Family Pale Lager Style North American Lager
Country Mexico ABV 4.4%
Producer Grupo Modelo
Price $ Packaging 12oz/355ml bottle; 12oz/355ml, 24oz/710ml can

Overview The pale sibling of dark lager Negra Modelo is the third-best-selling import in the US (behind Heineken and Corona Extra). And it’s the unsung champion of Mexican beers, especially in Mexico, where it’s more popular than Corona and on equal footing with Dos Equis. It’s the workhorse of the Mexican beer industry.

Flavors and aromas Our panel found Modelo Especial to be less than totally Especial. A very light nose of almost nothing at all leads into a light palate, faintly sweet, with some corn flavor to the malt. Bitterness is nearly undetectable. At the back of the tongue we were left with a slight numbing tingle that suggests a touch of chlorophenol. But mostly there’s an exaggerated lack of of flavor here.