Today is May the 5th, and I am posting specifically to complain about the fact that as it is celebrated in the U.S. Cinco De Mayo is nothing more than a marketing tool for beer importers. One can make the same argument about St. Patrick’s Day. Most Mexican beer is either basically macrobrew like Miller, Bud etc, or it has deep Germanic roots, and was brought into being by Teutonic immigrants of the late 19th Century. So it’s not particularly Mexican either.
I’d suggest trying Pulqué — a Mexican cactus beer — but good luck finding it in the States.
Mexicans outside of Puebla and it’s surrounding communities don’t really celebrate the holiday, which is NOT Mexican Independence Day — a major Mexican holiday that falls on September 16th. Cinco De Mayo actually commemorates the unlikely victory of the Mexican army over the French at the Battle of Puebla.
Anyway, drink your Corona — with lime if you must — shoot your Curevo, sip some Margaritas, and patronize a Mexican eatery. Or you could try a Negra Modelo — which is actually a Vienna Lager — find a joint that serves authentic Molé Poblano, and think about how nice it is that we live in a country with such a diverse populace.
Yeah yeah yeah, St. Patrick’s Day swiftly approaches. Break out the Pogues’ records, be sure to put in your order for a big brisket of corned beef, make some soda bread, get some green clothing to avoid being pinched, etc.