¡Raise a Can for Cinco de Mayo!

What began as a minor Mexican holiday has brewed into one of the biggest beer-drinking celebrations in the United States. Americans bought 30.6 million cases of beer – that’s $658 million worth of brew – during the week of Cinco de Mayo in 2013 and sales are the seventh highest for single week holidays, beating Halloween, Easter, the Super Bowl and, surprisingly, even St. Patrick’s Day.

Although Cinco de Mayo, which celebrates an unlikely Mexican victory in a battle against the French on May 5th, 1862, is not widely celebrated in Mexico itself, it does enjoy widespread appeal in the US. The beer industry began targeting Cinco de Mayo in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and today beer accounts for more than 58% of alcohol sales on this one day.

Drinking Beer the Mexican Way

For years, metal cans have been the ideal format in which to enjoy a quality craft beer. Lightweight and durable, they chill faster and are an ideal fit for active lifestyles – hiking, camping, or just enjoying outdoors with friends! But this Cinco de Mayo, why not try your beer michelada-style?

A michelada is a beer mixed with tomato juice, lime juice, or lime juice with a spicy sauce like picante sauce or Worchester. The name comes from chelada the Mexican slang word for beer, combined with mi, meaning “mine.” Thus, michelada, my beer.

To fully enjoy your michelada, you can drink it direct from the can. With Crown’s 360 End® technology, the entire lid of the beer can is removed, turning the beer can into a drinking cup – all you have to do is add the sauce. And, of course, the 360 End® allows you to fully take in the scent and flavor of the beer – whether or not you choose to drink it michelada style.

¡Cheers!