An independent Aguascalientes brewery whose taproom pours its own IPAs, stouts and lagers, with tasting flights that make it the most direct introduction to the state's craft beer scene.
Cerveceria No. 18 is an independent brewery in the north of Aguascalientes city, off Avenida Aguascalientes Norte, whose taproom is the most direct way to understand the state's small craft-beer scene. The brewery works at a scale where the beer list changes with production rather than following a fixed menu, so the taps rotate between IPAs, stouts, porters, wheat beers and lagers depending on what has finished conditioning. Tasting flights are the standard order and the reason most first-time visitors come; individual pours generally run MXN 60 to 110 and a flight of four or five roughly MXN 150 to 220.
The room is industrial and informal - tanks visible or adjacent, high tables, a counter where staff pour and explain - and closer to a brewery tasting room than a bar. The crowd is mostly 25 to 45: beer enthusiasts, groups from the surrounding northern colonias and business visitors staying near the industrial corridor, with a steady flow of people arriving specifically to fill growlers. There is no dress code and no door policy of any kind, and conversation rather than volume is the default register.
Music is incidental, kept low, and the taproom is not a live-music venue. Food is limited; some sessions have a snack offering or a visiting food operation, but many groups eat before arriving or order in. Hours are Thursday to Saturday from 5PM to midnight, which is a narrow window and the single most important planning detail - the taproom is closed Sunday through Wednesday, and closing at midnight makes it an early-evening stop rather than a late one.
There is no cover charge, no bottle service and no need for reservations for small groups; larger parties and anyone wanting a guided tasting are better off arranging it in advance through the brewery, whose site is cerveceria18.com. The location is well north of the Zona Centro, so a taxi or ride-hailing trip is the practical way in and out, particularly for anyone tasting a full flight. Saturday evenings are the busiest, and the brewery's beers also appear around Aguascalientes during the Feria de San Marcos in April.
Good to know
- Hours
- Thu-Sat 5PM-12AM
- Signature
- Aguascalientes-brewed craft beer flights
Location
Av. Aguascalientes Nte., Aguascalientes, Ags., Mexico
21.9179, -102.2795 View on map
Highlights
- Tasting flights of four or five house beers, the clearest introduction to Aguascalientes craft brewing
- Rotating taps that follow production - IPAs, stouts, porters, wheat beers and lagers rather than a fixed list
- An industrial tasting-room setting where staff pour and explain each beer at the counter
- Growler fills to take away, a common reason locals stop in
- Quiet enough for conversation, with no cover charge and no door policy
Tips for visiting
- The taproom opens only Thursday to Saturday, 5PM to midnight - check the day before travelling across the city
- Start with a flight rather than a full pour; individual glasses run MXN 60 to 110 and flights roughly MXN 150 to 220
- It sits well north of the Zona Centro, so plan a taxi or ride-hailing trip in both directions
- Arrive by 8PM on Saturday, the busiest night, to be sure of a table
- Food is limited or absent depending on the session, so eat beforehand
- Larger groups or anyone wanting a guided tasting should arrange it in advance via cerveceria18.com
Frequently asked questions
When is the taproom open?
Thursday to Saturday from 5PM until midnight. It is closed Sunday through Wednesday, which makes the visit worth confirming in advance.
What beers are on tap?
The brewery's own range, rotating with production - typically IPAs, stouts or porters, a wheat beer and a lager. The exact line-up changes every few weeks rather than following a fixed menu.
Is there a cover charge?
No. Entry is free and there is no minimum spend, guest list or bottle service.
How far is it from the city centre?
The brewery is in the northern part of Aguascalientes city, off Avenida Aguascalientes Norte, several kilometres from the Zona Centro. Taxi or ride-hailing is the practical way to get there.
Can beer be bought to take away?
Yes. Growler fills and bottles to take away are a normal part of the taproom's business and a common reason local customers stop in.