The Best Micro and Craft Breweries in Tijuana, Mexico

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Cervecería Insurgente is one of Tijuana’s most famous breweries. They’ve won a handful of international awards, and now boast several distributors across Mexico and the US. Their Xocoveza (milk stout brewed with cacao, coffee, chile, pasilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg) and their Lupuiosa beer (brewed with five different American hops) are the stars of the show, but every tap here offers a bit of brew heaven.

Located in the slightly more upscale neighbourhood of Zona Rio, BCB Tasting Room adds a little bit of sophistication to Tijuana’s gritty craft beer scene. Their 300-strong beer selection (with more than 40 on tap), can be enjoyed in their open-plan, industrial-feel tap room decorated with hanging beer kegs and long wooden tables made for sharing. They also serve a selection of delicious gourmet burgers—the perfect accompaniment to a hoppy IPA or a thirst-quenching Belgian Pale Ale.

Having recently undergone a huge makeover, Cervecería Tijuana is quickly earning a reputation for being a top competitor in the city’s growing beer scene. Since first opening in the year 2000, their six artisanal beers have earned huge international recognition, including awards in Mexico and the US. If you can take a 7.5% lager, be sure to try their Bufadora Black.

A family-run brewery since 2012, Border Psycho now has over seven beers on the market in Mexico and the US, making it one of Tijuana’s most distributed craft breweries. Despite their fame, however, their taproom remains the no-frills, gritty drinking hole that it was when it first opened. Along with smoky air, sticky floors, and a punky-looking crowd, expect some unexpected features such as glass dildo and buttplug draft handles. Their signature beers, the Cream Ale (brewed with amaranth and orange peel) and La Perversa, a seriously hoppy double IPA, are well worth a try.

Hidden on the fifth floor of an unassuming building near a deserted parking lot, the mysterious Cervecería Norte could be easily missed—but is well worth the hunt. Those up for the challenge will be rewarded with two magical outcomes: awesome views and even better craft beer. Cervecería Norte’s dark porters and pale ales come with uninterrupted views, thanks to their floor-to-ceiling windows, of the US-Mexican border and Tijuana’s Monumental Arch. If you can’t decide which beer to go for, their quadruple sampler is your best bet.