Are you tired of me writing about craft-beer? Because I'm not. And really, even though it is something I love and love to write about, the truth also is that the local craft-beer scene has exploded in the last year or so, unlike anything we've seen as part of Baja's efforts in revitalizing itself. Tijuana especially has seen more and more establishments for quality craft-beer opening up.

Craft-beers have been one of the newest and strongest elements that have made Baja California become a global point of interest, helped along by its proximity to the American capital of craft-beer, California (San Diego most of all).

This proximity has raised the bar when it comes to competition in the industry, which even though it's healthy and friendly, has forced masters brewers in the region to elevate the quality of their products, generating excellent results. And here's some of the more important points as to why craft-beer in Baja California will continue to be something worth talking about: elevated

It's great to know that tourist that visit Baja can enjoy more than just regular commercial beers like Tecate and a Corona now, learning more about local production that has broken stereotypes in the market. Local craft-beer production was enabled by last year's repeal of a regulatory law that basically limited beers at restaurants, pubs, bars, clubs and other establishments with alcohol sales permit, to commercial brands from Mexico's top two corporate brewers: Grupo Modelo (Corona, Modelo, Pacífico) and Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma (Dos Equis, Tecate). Called the "exclusivity" law by some, it has since be modified and now more accepting of local producers and their right to sell and advertise their products within any establishment with a alcohol sales permit, making craft-beers much more available to the customers.

A big difference between a beer festival in Baja California and those that are frequently carried out in San Diego, are the experiences. In Baja, festivals of this type resemble a more Mexican version of the German Oktoberfest , an event that spans the entire day and night an a exorbitant amount of several styles of beer.

Not to mention the duration and times of the festivals in California, lasting sometimes only a couple hours, four perhaps. In Baja, we take festivities seriously, and you won't have to worry about last calls at 7:00 p.m.

Even though master brewers in Baja California compete with their neighbors to the north, people's tastes have been marked by local production and the slogan "Drink Local, Drink Craft." Speaking amongst beer producers, I've noticed that that is their objective, making beer for people in Baja California, not for the United States, not for anybody, but something that would give us an identity and not just another product.

The craft-beer boom in the state has also lead to a spike in interest for creating one's own beer, considerably. More and more people are making their own creations and experiments at home. The result, is an impressive diversity of craft-beers that, although it might start off as a hobby, can lead to new jobs creation, to the point that there is already work being started on crafting a legal frame for regulating the sale and production of everything "craft", something that benefits all of us.

Let's call it the result of privileged geography or a simple expansion of the culinary and wine movements that have also taken hold in the region, but whichever way you look at it, Mexico's northwest has become the capital of craft-beer in Mexico. With more than 50 breweries, there's plenty of supply and very diverse, which is why few can compete with Baja California. No other sate in Mexico has Baja's ease when it comes to producing craft-beer.

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jorge.guevara@sandiegored.com

jose.sanchez@sandiegored.com