Craft Beer, Fast Curves, and Bad Decisions

Beer, BBQ, and bad decisions with friends on the Riviera Maya.

DAILY POSTCARD  | MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2026 Dear International Living reader, What starts as a carefree girls’ trip for craft beer and Argentinian BBQ quickly turns into a wild Riviera Maya adventure.  With 180 beers flowing, smoky choripán on the grill, and one absolutely unhinged collectivo driver flying down the highway, this Mexico story serves up equal parts foodie heaven and white-knuckle terror.  P.S. There are hidden places around the world where the pace is slower, the people are warmer, and the cost of living is dramatically lower. My new book shows you where they are—and how to make one your escape hatch. Request your copy now—supplies are limited. Recommended Resource: Far Away from Any Crisis, in These Hidden Places Abroad, a Smaller Budget Buys a Better Life Special Offer ends Wednesday... Reserve your print copy now! Inside: Discover the calm, overlooked, undervalued escapes where you can spend less, live richer, and thrive abroad. Yes! Show Me How to Get a Copy Craft Beer, Fast Curves, and Bad Decisions By Bel Woodhouse Who wants over 30 nations, 180 labels of craft beers from around the world, and mouthwatering Argentinian BBQ... um, that’s a no-brainer, right?  It was for a bunch of us ladies here on Cozumel, who decided it was worth hopping a ferry over to the mainland and live to tell the tale of our crazy collectivo driver. To explore the fun world of craft beer at the Festival de Cerveza del Caribe, the Caribbean Beer Festival in Puerto Morelos.  Beer buddies for the day. What better way to spend a Saturday than with a little adventure? Even for me, who usually isn’t a beer drinker. But this day out taught me a thing or two, expanding my appreciation of the pale ale. One of our beer buddies, Jackie, is a beer aficionado. Her son has a boutique beer business in Canada, so she’s serious about her beer. Most people think of the Riviera Maya, and think ceviche, fish tacos, and cheap beers on the beach. Which, yes, you can find everywhere here, but not at this beer festival. This beer festival was an upmarket and artisanal affair. So good thing it will turn into an annual event. This beer festival was an upmarket and artisanal affair. Something that will make many in my expat community very happy. I’ve heard from a bunch of them, more than once, that they’d love boutique beers, craft beer labels, and brewery restaurants like they got back home. BEER IS BIG with the expat community in the Riviera Maya. Which is understandable because it’s perfect beer weather, being warm year-round in the Caribbean.  The Riviera Maya is stepping up its beer game. And the BBQ that goes with it. After all, isn’t that a match made in heaven… beer and BBQ?  In an almost Pavlovian response, tummies started growling as we walked into the beer area. Thick smoke drifted past, carrying the delectable smell of Argentinian chorizo on the grill. Argentinian chorizo, perfect with beer. Mouths watering, the ladies made a beeline straight to those thick sausages to grab a choripan. Argentinian chorizo, chimichurri sauce, tomato and lettuce wrapped in a small baguette bun.  While that was being made it was a quick round of the nearest craft breweries stands for the perfect beer pairing. But to me, doesn’t all beer go with BBQ?  The answer is yes. Three ladies returned with three different beers. One pale ale, one cream ale with a dash of coffee, and one dark beer.  That piqued my interest. What is a cream ale? Now don’t scoff at this beer newbie, take me to a winery and I’m your gal. But beer, it’s just not something I ever embraced. My grandparents were wine distributors so I’ve been tasting red wine since it was watered down and slipped into my sippy cup!  So I learnt something from this fun guy nearby. A beer creative genius with his whole beer line printed on the back of his shirt. It was fun, so much so that Jackie wanted one and offered to buy the shirt right off his back.  I did try his dark beer first, Brutal, and loved it. Then got down to chatting cream ale which was the one I was curious about. Fun facts were thrown around and I was delighted to discover unusual enhancements.  Cream ale with coffee, with honey, with chocolate, which of course we had to try. And let me tell you, I had the surprise of my life…. Coffee was the winner. Such a surprise for me because unlike 98% of the world, I don’t like coffee. I’m a tea connoisseur. So it knocked my socks off that two beverages I don’t care for tasted amazing together!  The hit of the day and winner of the Mexican beers, was Smash, a light and refreshing  Mexican lager. Much to the delight of the vendors when I had a sip and grinned from ear to ear.  Happily waddling around with a belly full of beer, we decided it was time to head back to the island. Which was its own kind of adventure. Jumping into the collectivo, a minivan-style public transport, it wasn’t until we were on the highway before realizing our driver might be a bit of a speed demon.  I won’t say I was white knuckling it in the front seat by his side with a birds eye view of traffic, but I will say that arriving back in Playa del Carmen was a relief. We’re just glad everyone kept their beer down! Editor’s Note: If you’ve ever dreamed about trading in the stress of home for a simpler, more affordable, and more joyful life overseas, my book Live Better Overseas: Hidden Places and Surprising Ways You Can Spend Less, Live Richer, and Thrive Abroad is your roadmap. You’ll discover safe, stable escapes where you can rent beachside condos for $1,500 a month or enjoy European charm for a fraction of what it would cost back home. Best of all, we’ll mail you a copy for FREE when you try International Living—but this special offer ends this week. Only the first 500 readers will get in on it. Claim your copy now before supplies run out. Recommended Resource: Come to One of The World’s Best Retirement Havens With Us in July We’re going back to Costa Rica for our Fast Track Costa Rica Conference in July. And we want you to join us. We’ll show you where you can enjoy a lifestyle upgrade for less than $2,200 a month. From the lush valleys, to the dazzling beaches, we’ll show you a way of life that's hard to beat anywhere. Click here for more details. Greek Getaways: Four Easy Weekend Escapes from Athens Read More → Inbox too crowded? Don't worry—if you can't keep up with our International Living Postcards every day, click here to switch to the Weekly Best of IL Postcards instead. If you no longer wish to receive IL Postcards, click here to unsubscribe. Your feedback is very important to us, so if you would like to contact us with a question or comment, please click here. © 2026 International Living Publishing Ltd. All Rights Reserved. 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