A taste of TJ

Hi everybody! Lesley’s husband Crayton here again. I’ll be your substitute blogger today.

Last weekend I went with friends to Salon Corona II, a nice downtown cantina with two levels. It’s become a good standby because it stays open pretty late and has decent tacos and tortas. (The original Salon Corona is a couple blocks away, and apparently has a long and storied past.) Let’s just say that the beer flowed like wine and afternoon quickly turned to evening, so I’m not sure who ordered the Tijuana beer first. But I’m glad he or she did.

Tijuana Beer is a microbrewer in the border city, and its Web site lists a ton of places you can buy it in the U.S. In an exciting development, somehow the little brewer managed to break through Mexico’s beer duopoly and get served at a popular cantina. There is hope yet.

Tijuana makes a few different varieties and names them based on the extensive Mexican taxonomy of skin-color grades. I had a Morena (dark), and apparently they also sell a Dorada (golden) and a Güera (light). How was my Morena? Tasty! Definitely hoppier than the dark draft beer I’d been drinking earlier. (Oh! I should tell you about draft beer in Mexico. Typically, if you are in an establishment that serves draft beer (and I would say such establishments are rarer than in the U.S.), you will have a choice of dark (oscura) or light (clara) beer. They will often not be labeled by brand. They’re just dark and light.) Anyway, the Morena was very flavorful and lively. I’d definitely recommend it, and I salute Salon Corona for giving its clients an alternative.

One other note on Salon Corona II: It’s a Pumas bar. (Not that kind of puma.) The fútbol team was playing against Chivas, the beloved team of my friend Carlos, who couldn’t contain his excitement and had me worried for my safety. But the fans do really get into it, and if you’re looking for a place to watch a soccer game and experience the passion Mexican fans have for their teams, this is a good spot.