The house of Tecate’s namesake brew opened in 1944 before joining Monterrey-based beer gigante Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma—makers of Dos Equis, Bohemia, Indio, Sol, and Carta Blanca, and now a subsidiary of Heineken—in 1954. It’s within walking distance of the Tecate border crossing, 40 miles southeast of downtown San Diego at the end of Interstate 94. Free guided tours in both Spanish and English supposedly happen daily but aren’t always the easiest to coordinate. Be sure to phone ahead, and wear closed-toe shoes. The true draw, tour or no tour? Popping open your complimentary tallboy, selected at random depending on whichever Moctezuma label happens to be in the fridge in the adjacent beer garden, open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Avenida Hidalgo and Presidente Elías Calles, Zona Centro, Tecate
It’s Tecate Time!
