The Best Craft Breweries in Tijuana

The city of Tijuana is right in the middle of a major Renaissance. Over the past few years, trendy restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and craft breweries have begun popping up all over the city. What was once a dangerous border town is quickly becoming a foodie destination. The craft beer scene, in particular, is booming. Tecate is no longer the only brewer in Baja. This hasn’t happened overnight. It’s actually been decades in the making. This guide outlines the best craft breweries in Tijuana.

At this point, I’ve been living in Tijuana for a little over a year. In that time, I have sampled pretty much all of the craft breweries. In this guide, I’ll share my favorites.

The Beginning of Craft Beer in Tijuana

Starting in the 90s, Tijuana’s neighbor to the north, San Diego began developing its legendary craft beer scene. Over the years, it has become one of the best craft beer cities in the US. In fact, San Diego has been called “The Craft Beer Capital of America.” Tijuana brewers took inspiration from the best and developed a craft beer scene of their own to rival.

Tijuana craft beer isn’t just a copy or knockoff of San Diego’s beer. Many Tijuana brewmasters spent time studying and perfecting their trade in the US, Germany, Belgium, and other world-class beer regions. They took inspiration, added a bit of Mexican style, and made something unique of their own. Tijuana craft beer is the real deal. These days, Tijuana and San Diego brewers are even making collaboration brews and trading trends and ideas. 

Microbreweries in Tijuana operate on a lower budget and smaller scale than their north of the border counterparts. While there are some larger, more established operations, most are grassroots. Some of these guys are brewing up 10-gallon batches with homemade equipment and serving it up in two table tasting rooms. Similar to the early days of craft beer in the US. In this article, I outline some of the city’s best craft breweries as well as list three of the best places to go in the city to sample craft beer.

1. Cervecería Insurgente

Probably Tijuana’s most famous craft brewery, Cervecería Insurgente has won multiple international beer competitions. Their beer is also distributed in the US. Insurgente was started in Tijuana in 2010. The creator, Ivan Morales, gained his knowledge about craft beer in San Diego. Some of their most popular beers include:

• La Lupulosa- An IPA brewed with American hops.
• Tiniebla- A light bodied Belgian style wit beer.

Location: Juan Cordero 10021, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana.

Website: cervezainsurgente.com.

2. Norte Brewing Company (Cerveceria Norte)

Norte is one of the highest rated breweries in Tijuana. Their tasting room has been voted best in Baja California multiple years in a row. Here, the focus is beer. They don’t do much marketing. Come here to enjoy a panoramic view of downtown TJ and even better beer. They are famous for their dark porter. I recommend the sampler because all of their beers are excellent.

Location: This place is hard to find. It’s located on the 5^th floor of a parking garage on 4^th street between Avenida Revolucion and Avenida Constitucion. Díaz Mirón y o Cuarta 8160, Zona Centro.

Website: www.nortebrewing.com.

3. Border Psycho Brewery

This family-owned brewery opened in 2012. They have quickly become one of the most widely distributed craft breweries in Tijuana. Currently, they have 7 of their own beers on tap as well as a few other local beers. The tasting room has a dive bar kind of vibe with a few quirks. For example, they made their draft handles from glass dildos and buttplugs. The Border Psycho tasting room is conveniently located in Plaza Fiesta near a number of other bars, clubs, and tasting rooms for you to check out. A couple of their most popular beers are:

• La Perversa- A hoppy double IPA.
• Cream Ale- A North American style ale.
• Imperial Psycho Ale- A classic IPA.
• English Brown Ale- Northern English style.

Location: The Border Psycho tasting room is located at Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana, Paseo de los Héroes 9415.

Website: borderpsychobrewery.com.

4. BCB Tasting Room

While most of Tijuana’s tasting rooms are small and gritty, BCB is a bit more upscale and sophisticated. They offer 300 Mexican and International beers including 42 on tap, making this one of the best places in the city to sample beer. They also serve up some of the best gourmet burgers in the city. These go great with a strong IPA. BCB is also a great place to watch your favorite sporting events.

Location: BCB Tasting Room is located in Zona Rio at Calle Orizaba 10335, Neidhart, 22020.

Website: BCB Facebook Page

5. Cerveza Funes

Opened in 2012, Cerveza Funes is a bottle shop and tasting room all in one. They carry an excellent range of local beers and wines alongside their own brews. If you’re feeling inspired after your beer tasting tour in Tijuana, Funes also sells supplies and accessories for brewing your own beer. They are located just a block away from Telefonica Gastro Park, a popular food truck park in Zona Rio where you can enjoy some of the best foods that the city has to offer as well as more beer.

Location: Funes is located in Zona Rio on Av Melchor Ocampo 2013, Defensores de Baja California.

Website: Funes Facebook page. 

6. Cervecería Tijuana

These guys opened up shop in 2000 and have slowly become one of the most widely distributed brewers in the city. Their tasting room recently underwent a massive renovation. They also serve food. A couple of their most popular brews are:

• Bufadora Black- A high ABV lager. One of their most popular beers.
• Tijuana Morena- A dark beer.

Location: Cervecería Tijuana is located at Blvd. Fundadores 2951, Juárez, 22040

Website: Cervecería Tijuana Facebook page.

7. Mamut Brewery

Known as the most affordable craft brewery in Tijuana, Mamut serves up an excellent range of artisanal beers for just a couple bucks a piece. They also make a pretty damn good pizza. They decorated the taproom with interesting murals and a sculpture of the wooly mammoth. Mamut means mammoth in Spanish. While you’re there, take a walk down the recently revived walking street Pasaje Rodriguez. On this quirky little street, you’ll find a mix of cafes, niche shops, and street art. 

Location: The main Mamut taproom is located downtown on Pasaje Rodriguez at Carrillo Puerto y o Tercera 8161, Zona Centro, 22000. They also have a location in Plaza Fiesta. 

Website: Mamut Facebook page

8. Azteca Craft Brewing

Another excellent Tijuana Brewery. Azteca is an intimate little tasting room downtown with friendly staff and an interesting variety of beer. They offer a couple of fruity beers as well as a killer West Coast style IPA. 

Location: Azteca Craft Brewing is located downtown at 8219, Calle Salvador Díaz Mirón 4ta., Zona Centro, 22000.

Website: Azteca Craft Brewing Facebook page

Where to go in Tijuana to Sample Craft Beer

The nice thing about Tijuana is the fact that most tasting rooms are grouped together in two neighborhoods of the city. If you don’t mind walking a little bit, you can stay in one part of town and hop from brewery to brewery. In fact, you can even walk between these two districts though safety is a concern at night. The two best neighborhoods to sample craft beer in Tijuana are:

Zona Rio

This is Tijuana’s business district. Zona Rio is a bit more upscale and trendy. It’s also less touristy. The main street going through this neighborhood is called Paseo de los Heroes. Here you find a number of breweries as well as two of my favorite places in Tijuana:

Plaza Fiesta

This crazy place is a multi-level open-air mall where every business is a bar, club, or brewery. It was recently renovated and reopened just a couple of years ago. Here, you find dozens of tiny tap rooms serving up small-batch craft brews from all over Baja California. You can sample most all of Tijuana’s best craft beers without even leaving the plaza. Some of the bars brew up batches as small as just a few gallons using equipment that they pieced together themselves. Plaza Fiesta is my favorite place to go out in Tijuana. It’s convenient, safe, and has something for everyone to enjoy. 

Telefonica Gastro Park

Tijuana is famous for its ‘colectovos’ which are outdoor food courts, mostly made up of taco stands and food trucks. Telefonica Gastro Park is the best and most famous colectivo in the city. Here, you find some of Tijuana’s most modern and innovative food as well as a craft brewery on site. They also serve up some of the most popular craft beers from around the city. In the center of the court, they have family style seating on picnic benches. On many weekends there is a live music event. This is a great place to go with friends to try some modern Mexican food and enjoy a few craft beers. If you’re in Zona Rio, I highly recommend you check this place out. 

Downtown (Zona Centro)

Most all of Tijuana’s craft breweries have tasting room location downtown all within walking distance from one another. The main street of downtown Tijuana is called Avenida Revolucion. Border Psycho, Mamut, Cerveza Norte, and Azteca are all located just a few blocks of each other. They are bunched together between Calle Benito Juarez and Calle Hermenegildo Galeana just off Avenida Revolucion.

Pasaje Rodriguez

Intersecting with Avenida Revolucion is Pasaje Rodriguez. This is a small walking street full of cafes, bars, artisanal shops, as well as a few craft breweries. While you’re exploring downtown, be sure to take a stroll through this unique street. 

Other Mexican Beer: The Macrobrews

Nobody likes a beer snob. While you’re south of the border don’t forget to try out some of the country’s macrobrews. Even Mexico’s larger beer companies brew up a quality product. There’s just something refreshing about a nice, cold pale lager. It’s not the most sophisticated but it’s really pleasant to drink. Some macrobrews to try in Tijuana include:

• Tecate- While not known as being the tastiest beer, you have to drink a Tecate while in Tijuana. It is a cheap, easy to drink beer that is usually sold in cans. It’s manufactured in the border town of Tecate just 30 miles east of Tijuana. 
• Corona- One of the 5 top-selling beers in the world, and top-selling import in the US, Corona is known for being served with a slice of lime. This beer just tastes better in Mexico, possibly because it has spent so much time in the bottle where sunlight effects the taste.
• Sol- While Corona is the most popular export, Sol is the most popular domestic beer in Mexico. To me, it tastes almost the same as Corona. It’s light and easy to drink.
• Pacifico- Often considered one of Mexico’s best light lagers, Pacifico is a bit more substantial tasting. This is my favorite of the Mexican macrobrews.
• Modelo- Marketed as a premium beer with a foil wrapped neck and unique shaped bottle, Modelo is another popular macrobrew similar to Corona. Modelo also comes in a dark variety called Negra Modelo. 

Final Thoughts on Tijuana Craft Beer

Tijuana is a hidden gem that needs to be rediscovered. Over the past few years, the city has completely redesigned itself. Trendy bars and restaurants are everywhere. What was once a dangerous border town is quickly becoming a Mexican cultural destination. Unfortunately, the city still has a poor reputation. Security concerns in the early 2000s scared many tourists away. 

I have spent the past year living in Tijuana. In that time, I have sampled almost all of the city’s best craft beers. The quality that Tijuana’s brewers create always impresses me. 

To help you plan your trip, check out my Ultimate Guide to Visiting Tijuana. It covers everything you need to know for a smooth trip across the border including transportation, accommodation, safety, things to do, and more. 

Have you visited any of Tijuana’s craft breweries lately? Share your favorite beers and taprooms in the comments below! I’m always looking for something new to try. 

More Tijuana Guides from Where The Road Forks

• 29 Incredible Things to do in Tijuana
• Is Tijuana Safe? Avoiding Common Scams and Crime
• Walking Across the Border to Tijuana

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