JBD Pale Mexican-Style Lager
Julius Benigno Diaz | 7/30/1896 – 4/09/1959
Julius Benigno Diaz (JBD) was my grandfather on my mother’s side of the family. He was originally from Sombrerete, a town and municipality located in the northwest of the Mexican state of Zacatecas, bordering the state of Durango. It was founded in 1555 by Spanish conquistador Juan de Tolosa as a mining center, due to the wealth that the mines provided, Sombrerete was one of the most important towns in New Spain.
My grandfather came to the United States in 1914 during the Mexican Revolution. He was 17 years old, working as a Laborer and passed into the country in El Paso, TX. On November 15, 1945, he became a Naturalized Citizen of the United States at the age of 49. At this time, he lived in Philadelphia where he and his second wife (Mary Theresa McGuire) were raising their family, including my mother.
I’ve had the idea for this Pale Mexican Lager for a long time. The first batch was brewed in February 2024 and it was released on May 3, 2024 (just in time for Cinco de Mayo weekend). This beer is clear and crisp with light malt flavors and low hop aroma.
About This Style:
Traditionally, Mexican Lagers were influenced heavily by Austrian and German immigrant settlers in Texas and Mexico. Use of corn by macro breweries in Mexico reduced the cost of the malt bill and increased crispness to make clean lager with low bitterness and high clarity. Pilsner malt is typically the base malt with others contributing to flavor like Munich, Vienna, etc.