From The American Brewers’ Review – 1899
According to the Consul Kindrick of Ciudad Juarez, American beer is becoming a popular drink in Mexico. “Until within the past few years,” says the consul, “beer has not been in favor in Mexico. It has not been very long since it first found a market in the republic. Formerly the Mexicans drank only the white wines and clarets from Europe and cognac and their native liquors, such as mescal, tequilla, and pulque. Pulque is the juice of the maguey plant. It is fermented for twenty-four hours, but is unfit to drink after being a day old. Tequilla and mescal are similar, both liquors being distilled from the maguey plant. In appearance they resemble gin. American whisky is now taking the place of cognac, and American beer is supplanting tequilla as a popular beverage.
“Within the last few years extensive breweries have been stablished in different cities. The breweries at Monterey and Chihuahua have proven so successful that the owners of these plants have already planned their enlargement and increased capacity. Beer can be had on tap at the most remote saloons in the republic.
“Beer is also imported in large quantities, and the imported beer is distributed throughout the republic. Most of that which entered at the custom house in this city came from St. Louis. The breweries in that city have practically the control of this market. Beer is imported in kegs and also in bottles. It comes packed in both barrels and cases, and is usually put up in quart bottles.
“The wholesale price of beer varies according to the keenness of competition between the different breweries. The beverage is sold over the bar in this city for 10 cents per glass in Mexican money, or 50 cents for a quart bottle. In trade like this, American money counts two for one. Instead of paying 10 cents Mexican, 5 cents in American money is acceptable for a glass of beer and 25 cents American for a quart bottle.
Crescent City Brew Talk 