And the world's mot breweried city is...

When you hear the sound of brass, take the trolley

Here’s a test of your beer knowledge. Which city in the world has the most breweries?

Do you know? Or (supposing it were a question in your pub quiz), which city would you guess? Pilsen, Munich, Dortmund, Copenhagen, Burton, Dublin, Milwaukee…Mexico City?

None of the above. You may well have chosen the wrong country. I knew the right country, but my choice of city was still more than 1,000 miles adrift.

The answer is certainly not to be found in Mexico, albeit a substantial brewing nation.

Two companies own almost all of Mexico’s breweries. Each of these companies has a presence in a major city in each province, producing national and local brands. Apart from seasonal beers and the odd dark lager such as Negra Modelo or the copper-coloured version of Dos Equis, most Mexican beers are light-bodied, sweetish golden lagers.

I am merely noting them in passing as we approach the city of Tijuana, in the far Northwest of the country.

Tijuana was a boozy playground for the denizens of Hollywood during Prohibition.

In the 1960s, the name Tijuana became more widely known through trumpeter Herb Alpert’s middle-of-theroad music.

This region’s beer is produced by one of the national brewers in the nearby town of Tecate.

The brand identified simply as Tecate is one of the lightest and crispest of Mexican lagers. The brewery is right on the border with the United States, where much of its output goes.

The serving of beer with a wedge of lime and a salt-rimmed glass, was being heav.....

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By Michael Jackson

Section : The Beer Hunter

Page number : 7