Crying on beer is clearly American, mostly in the country west tropes, which is sad, but with Hispanic heritage month beginning on September 15th (until October 15th) and almost perfectly timing with Mexico’s Independence Day (September 16th), Wendy Lopez felt emotionally and emotionally in a highly different way. Mescareria, she is both a chef and partner.
“We want to show people the nuances and stories of Mexican cuisine,” says Lopez, born in Michoacan. “My grandmother and their dishes are like Italian and Spanish cuisine. Our lineage, our food runs deep.”
In fact, Lopez himself hasn’t tasted it all yet, so it’s deep and deep. But over the past eight years, she believes staff like Reyes’ family have helped raise awareness about how many types are inherent to the Mexican culinary compendium. And celebrate it.
And what helps you celebrate more than a beer?
Available in both Reyes and Orlando’s tactical brewing, Mi Llorona is a 5.5% ABV milk stout with unique Mexican facilities, marking both these formal holidays, but most importantly, it pairs beautifully with Reyes’ lamb barrier.
Ancho Peppers, Guajillo Cilies, Hibiscus and Sour Orange are uniquely lovely with the Stout Foundation, with tactical chief operation officer and head brewer Kreistopher Holland, as well as the Stout Chief Operations Offering and Head Brewer Kreistopher Holland, when the much heavier version brewed in 2021 (10% ABV) was celebrated at the New York International Beer Competition.
“It sounded really interesting,” says Holland. “We definitely shouldn’t have thought of it. It was really cool to rely on Wendy’s chef’s more heritage-based memories and use traditional ingredients that fewer people are used to.
Lopez reflects emotions in reverse. While running through the kitchen at Osprey in Baldwin Park, the Tactical team was literally her neighbors.
“They’re bold,” she says. Both she and Lorena Castro, the beverage director at Mexican Good Salt, worked with the brewer while staying in their lanes.
“They took us out of our comfort zone, but we trusted they did what they were doing.”
result? A Mexican-style beer that is different from what most people think.
“Like Reyes, we wanted to be a little more complicated,” she explains. “Like Reyes, it’s outside the box. Everyone has models, techites and lagers. This is different.”
The story behind it also depends on where you go in Mexico.
La Rorona (The Crying Woman) is a warning story and a legendary ghost with deep roots in Mexican folk tales.
“She is a woman and crying for the lost child,” explains Lopez. In many versions it was she who owned them.
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“It’s the story your parents tell when you’re a child, so you’re going inside and don’t go out late or dark,” she says. “If you’re outside, you’ll hear her scream,” a story to keep your child from running around.
“Every family has their own interpretation based on how much they want to terrorize their children,” she laughs.
But that’s exactly the warm side. There is warmth, food, drinks and love in the home. So go home.
At this time, it is natural for her to think about her ancestors as the day of her death approaches.
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“I was born in Mexico,” she says. “It’s always in my mind. I cherish it. That’s not what I learned when I started cooking in another kitchen or at the age of 14 when I was cooking at home. It’s what I was born.
And during the month of Hispanic Heritage, she says, it is primarily intention.
“It sheds light on all kinds of Hispanics around the world. We want to show you our culture and invite you to our home.”
And in this case, for beer.
Find me on Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram @Amydroo, or Osfoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com, For more food fun, join Let’s Eat and Orlando Facebook Group.
If you’re going
Mi Llorona is available at least the following month at Reyes Mezcaleria (821 N. Orange Ave. in Orlando; Reyesmex.com). The same goes for Tactical Brewing (4882 New Broad St. in Orlando; TacticalBeer.com) where you can drink drafts and grab a 4-pack beautifully drawn can and enjoy at home ($15).
