North East Beer Review

Another brew from the Beer52 Mexican box and it is from a respected craft brewery called Cerveceria Wendlandt and their Mexican Ale called Vera Niega. Having been around since 2012, Wendlandt is another brewery which had risen from a hobby. So as I cover another Mexican brew, you will find out the history of this beer and brewery, the pour, the taste and aroma and finally verdict. Stick around to find out what I thought about this brew.

From passion to profession

Cerveceria Wendlandt was founded in 2012 in Ensenada, Baja California. Its founder Eugenio Romero had a passion for home brewing and turned this passion into a commercial brewery. Initially, production was small and focused on supplying beer to the brewery’s own bar in Ensenada. Inevitably, demand grew and Wendlandt moved to El-Sauzal in 2013 and in 2014 expanded to 7-barrel brewhouse. In 2015, bottling began and beers were distributed across Mexico, building a serious reputation in the process. Investment continued and this brewery produces over 100,000 litres per month and exports to the United States.

Today, Cervecería Wendlandt is widely recognised as one of the pioneers of Mexico’s modern craft beer movement and has won numerous national and international brewing awards.

Vera Niega is one of Cerveceria Wendlandt’s flapship brews and is coined the term Mexican Ale. it is a light, refreshing beer that combines traditional ale brewing with American hop character. The beer pours a pale golden colour and offers floral and citrus aromas, balanced by a gentle bitterness and crisp finish. With an ABV of 4.7%, it is brewed to be approachable while still delivering enough hop flavour to satisfy craft beer enthusiasts.

A clear golden pour

Vera Niega pours a golden to almost orange colour which pretty much glows. The clarity is excellent. A foamy white head forms which persists throughout most of the drinking experience, leaving a fine ring of lacing down the glass. The carbonation is lively with steady streams of bubbles rising consistently. Overall, a bright and lively pour which is certainly inviting.

A bright and refreshing flavour

Aroma

Cervecería Wendlandt Vera Niega opens with a clean and refreshing aroma. Bright citrus notes of lemon and grapefruit lead the way, followed by subtle floral hops and a touch of grass. Beneath the hop character is a gentle malt sweetness that hints at biscuit and lightly toasted bread. The aroma is balanced rather than overpowering, making it inviting for both craft beer enthusiasts and those new to Mexican craft beer.

Taste

From the first sip, Vera Niega offers a crisp and sessionable feel. It opens with citrus hoppy notes of grapefruit, lemon and orange. This is supported by light cracker-like malt base which offers a slight degree of sweetness. A mild herbal to floral contributes to the complexity, while a moderate bitterness keeps the beer well balanced. The mouthfeel is light-bodied with a crisp, clean and dry finish. Vera Niega provides an indeed quite sessionable appearance and is a great choice for the warm weather in the likes of Mexico.

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If you would like to try Vera Niega or receive the latest Beer52 subscription box you can for free. In this you can claim your first case of 10 cans for Free and all you have to do is cover the £4.95 postage. You can cancel your subscription at any time too. If you are interested please use my link https://www.beer52.com/northeast or use the code “northeast” at the checkout. Cheers.

Time for my verdict

Overall, if you are looking for a beer to quench your thirst during a hot summers day. Well this will definitely do the job. But don’t get your mind set on being mind blown. This citrusy and light brew offers what you would expect from a basic run of the mill Session IPA. So would I recommend it? If you get it for a good price yes! But I certainly wouldn’t overpay for it. I would be more likely to recommend Lúdica Fanfarron, it was a lower ABV and offered more flavour. Overall, I rate this a decent 3.5 out of 5. Cheers

Thanks for reading my review, if you enjoyed this review please check out my review of Cervecera Hèrcules Caballo Blanco.