Day of the Dead Beer

Given all its low-flavor lagers, you might never suspect that Mexico is home to a number of excellent craft ales—until now. The first, we hope, of many more imports to come, Day of the Dead Beer, by the Tecate-based producers of the lager Mexicali, is a superb emissary of the burgeoning artisan movement to our south. We love the cake spice aroma and bittersweet nip of the wheat-based hefeweizen; the delicate tussle between hops and malts in the blond ale; the frothy IPA's grapefruit punch; and the briny, smoky porter. But the floral allure of the pale ale and the roasty-toasty charisma of the amber really make us push our nachos aside and just sip.