Happy Cinco de Mayo! I'm celebrating mine in August, you see. For a guy who celebrates Christmas in July all month long every year, though, how unusual is that? Not very. It all started end of last May, the month of Cinco de Mayo, when I saw Von Ebert Dusk Mexican-Style Dark Lager at Half Time Beverage. I do enjoy the style, especially Negra Modelo which is indeed my favorite Mexican beer and if I might say so, very underrated. I am a fan of Von Evert, too, and very much so, so into my cart a can went.
As with Negra Modelo, this Mexican dark lager is broadly in the Vienna Lager style, Vienna Lagers were developed in the early 1840s by Anton Dreher, and by the end of the century Gertman and Austrian immigrants had brought the style to Mexico. There, it has evolved to what we know today as Mexican Dark Lager, a lighter but still nutty malty version of the original.
So, I was intrigued and read about the beer in a release statement from Von Ebert dated May 4th of 2026.
Von Ebert Brewing has announced the release of two Mexican Lagers just in time for Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Swing by the N. Mississippi. location to enjoy these new seasonal beers and dine on delicious tacos, nachos and burritos from our partner food cart Tehuana Mexican Cuisine.
What ho! They were releasing two Mexican lagers? They were! The other one is called, of course, Dawn, and is a Mexican Pale Lager. This, however, was a problem because I wanted to drink them back-to-back, and I checked back from time to see if Half Time got the beer in. They did! Just in time for my next box, too, a little over a month later.
Von Ebert Dusk Mexican-Style Dark Lager has an alcohol content of 5.3% by volume.
About Von Ebert Brewing
Von Ebert Brewing was founded in 2018 by Tom M. Cook and Tom S. Cook, a father-son duo in Portland, Oregon. Von Ebert Brewing is named after the family matriarch who we lovingly refer to as "Grandma Ebert." The quintessential immigrant story, Grandma Ebert came to America from Germany via Ellis Island and relied on her grit and determination to create a successful life for her family here in the states.
Tasting Notes
Von Ebert Dusk Mexican-Style Dark Lager pours to a brilliant golden-brown color with a moderate head of creamy foam and a nose of dry roasted nuts and bread crusts. Taking a sip, the beer is light to medium in body, dry roasty with the nuts again and, toasted bread with the crusts, and a hint of toffee. The beer is creamy and smooth with a subtle corn note.. Finishes dry with a gentle but present grassy hop bitterness that makes it oh so drinkable.
Value & Verdict
I paid $3.99 for a pint can from Half Time. Not a bad deal at all considering Total Wine sells it in 4-packs for $16.99 at their Temecula, California location, though they are currently out of stock.
Judged as a Mexican style Vienna lager, this is a very good one indeed. It is bursting with fresh nutty malt like chewing a handful at the malter. With it's companion beer Dawn, perhaps best enjoyed while watching a certain Quentin Tarantino film.
