New Craft Brewery Captures the Spirit of Mexico

American craft brewery SouthNorte Beer Co. is set to make its official debut on taps and shelves in the San Diego area this week with the launch of flagship beers, Sea Señor and No Guey.

Established in 2016, and “blending the rustic flair of Mexico with the art of San Diego craft brewing,” the brand aims to highlight the crossroads of culture and mutual influence between Southern California and Northern Mexico with unique and adventurous flavor combinations that are authentic to the brewery’s border-town roots.

Brewmaster Ryan Brooks, who spent time living in Tijuana absorbing the local culture, describes Sea Señor! as SouthNorte’s interpretation of a classic Mexican Lager – clean and crisp with a floral and spicy bitterness thanks to noble European hops. While No Güey! (pronounced “no way”) is an ode to south of the border style street food – a hop-forward IPA bursting with tropical fruit, spicy chili and fresh mango sprinkled with Tajín.

Courtesy Photo

With a recent uptick in demand for both craft beers and Mexican imports, SouthNorte saw an opportunity to give consumers a flavorful and cross-cultural experience. Brooks says, from the art and music scene to the breweries and nightlife, there’s an excitement and energy that’s developed in Tijuana in recent years. “We wanted our beers to capture that spirit and essence of Mexico along with the flavors.”

Temporarily based at Coronado Brewing Company’s facilities until a future site can be secured, SouthNorte Beer Co. will initially be available in San Diego but plans to expand its presence to other markets in the future.