Bohemia Obscura

When I think of Mexican beer I generally believe there are two categories that all brews fall under, light beer and even lighter beer.  Even a heavier style such as Negra Modelo, my go to cerveza, doesn’t quite pass my threshold of what I would consider to be a strong beer.

So after growing weary of Dos Equis less than half way through my honeymoon, I happened to open the bar menu and came across a brew I’ve never heard of let alone tried. At the RIU Palace Las Americas, the bartenders refer to it as Bohemia Dark, elsewhere though, it’s known as Bohemia Obscura.

Obscura was the closest thing in Cancun that resembled craft beer I was able to locate. This Vienna style lager definitely featured above average malt use for a Mexican beer, but the sweetness typically found with this style was absent.

I believe they were attempting something a little chocolaty with undertones of hazelnut; however, it tasted more like unsweetened baking chocolate mixed with club soda. Further damning its review was the fact that it was a little flat as well. I’d like to assume it was just the resort needing to refill the CO2 canisters, but the kegged Dos Equis tasted as it should.

As I do intend to visit Mexico several times in the future, I will keep an ever watchful eye on the lookout for a craft beer presence. I just might have to fine tune my beer brewing skills and try to revolutionize resort beer myself. Until that day, whenever I drink in Mexico, I’ll keep my beer drinking to the little cantinas out and about the city where there’s a greater variety to choose from.

Bohemia Obscura comes in at 3 out of 10 mugs.