Corona Inspired Mexican Lager Recipe

5 gallons of  Mexican lager:

Ingredients:

• 6 lbs of light liquid malt extract

•  

  1 lb of corn sugar
• 1 oz of Saaz hops
• 1 oz of Hallertau hops
• 1 packet of Mexican lager yeast
• 1 tsp of Irish moss
• 1 tsp of calcium chloride
• 1 tsp of gypsum
• 5 gallons of water

Instructions:

1. Heat 2.5 gallons of water to 155°F in a large pot.
2. Add the light liquid malt extract and corn sugar to the pot and stir until fully dissolved.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil and add the Saaz hops.
4. Boil for 60 minutes, adding the Hallertau hops and Irish moss during the last 10 minutes of the boil.
5. After 60 minutes, turn off the heat and cool the wort to 70°F.
6. Transfer the wort to a sanitized fermenter and add the Mexican lager yeast.
7. Ferment at 50°F for 2 weeks.
8. After 2 weeks, transfer the beer to a secondary fermenter and lager at 35°F for 4 weeks.
9. After 4 weeks, bottle or keg the beer and carbonate to your desired level.
10. Enjoy your traditional Mexican lager on a warm summer day with a wedge of lime!

Note: The calcium chloride and gypsum are added to adjust the water chemistry to match the mineral content of the water used in Mexico, which can help to create a more authentic flavor.

👇 Why Lime? And not lemon? Who knew?

While lime and lemon are both citrus fruits that can be used to add flavor to beer, lime is typically used in Mexican lagers instead of lemon for a few reasons.

Firstly, limes are more readily available in Mexico than lemons, and are therefore a more traditional choice for adding flavor to beer. Additionally, the flavor of lime is often considered to be a better match for the light and crisp flavors of Mexican lagers, as it has a slightly sweeter and less acidic taste than lemon.

Finally, the use of lime in Mexican lagers has become a cultural tradition that is closely associated with the beer style, and many people believe that using lemon instead would not be as authentic or enjoyable. However, it's worth noting that there is no hard and fast rule that says lime must be used in Mexican lagers, and some people may prefer to use lemon or other citrus fruits to add flavor to their beer.