Ska Brewing Unleashes Two Bold New Brews and a Game-Changing 12-Pack Assortment

DURANGO, CO— Ska Brewing Co. is excited to announce a double dose of refreshment with the release of two innovative new beers alongside a revamped packaging offering that brings fan-favorite seasonal brews into a year-round lineup.

Building on the popularity of Ska’s time-honored Mexican Logger, Lime Logger with Salt delivers a tangy, invigorating twist. This light, 5% ABV, crushable lager balances zesty lime with a subtle salinity— offering a crisp, refreshing flavor that evokes a sunny afternoon in a can.

“This new variant is a natural evolution of our Logger family,” said Ska President, Dave Thibodeau. “I always squeeze a lime into my original Mexican Logger anyway and now I can skip the step… getting me 2 or 3 seconds closer to my next beer.”

To celebrate this new release, Ska Brewing is launching a variety 12-pack that showcases the full Mexican Logger lineup:

1. Mexican Logger (Original) – The time-honored, refreshingly crisp lager that started it all in 1999.

2. Mexican-Style Cold IPA – A unique "Cold IPA" brewed with agave, offering a crisp and invigorating taste.

3. Lime Logger with Salt – The latest addition, combining bright lime flavors with subtle salinity.

No strangers to fruited IPA’s, Ska is pushing the boundaries with its second new release and most fruit-forward brew to date, Guava Stomper Juicy IPA. Guava Stomper pours a hazy pink hue, releasing vibrant aromas of tropical fruit and citrus. The flavor profile is dominated by juicy guava, complemented by citrusy hop notes, all balanced by a soft, pillowy mouthfeel that leads to a smooth, satisfying finish. It's a tropical vacation packed into a pint, transporting drinkers to paradise with every sip.

Six-packs of Guava Stomper and Lime Logger with Salt, as well as the complete Logger Variety 12-Pack are now available in all of Ska Brewing markets. These offerings underscore Ska's commitment to innovation and excellence in every can.

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Founded in the spirit of punk rock and a little bit of ska, Ska Brewing has been challenging the status quo and brewing beers that refuse to conform since 1995. From the iconic Mexican Logger to the rebellious Modus Hoperandi IPA, Ska Brewing is dedicated to crafting unforgettable beers and beverages that are as unique as the people who drink them. For more information, samples, or just to chat about how great peaches are, contact Ska Brewing at info@skabrewing.com or visit our website at www.skabrewing.com.

Ska Brewing Celebrates 25 Years of Mexican Logger and Welcomes Patio Season to the Rockies

Durango, CO— Ska Brewing, a pioneer in the craft beer industry, is proud to commemorate 25 years of brewing its fan-favorite, award-winning beer, Mexican Logger, just in time for the official start of patio season in the Southwest. This year, it’s not just any comeback; it’s a silver anniversary celebration of lager love, and a tribute to no longer living in the lager closet.

“Twenty-five years ago, we decided we were tired of sneaking around, pretending we didn’t adore the crisp, refreshing taste of a good lager” says Dave Thibodeau, co-founder and closet Pacifico drinker turned proud Logger lover. “So, we did what any reasonable group of brewers would do – we crafted our own. The Mexican Logger was not just a beer; it was a declaration of independence from the tyranny of beer snobbery.”

The release of Mexican Logger, a cornerstone of the brewery’s portfolio, has become known as the “unofficial start to summer” also known as “The Beginning of Patio Season” around the region. Ska will once again host its second largest party of the year to commemorate the beer’s release at Ska Brewing World HQ on Wednesday, March 27th with live music by Baracutanga and a custom Ska Brewing Paddle Board giveaway. 

The award-winning beer has amassed a cult-like following and can only be found in Colorado and its surrounding states throughout the summer, only to disappear as quickly as it came. At a crushable 5.2% ABV, Mexican Logger is crisp, clean, and refreshing and showcases Saaz hops and a lager yeast strain from Mexico City. Whether enjoyed on a sunny patio or shared with friends at a backyard barbecue, Mexican Logger is the perfect companion for any summer occasion.

Six and 12-packs of Mexican Logger will hit shelves across Ska’s regional distribution footprint later this week. 

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Founded in the spirit of punk rock and a little bit of ska, Ska Brewing has been challenging the status quo and brewing beers that refuse to conform since 1995. From the iconic Mexican Logger to the rebellious Modus Hoperandi IPA, Ska Brewing is dedicated to crafting unforgettable beers that are as unique as the people who drink them. For more information, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Ska Brewing Keeps Spring Tradition Alive With 2023 Mexican Logger Release, Including 12-Packs

DURANGO, CO– Spring weather in Southwest Colorado might be traditionally inconsistent, but one thing locals and visitors can count on is the release of Ska Brewing’s Mexican Logger to kick off the season. Now two dozen years old, this craft lager returns on tap, in cans, and in a brand new 12-pack to Ska’s World Headquarters on Wednesday, March 29. 

Highly decorated and cult-followed, Mexican Logger first debuted on draft in 1999. Crisp and clean from cold fermentation, this beer is made with a yeast strain from Mexico City to honor the roots of this now popularized lager style. In 2011 it became one of, if not the, first American craft lagers to hit a can. 

Now for the first time, this fan favorite is available in 12-pack format. The Ska team is excited to share this long-awaited and requested SKU, which customers can pick up at the Mexican Logger release party. 

On Wednesday, March 29, Ska will welcome patio season with Mexican Logger’s 2023 release at 5pm— rain, snow, or shine. Baracutanga, a seven-piece band representing Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and the USA with a distinct Latin sound, will perform live while guests can enjoy beer and food specials. One lucky lager-lover will go home with a custom Ska Brewing paddleboard. 

Twelve and 6-packs of Mexican Logger will arrive on shelves across Ska’s distribution footprint later this week, replacing its winter alternative Mexican-style Lager Dark.

Media assets for Mexican Logger are available for download here. Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with any questions. 

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award- winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Spring Returns to Durango in a can

DURANGO, CO– Some call it springing forward, others say the start of patio weather, and in Southwest Colorado this time of year has come to be known as Mexican Logger season. 2022 marks the twenty third year that Ska Brewing has brewed the original craft lager, and a return to normalcy for the brewery that hasn’t celebrated this release for three years. 

Ska has brewed this easy-drinking light lager since 1999, and received many accolades for it since— including Great American Beer Festival® awards in the International Style Pilsner category in 2015 and 2016. It’s crisp and clean, cold fermented with a lager yeast strain from Mexico City and weighing in at a crushable 5 percent ABV.

Ska is thrilled to celebrate the kickoff of spring with this beer release on Thursday, March 31. Durango locals The Lawn Chair Kings will play beginning at 5pm, and brewery-goers can expect beer and food specials to celebrate the occasion. “Without this party to kickoff the season, I just wake up one day drinking beer in the middle of the summer without realizing it even began,” says Ska Brewing CEO Dave Thibodeau. “Patio season deserves a proper kickoff this year.”

In 2020, Ska released Mexican Logger’s dark-hued sister to satisfy the urge for Mexican-style Lager during the cold months. Mexican-style Lager Dark will go into hibernation now until the fall. 

Media assets for Mexican Logger are available for download here. Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with any questions. 

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award- winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Ska Brewing Mexican-Style Lager Dark Returns

DURANGO, CO–  The days of seasonal disappointment over the loss of Ska Brewing Mexican Logger are over. Mexican-Style Lager Dark returns today, and will be available through the cold season. 

Smooth and malty, this dark-colored lager is balanced with a mild bitterness from Tettnang, Cascade, and Saaz hops. Subtle caramel flavors and a touch of roast on the finish round it all out, giving it that warm darkness perfect for the chillier days ahead.

“We knew we needed an easy-drinking beer that could hold its own in the fall and winter months when Mexican Logger goes into hibernation,” says Ska Brewing COO Steve Breezley. “We spent three winters perfecting Mexican-Style Lager Dark— a true labor of love, and of lagers.”

In traditional Ska fashion, this tasting room favorite necessitated availability in a can. Following a brief late-season appearance in 2021, this fall marks Mexican-Style Lager Dark’s full-season debut. It will now be available until Mexican Logger returns in the spring. Look for it across Ska’s nine-state distribution starting October 5. The beer is on tap at Ska’s World Headquarters in Durango through fall and winter. 

Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com for more information about Ska Brewing and Mexican-Style Lager Dark’s return.

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award- winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.

Craft Industry COVID-19 Update, Mexican Lager / Logger Edition - May 5, 2020

Hutto enjoying a Mexican Logger, a sunny day in Durango, listening to the Ska Crew talk Mexican Logger.

“[It] started to quench our thirst and [was] meant to be in Kurowski’s living room; and it kind of blew up for us” - Dave Thibodeau

Sometimes relief means taking the week off and having a beer about it. This Cinco de Mayo we dove into a beer style that brewers can’t seem to stop talking about: Mexican Lager. We kicked back and took a week off COVID-19 talk, and we highly recommend it.

Ska Brewing is one of the pioneers of the "craft Mexican Lager” style, often touted for bringing this style to the United States… at least in a can, anyway.

Mexican Logger is celebrating its 21st anniversary — so it can now legally enjoy itself. Over the 21 years Mexican Logger has been around, it’s grown exponentially. This Cinco de Mayo we’re pleased to catch up with Dave Thibodeau, Steve Breezley, Kristen Muraro, and the crew over at Ska to learn more about Mexican Logger and how it has evolved over the years.

In sharing more about the beer itself, Thibodeau wanted to start from the beginning and highlighting the history about the beer style itself and what Cinco de Mayo actually celebrates. The Cinco de Mayo that we celebrate here in the US is often associated with Mexico’s independence. In actuality, it’s celebrating the Battle of Puebla, being as the war that gave Mexico their independence was 50 years before the Battle of Puebla.

Both battles had roots in beer, believe it or not. The country had been brewing some version of alcohol beverages well before all of this happened — even dating back to the 1500s where some European beers were brewed but was short lived; however, after the Mexican War of Independence, Mexico was invaded and that’s how the German-Austrian influence came into Mexico and when the Mexican Lager-style beer began kicking off.

In the mid-1800s, Mexico was invaded by the various European countries. While many had left, the French stayed and tried to turn it into a monarchy. Napoleon brought Maximillian the First to Mexico to be their emperor — which became known as the Second Mexican Empire. Wherever Maximillian the First went, he brought his brewer. And that is how the Vienna-style Lager arrived in Mexico. Over the years, the Mexican-style Lager evolved from a darker Lager rooted in the Vienna-style to something more similar to a Bohemian Pilsner.

And how did the Mexican-style Lager come to the U.S? Many made their way to Mexico to drink during the Prohibition and with that, they brought back the influence of this Mexican-style lager.

You may be asking yourself, How did Ska get into making Mexican Logger? Here’s the skinny:

Ska has been brewing Mexican Logger since 1999 and is widely recognized as being an “OG” of the style amongst craft brewers. The beer originated because “we were closeted Pacifico drinkers,” shares Thibodeau, “we had this crazy old van that we used to drive to all the festivals around Colorado.” He continues, “I remember going to all these small mountain town festivals, getting set up for the festival, and then going to this copper colored van with teardrop windows and drinking these Pacifico’s, then going out to the festival and pretending like we’ve been drinking our craft beer.”

And then it clicked: “we’re craft brewers — why not brew one ourselves?” Just like that, Mexican Logger was born.

“Mexican Logger,” Thibodeau shares, “grew every year, but it grew small. It really took off for us after we started canning it back in 2012.” He went on to talk about how brewing a beer this light is a very delicate process, because these lighter beers won’t mask any imperfections in the beer.

Even though Mexican Logger is a seasonal beer for Ska, it is the Durango brewery’s second largest seller after their year-round beer, Modus Hoperandi. They also shared that they initially wanted to create a Vienna-style lager to be Mexican Logger’s counterpart, but ended up producing Oktoberfest. “Between Mexican Logger and Oktoberfest, we have won a few awards,” shares Thibodeau.

We also had the opportunity to host a small Q&A with the Ska crew during our Weekly Industry Zoom call and here’s a bit of what we learned:

“Where did adding a lime to the Mexican Lager start/why does it taste so good with a lime?” —
 Cheyenne R.

“It had to be a marketing thing for Corona or the Michelada style — lime juice in a beer with the salt — in a campaign from Corona,” Thibodeau muses, “As much as I want to poo poo it as a brewer, enjoyed putting a lime in our Pacifico.” He adds, “We brought this for the first time to Colorado’s Rendezvous. We brought bags and bags of key limes that we chopped and set it up on our table in Salida.” He contiues, “we just showed up with a tub full of cut limes, but it went over really well. It felt a little irreverent and against the grain. I remember that festival very well and I don’t remember all of them all too well. We just went with it from the beginning.”

“Mexican Logger is one of the first-ever craft lagers/Mexican-style craft lagers produced in the country. What has marketing been like over the last 21 years?” — Emily Hutto

“I can tell you that when we first started putting it in a bottle, the justification at the time, we were originally had a guy in a sombrero with a chainsaw celebrating a siesta. once there was an end put to that, we put together a story as to why siestas should be mandatory,” shares Thibodeau, “We ran into flack over time, and it’s changed over time, it went to a guy welding chainsaws, and now it’s chainsaws. He continues, “there were times where our distributor didn’t want to carry it due to kick back from the label. The cans are easier to market and that opened doors.”

There is a lot of cultural sensitivity that goes into marketing a Mexican-style beer in comparison to a Belgian-style beer, German-style beer, or anything like that and that’s undoubtedly top of mind. Among the niche group of craft beer enthusiasts, there has been an upward trend of popularity amongst craft lagers at the moment. Lagers don’t mask any impurities, as mentioned by Thibodeau, it shows the true prowess of a brewer.

Emily also shares that it’s very interesting to a craft marketer as well. Looking back even 10 years ago, craft lagers weren’t as large of a discussion on a national scale — whereas now, it’s trending to make lagers with a large gain in traction over the last couple years.

Mexican Logger, in particular, tells a story behind the brand and the beer — and that shows sensitivity more than just slapping a label on a beer style. Stories behind the beer help to avoid some of those “uncomfortable” conversations around cultural sensitivity. “Ska has a story behind each of the beers, why it was made, and why it was canned,” shares Emily, “Mexican Logger is no different.”

Since then, many other breweries, especially in the Colorado region, have followed and developed their own Mexican-style lagers. And they all attribute Ska as being the “OG” of the style.

Until next week, salud!

— Karen Mills, RadCraft Content Editor



Ska Brewing Celebrates 20th Year of Mexican Logger

DURANGO, CO— The always anticipated release of Ska Brewing Mexican Logger is possibly premature with Purgatory Mountain under 10 feet of snow, but here regardless. For twenty years now, this beer’s release has served as Durango’s unofficial kickoff into springtime. 

Mexican Logger was Ska’s first session beer when the recipe debuted in 1999. It became Colorado’s first craft lager in a can in 2011, and then won back-to-back Great American Beer Festival® awards in the International Style Pilsner category in 2015 and 2016.

Ska Mexican Logger is crisp, clean, and refreshing — made for hot afternoons with a side of lime. The beer is a crushable 5 percent ABV, and brewed with a lager yeast strain from Mexico City. That same yeast strain now ferments Ska’s Rue B. Soho Grapefruit Lager as well.  

Find Mexican Logger on tap and available to-go at Ska Brewing on Wednesday, March 20. Durango-based “Western garage” band Lawn Chair Kings will serenade the tasting room with skank-inducing rock-country-punk hybrid tunes at 5pm. 

Mexican Logger will be available through spring and summer in canned 6-packs across Colorado, Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Utah.

For more information about Ska Brewing or its beloved Mexican Logger, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com. 

ABOUT SKA BREWING

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and produces more than a dozen award-winning beers fueled with Ska music, and lots of it. Pioneers in the canned craft beer movement, Ska Brewing is known for an array of styles in 12 oz cans that include Mexican Logger, Modus Hoperandi, and Rue B. Soho. For information (a lot of it), more music, and a good time, visit www.skabrewing.com.