Sep 26, 2021
Throughout my freelance beer-writing career, one person’s name
has continued to pop up as someone to pay attention to. That person
is Laura Garcia, a brewer who has worked across the state of Baja
California, but primarily in Baja’s capital city of Mexicali, which
also happens to be her hometown.
But this isn’t a story about how I know Laura. It’s a story about
why you should. Hailed by many as the best brewer in Baja, Laura
worked her way from beer lover to beer judge to brewer and beyond.
The pandemic interrupted her career trajectory, but she hasn’t let
that dampen her enthusiasm for the craft. In fact, she’s using this
time and space to reflect on what she wants for herself, for her
beer community, and the Mexican craft beer scene at large.
During the course of our conversation, Laura reveals how Mexicali’s
scorching heat and surprisingly early brewing history helped launch
the area’s now-thriving craft beer industry. She talks about how
the region’s sometimes limited access to resources, coupled with
her community’s willingness to share everything, has led to a
tight-knit bond not seen in many other places in beer. We, of
course, discuss how the United States—and San Diego
specifically—have influenced the Baja beer scene, but also how its
ability to accept that influence without compromising authenticity
has led to amazing results. Laura also pushes back against
misconceptions about Mexico in general, and invites listeners to
experience the best of Mexicali without fear, with plenty of
recommendations for the city’s ridiculously underrated food and
drink scene.