax on the outside patio, soaking up the bustle of Zacateros.
Rodrigo Moncada, founder and CEO of Cerveceria Allende, spends as much time there as he can, when he’s not overseeing work at the company’s local brewery on Calzada de la Estacion or in Mexico City on business. Young, charming, bilingual, and a savvy entrepreneur, his passion for his craft cerveza is infectious. On a Sunday morning, we went to visit him and hear about the inception of his now thriving business and the recent opening of the tap room.
HW: Rodrigo, you’ve been open for two months. What was the inspiration?
RM: I founded Cerveceria Allende with a group of friends and investors here in San Miguel seven years ago, and we’ve gone from strength to strength. We’re now on the world map, with distribution in the US, Germany, France, Spain, and even Japan! Most people in San Miguel recognize our label. The design shows the famous Parroquia spires and the color palette of the centro historico buildings (rust, yellow, burnt orange). Most bars, restaurants, and hotels here now carry our brand. I so love this growing appreciation for artisanal beer that I wanted a talking spot, a place where locals and tourists could sample all our beers, get to know the story of a San Miguel craft brewery (it’s the first), and understand why beer is not only a great drink by itself, but a delicious accompaniment to food. Why not beer instead of wine? Our bar menu suggests beer and food pairings and is designed for our customers to sample the nuances, flavors, and character of each beer. The current trend is all about supporting the local business and the product. Our beer is leading the way in Mexican beer. Modelo sold to ABI and Moctezuma to Heineken, so Mexico’s biggest beer producers are now owned by the U.S.
And I wanted the tap room to replicate an authentic pub, traditionally a relaxed gathering hub. We can put the game on TV if anyone requests it, and there’s enough space to just enjoy a conversation. When I’m here, I welcome feedback and any and all questions from our customers!
To be continued on June 22.
Cerveceria Allende is open Mon .- Thurs., 1-11pm, Fri. – Sat., 1pm-1am, and Sun., 11am-9pm
Ancha de San Antonio, Zona Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende.
Instagram: @cerveceriaallende
