A Close up of bottles of Corona in a bucket with the caption 'Where is Corona Brewed?'

Without a doubt, Corona is the most popular imported beer in the United States. In fact, it has among the top five best-selling beers of any kind in the country, shipping 8.7 million barrels in 2017. That’s a pretty lofty achievement, considering the beer is Mexican through and through. While Corona has become very popular in the United States, many still wonder where it is made. Let’s answer that real quick.

Corona is brewed exclusively in Mexico and has been that way since its inception. Cervecería Modelo first produced the beer in Mexico City. They currently produce the beer in eleven breweries across Hidalgo, Coahuila, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Zacatecas and Yucatán. Despite being 100% brewed in Mexico, the beer is exported to more than 150 countries worldwide.

As helpful as that quick answer is, it doesn’t contain all the necessary detail about where Corona is made. Here, we will examine extensively where the beer was first brewed, where it is brewed now, the beer’s owner, and its headquarters. Stay with us!

Yes, we do taste the beers we write about, it’s part of the job 🙂

Where Was Corona Founded?

Corona was first brewed in 1925 by Cervecería Modelo (Grupo Modelo, now) in Mexico City, Mexico. The beer was initially created to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the brewery. There has been a lot of controversy about the actual origin of the beer, but it is widely attributed to German immigrants in Mexico.

There was a bit of resistance back when the beer debuted because Mexicans favored a native drink called Pulque. However, Grupo Modelo was able to turn things around with their aggressive marketing of Corona Extra, a variant of the original drink. After the decline of Pulque, Corona solidified its stance as one of the top-selling beers in Mexico.

At its launch, manufacturers were confused about the exact bottle to use. This was unprecedented then and even now, considering colored bottles are almost always used for beers. The logic behind this is that sunlight can react with beer chemicals and compromise its quality. Grupo Modelo wasn’t influenced by that logic, though, and opted for clear bottles, displaying the full brilliant golden color of the beer.

While the clear bottle is a welcome sight to the eye, many question if the beer can withstand storage conditions without losing its quality. Again, as we have come to expect of them, Grupo Modelo squashed doubts. The company stated that there was nothing to worry about because it used the finest ingredients for its beers. That’s simply splendid marketing, I must say!

If you want to know our view on the taste, and if we think this clear bottle affects it, here’s where you can read our reviews: Corona Extra, Corona Premier & Corona Light

Where Is Corona Brewed In Mexico?

Mexico is the home of all Corona beers. Grupo Modelo operates across eleven breweries across Mexico. In addition, they have ten factories across Mexico to assist in making beer containers, glasses, and even malting materials.

The breweries are located in Hidalgo, Coahuila, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Zacatecas and Yucatán. Of all the locations, Hidalgo bears the most burden. Reports suggest that it produces around 60% of Corona beers in the country.

Considering the unhinged rise of the beer, it is only natural to expect more breweries to break out in Mexico. Unfortunately, that may not be the case anytime soon. This is because production has lagged recently because of the coronavirus. In fact, Grupo Modelo stopped production entirely in April 2020, when the pandemic became a severe issue.

Where Is Corona Brewed In The United States?

For that, Corona is not brewed in the United States or any other part of the world. If you’re shocked, you’re not alone, as many are. It just makes sense for a beer this big to have breweries worldwide, especially in the United States, given the US is their largest foreign consumer.

However, the beer is brewed exclusively in Mexico. This hasn’t stopped the beer’s distribution into more than 150 countries globally, but still just the one country producing it – Mexico. Interestingly, Constellation Brands acquired the full rights to the beer in the United States but still cannot produce it.

There have been reports that the beer production will hit other countries soon. As a matter of fact, one post stated that manufacturers had taken production overseas to the UK and China. Even if that’s not entirely true, there’s no smoke without fire. I believe it is just a matter of time before the beer becomes produced in the United States and other countries.

Who Owns Corona Now?

One question people often ask is who owns Corona. I can understand why there will be some confusion in this regard. There are three names in the mix – Grupo Modelo, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (AB InBev), and Constellation Brands Inc.

The simple answer to the question of who owns the beer is Grupo Modelo. For one, they were the original producers of the beer. Also, they are still the name most associated with the beer even now.

The case for AB InBev is that they acquired Grupo Modelo in 2012 in a deal worth around $20.1 billion. So, technically, you will be in the right to say AB InBev owns Corona.

To complicate matters even further, Constellation Brands bought the US business of AB InBev for around $4.75 billion. The reason for the deal was to satisfy the United States’ anti-trust demands. This gives Constellation Brands the exclusive rights to all of the company’s business in the United States, including importing, marketing, and possibly extending. However, they still cannot produce the beer.

Where is Corona’s Headquarters?

As you would expect, Corona’s headquarters is in Mexico. Specifically, Javier Barros Sierra 555, 01210 Mexico City, Distrito Federal. Their number is +52 55 2266 0000.

Also, Constellation Brands has its headquarters in Victor, New York, United States. Similarly, AB In Bev’s headquarters is in Leuven, Belgium.

Did The Link To The Coronavirus Affect Production?

Yes, it did, but not necessarily for the reason you’re thinking. It’s clear to see the similarity between the nomenclature of the virus and the beer. They are not even similar now; they have the same name!

Unsurprisingly, some people linked the two. One survey revealed that 38% of American beer drinkers said they wouldn’t buy Corona “under any circumstances” when the pandemic first became an issue in the US in February. However, this did not deter production or marketing.

A few weeks later, Grupo Modelo announced that they were temporarily ceasing production, but that was because the Mexican government declared a health emergency, ordering the suspension of non-essential activities. Production resumed shortly after, though.

Fortunately, the brand managed to hold firm in the long run. According to Wall Street analysts, profit for Constellation Brands rose 13% in the late summer and fall of 2020. This was unlike many other beer brands that saw dipping profits during the year.

References

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