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Buclas is the nickname for Bucerias. The master brewer and owner of Buclas (Facebook with address and map), Jorge Toscano, gave us a complete rundown of his fledgling business. Since he was a teenager, he has worked in several Bucerias restaurants. His mother has been the head chef at the well-known Karen’s Beach Restaurant for decades. He knows the hospitality business in Mexico. He attended high school in LA, so his English is very good. This is another plus when catering to so many Canadians and Americans. Also, he went to law school in Mexico. This played an important role in his craft brewery endeavor.
Jorge watched as the craft brewery business exploded in the US and Canada. It did not exist in Mexico. He expected that to change. He wanted to get in on the ground floor. He learned how to brew beer and experimented with different recipes.
Bar owners and restaurants that he grew up with encouraged him. They wanted a stout beer to sell at their establishments. Jorge figured traditional stouts would be too heavy for a warm tropical climate and played around with some recipes until he hit upon one he liked. It is a bit lighter yet still full-bodied. A nice trick that he was proud of. He also developed some IPAs and lagers that he felt were winners. One of his beers placed 3rd in a Mexican-wide competition in Mexico City.
One problem remained. Mexico did not have a specific license for a craft brewery. He couldn’t afford the license for a large brewery like Model, Pacifico, and Corona. And a bar and restaurant license didn’t allow him to produce alcoholic beverages. Using his law degree and lots of research, he became part of a lobbying effort to introduce a new licensing law into the Mexican Congress recognizing craft brewing.
When the new licensing became a reality, he brewed up a batch of stout for a few restaurants as a test run. His stout quickly sold out. With that success, he began to expand his wholesale business. The property he has was in the family for generations, waiting for an opportunity like this.
As the wholesale side of things grew, he started planning to add a bar at his brewery. The bar we stumbled upon on a back street of Bucerias is this brainchild. His signage isn’t up yet, so the phrase ‘stumbled upon’ is accurate. Google Maps had the brewery in its database, but when it led us to a closed gate, I was baffled. Fortunately, the owner saw me looking around and asked if we were looking for the brewery. “Si,” I said. “Well, here it is,” he gleamed. “The sign isn’t up yet.” he apologized and ushered us in. Over a delicious Stout, he told us his story.
Technically, the pub part of his brewery isn’t officially open yet. Besides adding signage, he will slowly introduce snacks and perhaps some foods. We wished him luck. Jorge is such a wonderful and gregarious guy that I can’t help but think he will succeed in the retail end of the business. If his other beers are as good as his Stout, it will be a sure thing.
There is one more brewpub in Bucerias. Jorge is friends with the owner and encourages even more craft breweries. Most Mexicans have not yet discovered craft beers. More craft breweries means more familiarity with craft beers which translates into more business. We will have to look for the other brewery.
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