I'm back to Hércules! Or should I say, Hércules is back to me? In any case, after not trying this beer (or any of its varieties) two years ago, when I even visited its brewery, I finally had a chance to actually sample some of its tastes.
First Impression Two Years Ago
Do you remember this post? I had just returned from Germany, where the entire beer culture is on a whole different level, and yes, I enjoyed it quite a lot. So much so, that when I came back to Mexico I decided to take a break from it all for a while. In other words, I did not drink any alcohol for two months, if I remember right. However, right at that time we visited my wife's aunt and cousin in Querétaro, and one of the attractions of the city we visited was the Hércules Brewery. My family sampled many of their brews, but not me. I just took some pictures and posted about this beer experience without beers. - Oh, and I felt SO IMMENSELY proud of myself! The exceptional reward the post generated was only icing on the cake. In fact, it may have strengthened my resolution of sticking to my guns and refraining from drinking for a while.
An Unexpected Encounter
Last week I finally got to taste the famous Hércules beer. We went to eat at a pretty random looking burger joint, which in and of itself turned out quite post-worthy too. The hamburgers were super tasty, offering a good variety of choices. And the beers on the menu were all from the Cervecería Hércules in Querétaro. Of course I remembered it, so I was pretty psyched to actually try their flavors. My choice to was the Súper Lupe IPA to go with the BBQ Burger I ordered. As soon as I tasted it I knew I'd made the right choice! A delicious hop overload!
Even before getting to taste the flavor, I was pretty impressed by the presentation. Sure, it came in a can (formerly something I'd have little appreciation for, but then I stopped caring), but not just any old can. This one was a work of art itself. And the waiter left the cans on the table, so we could admire their images. Very cool!
Apparently this Lupe is some sort of water carcass, or river-zombie creature. The can did not offer any closer description, but the imagery spoke volumes. (Maybe I should familiarize myself with mythical creatures from Querétaro for more info on this lady.) As far as the name goes, I believe Lupe is more suggestive of lúpulo (hops) than being merely short for Guadalupe. Anyway, I totally dug it.
Bird-man and Macanuda
While I was enjoying my IPA, I realized that the beers my wife and our friend chose came in cans that were at least just as photogenic as mine. The Rye Lager is named after another supernatural being, present in the folklore of various native peoples: the Bird-man or Hombre de Pájaro.
I just love the illustration of this guy, relaxing on a deck chair by the pool side, sipping on - no doubt - a delicious Hércules brew. Again, I can't fathom the connection of rye, a swimming pool, and the bird-an, but it is a cool combination nevertheless.
Finally, here is the photo where my unsteady hand got in the way. The brown ale my wife chose with the magnificent name Macanuda, which means exactly that: wonderful, amazing, or magnificent. No wonder it pictures a girl floating through the air, above a lush green landscape.
I don't remember having this much fun with the names and illustrations of beer types here in Mexico. In fact, it's more typical for craft breweries in the US or Canada. But apparently Hércules doesn't want to be left behind in this aspect either. Good on you, Hércules! The only thing missing was some wonky description of the individual flavors, which in of itself is often a reason for some good chuckles.
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