Even craft beer drinkers have developed a taste for easy drinking beers, and craft breweries have released their own interpretation aimed at thirst quenching their niche followers while the brewery adds a product that appeals to the masses.

The United States has plenty of light beers, homegrown and imported. We look closely at some of the best light beer offerings available today.

1. Michelob Ultra

Type: Light Lager | ABV: 4.2% | Calories: 95

Michelob Ultra rules the high-end light beer category. The sleek packaging, celebrity endorsements, and hi-vis sponsorships have helped the brand grow, but the beer is actually quite tasty for beer drinkers.

This well-balanced beer has earned all of its limelight and is a fixture on the links or in your fridge.

See also:

• Michelob Ultra Review
• Michelob Ultra vs Coors Light

2. Corona Light

Type: Light Lager | ABV: 4.5% | Calories: 99

Light beer has a bad reputation for being thin, watery, and flavorless. They don’t taste like anything, let alone beer!

Not so with Corona Light. This low-calorie offering of the Corona brand tastes like an imported pilsner. Beer drinkers who feel stuck in a sea of light beers should know that if they need a lifesaver, they should grab a Corona Light.

See also:

• Full Review of Corona Light
• Corona Light vs Corona Premier
• Corona Light vs Corona Extra

3. Cigar City Jai Low

Type: Low ABV IPA | ABV: 4% | Calories: 100

Craft beer and light beer didn’t used to occupy the same space. Not anymore. Florida’s Cigar City has found success by spinning off their craft beer drinker favorite, Jai Lai IPA, with a lower calorie, light IPA called Jai Low.

The beer offers the hoppy goodness of the brewer’s flagship IPA with few calories.

4. Bud Light

Type: Light Lager | ABV: 4.2% | Calories: 110

You know what’s a really good beer? Bud Light! What is it with mass appeal that makes you believe that a product is not good quality?

Bud Light is everywhere for a reason. It’s simply an exceptional drinking beer. Perfect for almost any situation. If you’re hunting for a crisp lager, try this classic again.

5. Corona Premier

Type: Light Beer| ABV: 4% | Calories: 90

I am practically certain that Corona Premier exists to compete with Michelob Ultra. A lot of large breweries have followed this MO.

However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing; this ultra-premium beer is light tasting without being thin and flavorless.

Just because you’re cutting calories doesn’t mean you should have to cut out the taste.

See also:

• Corona Premier vs Corona Extra
• How Many Calories In Corona Premier?

6. Busch Light

Type: Light Beer | ABV: 4.1% | Calories: 95

Light beer is part of Americana—the midwestern-y vibes of ice fishing, deer hunting, canoeing, or chopping wood.

I know I don’t get it, but plenty of people would be caught dead chopping wood without a light beer nearby, specifically Busch Light.

Busch Light is a sub-premium light beer (think the opposite of Michelob Ultra) that is a really refreshing lager without the need for a slick can or sponsorship at the Masters. It’s what light beer is about and should always be.

See also:

• Busch vs Busch Light
• When Did Busch Light Come Out?
• How Many Calories in Busch Light?

7. Nite Lite

Type: Light Beer | ABV: 4.3%| Calories: 120

Mite Lite is an American light lager from Night Shift Brewing in Massachusetts.

The brewery was among the first craft brands to jump on the light beer bandwagon.

The beer has been very successful for them, and I think craft beer fans like it because it isn’t lightened with preservatives, corn syrup, or artificial flavors. It’s just a good quality crisp lager to enjoy on a hot day at the beach.

8. Miller Lite

Type: Light Beer | ABV: 4.2% | Calories: 96

Miller Lite is the original light beer. It was the first to find commercial success by using enzymes in the brewing process to brew a beer with fewer calories. In typical beers, the yeast can’t consume all of the sugar provided by malted barley.

By adding enzymes, long sugar chains are broken down further than is normal. This allows the yeast to consume these fermentable sugars, thereby reducing calories that would remain in the beer.

See also:

• Miller Lite vs Coors Light
• Miller Lite vs Bud Light
• Is Miller made by Anheuser Busch?

9. Kona Light Blonde Ale

Type: Light Beer | ABV: 4.2% | Calories: 99

Light beer and the beach go hand in hand. But that doesn’t mean you always want the same light lager when enjoying the beach.

Kona’s light beer is a blonde ale with mango added for a subtle tropical vibe, whether watching the waves crash or sitting out on your porch.

The blonde ale has the same light body as light lagers, but it’s brewed with an ale yeast that blends well with the added fruit.

10. Amstel Light

Type: Light Beer| ABV: 3.5% | Calories: 95

In the US, all of the big beer makers have decided the perfect alcohol content for light lagers is 4.2 percent, but Dutch beer maker Amstel has decided that less alcohol really helps make their Amstel Light even more thirst quenching.

At only 3.5 percent, you won’t feel full or too tipsy after a few Amstels, but that still doesn’t mean you can hop behind the wheel.

11. Heineken Light

Type: Light Beer | ABV: 3.3% | Calories: 90

Heineken knows a thing or two about brewing crisp lagers. Their flagship is for sure a classic and an effortlessly drinkable lager. For Heineken fans who prefer a few less calories with just the right amount of flavor, they have the option of grabbing a Heineken light.

Heineken Light clocks in at a sessionable 3.3 percent ABV and has only 90 calories. Its a pale golden lager with a crisp flavor and lighter body.

The beer is brilliantly clear and looks beautiful in a long fluted beer glass.

12. Coors Light

Type: Light Beer | ABV: 4.2% | Calories: 102

One of the knocks on light beer is that they are too watery. A case in point is Coors Light, which is a very watery light beer. I don’t care for this beer compared to other light beers, but that doesn’t mean others don’t look for that in a light brew.

That’s why if you’re putting together a list of the best light beers, one would be silly not to include Coors Light in the mix.

See also:

• When Did Coors Light Come Out?
• How Many Calories in Coors Light?

Final Thoughts on the Best Light Beers

Light beer has taken the world by storm, so much so that when people ask for regular beer, chances are they are asking for a light lager.

Today, beer drinkers have plenty of options when choosing which low-cal beer they want to drink. From high-end to sub-premium, niche craft to commercial behemoths, the light beer category has found a way to offer something for everyone.

Modelo Negra has an ABV (alcohol by volume) of 5.4%, which is very much higher end for mass producer Mexican or American lager beers.

The clue to this is in the type of beer – Modelo Negra is a dunkel style dark beer and dark beers are renowned for having higher-than-average alcohol content. For a dunkel, the ABV can range between 5 and 10%.

How Much Alcohol is there in Modelo Negra vs other Modelo Beers?

Unsurprisingly, Modelo Negra is the beer in the Modelo range with the highest ABV. Modelo Especial, which is more of a Pilsner style lager, has an ABV of 4.4% and Modelo Oro (a light beer) has an ABV of 4%.

How Much Alcohol is there in Modelo Negra vs other beers?

Modelo Negra’s ABV is slightly higher than most Mexican beers or American lagers. For example, at 5.4% ABV it is more than 25% higher in alcohol than Bud Light.

It is worth noting Modelo Negra has more calories than most beers too.

How Many Modelo Negra Beers Can I Drink and Not Get Drunk?

Using the rule of thumb of having one standard drink initially and one every hour, then you can drink two Modelo Negras in two hours and stay well and truly sober. There are 1.5 standard drinks in bottle or can of Modelo Negra, so having two in two hours gives you three standard drinks. That’s one initially and one for each hour.

Obviously how alcohol affects you depends on your individual tolerance and your body mass, so be sure to monitor how you are feeling as you drink, drink responsibly and don’t drink and drive.

What Type Of Beer is Modelo Negra?

Dark lager, dark beer, amber lager … you’ll see various labels applied to Modelo Negra. The correct answer is that Modelo Negra is a dunkel. This is a German beer style that comes from Munich. Dunkel literally means “dark” in German and dunkel beers can vary from a light amber color to something more approaching a stout in color. 

Modelo Negra pours at the lighter end of the scale for a dark beer and is a rich copper color in the glass.

What Does Modelo Negra Taste Like?

Modelo Negra, like a typical Munich dunkel lager, has a smooth rich flavor with caramel characteristics that come from the dark malts used in the brewing process for dark beers.

The other main flavor note from my perspective for Modelo Negra (see here for our beer judge Andy’s full review) is the absence of any real hop driven bitterness in the flavor profile.

It makes for a smooth creamy taste that pairs well with grilled meats (say beef tacos) and copes well with the chilli driven spice in Mexican dishes.

Andy taste notes mentioned a brown bread flavor in the beer, which I agree with, while other reviewers picked out caramel and roasted nuts and other similar flavors.

Along with the pilsner style lager Modelo Especial, the Modelo brewery also brews the iconic dark beer Modelo Negra and a light beer called Modelo Oro.

So where are these beers brewed? All Modelo beers are brewed exclusively in Mexico!

Read on to find out why Modelo continues to brew its product – along with the Corona range of beers – at its nine Cervecería Modelo breweries in Mexico.

Where was the Modelo Brand Founded?

Modelo is brewed by Grupo Modelo, which was a company started in Tacuba, a region within Mexico City, in 1925.

Mexican brewers looked to Germany in those days for the techniques they would adopt in brewing and you can see that heritage come through in Negra Modelo, the dark beer – or dunkel – that is brewed by Grupo Modelo.

The Pilsner-style Modelo Especial is a style of lager that also has its roots in Germany.

Today Grupo Modelo is the largest brewer in Mexico by far and also produces the Corona range of beers. It is owned by the global brewing giant Anheuser Busch Inbev. AB Inbev took over Grupo Modelo in 2013 paying $20bn for the Mexican brewer.

Like Modelo, Corona is brewed exclusively in Mexico and is exported to other countries.

Cervecería Modelo breweries in Torreón (Coahuila), México City, Guadalajara (Jalisco), Tuxtepec (Oaxaca), Mazatlán (Sinaloa), Cd. Obregón (Sonora), Zacatecas (Zacatecas), Tecate (Baja California) and Tijuana (Baja California) are used to produce its beers for the local and export markets.

How Does Modelo bring its products to the US?

The Modelo and Corona beer ranges are widely available in the US.

They are shipped from Mexico to the US and distributed by global drinks giant Constellation Brands, which has the exclusive distribution and marketing rights to these beers in the US and other regions.

Anheuser Busch Inbev was prevented under the settlement of an anti-trust lawsuit from owning the rights to Grupo Modelo brands in the US and these exclusive rights were sold off to Constellation Brands in 2013.

Is Modelo Available Across the US?

Yes, you can get Modelo beer in every state of the US. In fact Modelo Especial recently replaced Bud Light as the most popular beer in the US after the Dylan Mulvaney controversy saw a boycott from some consumers of Bud Light.

Modelo, which is sold in a signature squat looking clear bottle with a gold foil over the bottle top, had been creeping up on its rival in terms of sales having clinched top spot as the top selling imported beer years ago.

When Bud’s ill-fated collaboration with the trans influencer got middle America offside, Modelo was waiting to swoop on top spot in the US beer market.

According to Reuters, Modelo Especial was the top-selling beer brand in the United States for a second consecutive month in June, after first dethroning Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Bud Light in May.

Is Grupo Modelo Beer Available In Other Countries?

Modelo beers are sold in throughout most countries of the world including the UK, Europe, Australia and in Asia too.

What Other Beers Besides Modelo Especial Are Made By Grupo Modelo?

Aside from the Modelo range of itself, Grupo Modelo brews all Corona beer variants sold worldwide at its Mexican breweries.

Other Mexican beers brewed by Modelo include less popular brands Pacifico, Victoria and Estrella Jalisco.

Sources:

• https://www.modelousa.com/pages/story-founders
• https://www.cbrands.com/collections/beer#:~:text=The%20Corona%20and%20Modelo%20U.S.,owned%20by%20Constellation%20Brands%2C%20Inc
• https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/social-media/modelo-bud-light-not-owned-same-company-us-fact-check/536-b5763b81-4405-457c-b02a-4e568741d7ae
• https://vinepair.com/articles/rise-of-modelo/

Most Mexican lagers are light pilsner style beers, but Negra Modelo is a different beast.

Personally, I love it – when I travel in Mexico I end up getting sick of the usual suspects – Sol, Corona Extra and Pacifico) and that’s where Modelo Negra comes in handy.

With the extra flavor comes more calories: Modelo Negra has 172 calories per 12 fl oz bottle or can.

Read on to find out more nutritional information about this unique Mexican beer.

How Many Calories in Modelo Negra (5.4 ABV): Nutrional Breakdown

Modelo Negra is brewed using water, barley, malt, non malted cereals and hops in the German Dunkel style (see more here on what type of beer Modelo Negra is classed as).

The result is a flavorsome and dark colored beer with more calories than the average lager.

Modelo Negra is also slightly higher in alcohol content with 5.4% ABV (alcohol by volume).

How Many Calories in Modelo Negra compared to other Beers?

Modelo Negra has about 20% more calories per serving than the average American adjunct lager or Mexican pilsner style beer.

How Many Calories in Modelo Negra compared to other Modelo Beers?

Modelo Negra has more calories than Modelo’s popular standard lager, Modelo Especial and Modelo’s light beer offering, Modelo Oro.

How Much Sugar in Modelo Negra?

There is no sugar in Modelo Negra. As with most beers, any sugar present before the brewing process is consumed by the brewer’s yeast.

How Much Fat in Modelo Negra?

There is no fat in Modelo Negra.

Is Modelo Negra Keto Friendly/Low Carb?

Modelo Negra has 15.7g of carbohydrates per 12oz bottle or can. That’s a fair few carbs compared to light beers. 

As such, Modelo Negra is not the first beer you’d reach for if you were on a keto diet or trying to reduce carbs. (Try a Modelo Oro instead – it’s got just 3g of carbs per bottle).

Mind you, no beer is going to be great for you if you are trying to reduce your intake of carbs or follow a keto diet.

Is Modelo Negra a healthy beer?

On balance, Modelo Negra is not the healthiest beer. It is is high in calories and high in carbohydrates. Not a great combo for thos watching their waistlines.

However, it tastes great (read Andy Sparhawk’s review of Negra Modelo here)! So if you think you can limit the amount of beer you drink, Modelo Negra is a great option.

Sources:

https://www.modelousa.com/products/negra

Let’s look at these differences and similarities to decide between these two Modelo beers the next time you’re in the mood for a Mexican beer.  

Modelo Especial vs Modelo Negra Compared

Both Modelo Negra and Especial share similar histories and, in many cases, similarities in production and flavor characteristics. We thoroughly compare these beers as examples of rich Mexican brewing heritage and distinct styles within the beer category. 

Likely, the easiest comparison between the two Modelo beers is their appearance. We’ll go into depth on each, but most notably, the color of these beers will set them apart. 

Beer color is primarily a byproduct of malt selection. Additionally, barley malt contributes to the alcohol content, not to mention the flavor of the beers.  

History

The recipes date back as long as Modelo has been brewing. Both were released in 1925. Before German and Austrian-styled beers that are now synonymous with Mexican beers, the traditional alcoholic beverages preferred in Mexico were corn-based pulque and chicha. 

With the growth of European immigration, the lager beer began to dominate. At the same time, companies like Modelo worked to undermine the local popularity of pulque by spreading unverified reports that the drink was unsanitary or created psychosis. 

Classification (Type of Beer)

Beer styles can be open to interpretation. The proliferation of categories for competitions and the demands of the marketing department can make identifying accurate beer styles a challenge. 

For example, Negra Modelo is inspired by classic German dark lagers. The nod to a Munich Dunkel is evident in the beer’s brand. Modelo’s website even refers to this dark lager as a stout despite its lack of roasted malts. 

Modelo Especial is marketed as a full-flavored pilsner but lacks the assertive bitterness of authentic German or Czech pilsners. 

Both brands leverage ingredients sourced more locally while leaning on old-world techniques. Either could fall into several categories, but I’m comparing Modelo Negra as an International Dark Lager for this exercise, not a Munich Dunkel style lager. Additionally, we’ll compare Modelo Especial as an American Lager rather than a German Pilsner or International Pale Lager. 

You might be wondering why these beers aren’t judged as Mexican lagers, and that’s because there is not a set of standard guidelines for Mexican lagers. Instead, Mexican beers have their roots in Europe and North America. They resemble styles such as Helles, Pilsner, and Dunkel with an American twist using adjuncts like corn or rice.

Tasting Notes  

Beer drinkers judge a beer on their entire package: aroma, appearance, flavor, and mouthfeel. Once these aspects are taken into account, one can make an overall impression of the beer by asking themselves, “Would I order another?”

Aroma

Each beer showcases nuanced flavors. These aren’t double dry-hopped IPAs that are aggressively hoppy. Instead, malt predominates the aroma. 

• Modelo Especial – fruity, light toast, clean fermentation with low to no hop aroma. 
• Negra Modelo – freshly baked brown bread, light treacle, caramel, roasted nuts, toast that is well done but not burnt. Reminds me of a cold day at a bar. Lovely. 

Appearance

You don’t have to be a beer expert to tell the difference between these beers’ appearance. One is pale; the other is darkly colored from roasted malts. These beers are appropriately colored within their categories, but switch, they obviously would be out of spec. 

• Modelo Especial – golden yellow, clear with a white foam cap that dissipates instantly. Visible carbonation but zero head retention. 
• Negra Modelo – Dark chestnut brown, tawny amber with a thin, white head.

Flavor

The flavor is derived from the combination of perception on your mouth’s palate and the olfactory gland in the nose. Combined, these senses (taste and smell) are perceived in your brain as flavor. There are hundreds of flavors associated with beer. 

When tasting beer, look for the different flavors associated with malt and hops, along with minerality from the water and yeast flavors. 

• Modelo Especial – lightly toasted malt, light corny sweetness, light fruit: spicy hop character, moderately low bitterness. (see here for our Modelo Especial review)
• Negra Modelo – Warm brown bread, diet coke, low bitterness, spicy hops, alcohol (see here for our Modelo Negra review) 

Mouthfeel

While flavor deals with the senses of smell and taste when drinking beers, mouthfeel relies on the sense of touch and hearing. Yes! Believe it or not, hearing plays a part in how you enjoy a beer. Precisely when the beer is cracked open and even to sense crispness. 

Mouthfeel generally refers to the weight of the beer on your palate, but additional textures also play a role in the description. 

• Modelo Especial – Medium-low body, highly carbonated with fine bubbles, short and sticky finish
• Negra Modelo – A bite from carbonation, alcohol, or a combination of both. Medium body.

Calories and Nutritional Information

• Modelo Especial – 150 calories | 0 fat | 1.1 grams protein | 14 grams of carbs | 20 mg of sodium | 90 mg of potassium (see here for more on Modelo Especial calories and nutritional information)
• Negra Modelo – 180 calories | 0 fat | 1.5 grams protein | 16 grams of carbs | 15 mg of sodium | 140 mg of potassium (see here for more on Negra Modelo calories)

Alcohol Content

Alcohol is a byproduct of fermentation. When yeast is introduced to the wort, they will begin to consume the sugars in solution. The amount of sugar consumed results in the creation of alcohol and Carbon Dioxide. 

• Modelo Especial – 4.6 percent ABV
• Negra Modelo – 5.4 percent ABV

Brewing Process And Ingredients

Both Modelo beers are brewed in Nava, Mexico, by Grupo Modelo. Anheuser Busch Inbev owns Modelo beers worldwide except in the United States, where Constellation takes control and distributes through Crown Imports. The beer is brewed as a lager with the “highest quality” ingredients and extended aging.

The ingredients used are similar, but Negra Modelo transforms from a golden beer to a dark beer with the introduction of caramel malts that deepen the beer’s appearance and lend the beer dark fruit and toasted nut notes.

Food Pairings

Beer offers many great pairing opportunities when it comes to food. Beer’s ability to complement and contrast food flavors makes it versatile. Modelo Negra and Modelo Especial have attractive characteristics, making them particularly fine pairing options. 

Both beers have malt-driven flavors that match well with proteins like grilled meats, seafood, fresh fruits, and even desserts. 

Pair Especial with lighter fare like sushi and salads, while Modelo Negra can handle foods with a more pronounced, rich flavor. This is the beer to pair alongside your barbacoa tacos and classic chicken mole. 

Spicy dishes are fair game for either Modelo beer, as they can play a hand in calming heat while accentuating tantalizing spice flavors. 

Would Suit?

Modelo Especial is an everyday drinking beer. Appropriate for after-work refreshments and a mainstay of any beer fridge. It’s no wonder why the beer has become the best selling beer in the United States. 

Negra Modelo is a solidly approachable dark lager that, too, could occupy your beer fridge at any time for any occasion. But it pays to be discerning when to enjoy this rich copper lager. Enjoy Negra Modelo with food or a campfire on a crisp fall night.

What Do Other People Think about Both These Mexican Beers?

These are decent, everyday beers to enjoy.

Our verdict: Modelo Especial vs Negra

While different, Modelo Especial and Modelo Negra are solid choices for beer drinkers craving a Mexican beer or simply a tasty, refreshing drink. These beers are always welcome, whether at a restaurant or in your beer fridge.

The best part is that they don’t have to operate separate spaces. They play well off of each other while the other offers a refreshing change of pace without changing the whole dynamic of the beer drinking experience. 

Negra Modelo could fit into several different beer types, but the use of corn as an adjunct ingredient places it squarely in the International Dark Lager category or BJCP Category 2C.

What Makes Modelo Negra a Dark Beer?

The color of a beer is derived primarily from barley malt. Malt can be kilned or roasted to different levels, imparting a wide array of colors and subsequent colors from the roasting process. Darker malts, like Vienna and Munich varieties, are heated to the point that the grains take on a bread crust flavor and browned appearance.

This process, referred to as the Maillard Reaction, is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars to create melanoidins, the compounds that give browned food its distinctive flavor. 

Modelo Negra Flavor

The beer reminds me of freshly baked brown bread, a la Steakhouse, and Diet Coke. If you unpack that statement a bit, you will discover toasted bread, roasted nuts, and light caramel. 

The roasted malt flavor is balanced with a spicy, noble hop character. This beer is lovely, and even if I’m drinking one in the summer, it gives me a bit of a shiver, like I’m drinking it on a cold fall day.

See here for Andy’s detailed review of Modelo Negra.

See also:

• What Does Modelo Especial Taste Like?
• What Does Modelo Oro Taste Like?

Modelo Negra Brewing Process and Ingredients

Barley malt is crushed and mixed with hot water during the mash. The mash process activates enzymes in the malt to break down long-chain starches into more fermentable sugar molecules. 

The malt solids are separated from the sugary liquid known as wort and transferred to the kettle. There, the wort is boiled, and hops are added to impart bitterness, flavor, and aroma. At the end of the boil, the hopped wort is again moved to a fermenter via a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger cools the wort to a suitable temperature for adding yeast. 

Negra Modelo is a lager; thus, the fermentation process calls on the use of lager yeast. This yeast ferments the best at temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in a smooth, clean beer. 

After the beer has fermented and rested, it will be packaged and available for sale. 

How Many Calories in Modelo Negra?

Negra Modelo has 172 calories per serving. This is slightly above average for a beer that is 5.4 percent alcohol by volume (see here for info on popular beers and their calorie counts). 

See also:

• How Many Calories in Modelo Oro?
• How Many Calories in Modelo Especial?

Best Way To Drink Modelo Negra?

Modelo Negra can be drunk super cold, but if you allow the beer to warm, you will have the pleasure of more flavor and aroma. I prefer it right out of the bottle or in a frosted mug. 

What To Eat With Modelo Negra

Modelo Negra’s bready caramel flavors are perfect for roasted meats. Think Mexican-style pork chops, Chicken Mole, and steak tacos. 

What Do Other People Think of Modelo Negra?

Most beer geeks have a reserved appreciation for Modelo Negra. And, if beer geeks like it, the general public (Influenster) will inevitably be less thrilled.

Beers that are like Modelo Negra

Some beers that are similar to Negra Modelo

• Devils Backbone Old Virginia Dark
• Dixie Blackened Voodoo
• Saint Pauli Girl Dark
• San Miguel Dark
• Session Black Dark Lager
• Shiner Bock.

Final Thoughts on Modelo Negra

In a world of overhyped craft beers and bland commercial beers, Negra Modelo is a beacon light for those who simply want a tasty beer. 

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maillard_reaction

What Makes Modelo Especial an American Lager?

Wait a minute. How is Modelo Especial an American lager when it is brewed in Mexico? Isn’t this beer a Mexican beer? 

European brewing has influenced both the United States and Mexico. German and Austrian immigrants brought their knowledge of brewing when they settled all over North America, including places like Mexico City and Saint Louis, Missouri. 

Brewers in these new lands found that ingredients, like barley malt, were slightly different or challenging to come by but improvised with North America’s abundance of corn and rice to craft beers with a crisp taste.

Thus, Mexican and American lagers are similar in style but distinct from all-malt European style beers like a rich full flavored pilsner. Another style possibility could fit in International Pale Lagers, but Modelo Especial lacks the hop character to fit this category.

Modelo Especial Flavor?

This flagship Modelo beer exhibits well balanced taste due to a lightly toasted malty flavor and light hop character.

The medium light body accentuates the highly carbonated beer with a short, crisp finish. While subtle, a low level of hops with just a hint of herb comes through in the taste, and a slight corny sweetness complements a fruity, orange blossom honey aroma. 

Modelo Especial Brewing Process and Ingredients?

Especial is brewed in Nava, Mexico, by Grupo Modelo. Anheuser Busch Inbev owns Modelo beers worldwide except in the United States, where Constellation takes control and distributes through Crown Imports. The beer is brewed as a lager with the “highest quality” ingredients and extended aging. 

How Many Calories in Modelo Especial?

Especial lists 143 calories per serving and 4.4 percent alcohol by volume. Alcohol significantly affects how many carbs a beer has, which in this case is 13.6. See here more for Modelo Especial calories and nutritional information.

Best Way To Drink Modelo Especial?

Most lager beers taste the best when stored properly and served cold. Modelo is known for its unique, clear bottle with gold tin. Drinking the beer directly from the bottle is appropriate, perhaps with a lime wedge as a garnish. 

he light, clean finish and low bitterness make Modelo a strong candidate for beer cocktails, and the spicy Modelo chelada has become a very popular way to enjoy this beer. 

What To Eat With Modelo Especial

Modelo will work great as a partner to authentic Mexican dishes, quelling heat and cleansing the palate. I also like this beer with seafood, particularly shellfish, and it would be great with steamed clams, grilled oysters, or a Maryland-style crabcake. 

What Do Other People Think?

Despite its popularity, Modelo is not highly regarded by beer geeks. 

Other Beers that are like Modelo Especial

• Dos Equis Mexican Lager (Owned by Heineken) BUY HERE
• Corona Extra (also owned by Constellation Brands) BUY HERE
• Bud Light (owned by AB InBev) BUY HERE
• Modelo Oro (think Modelo Light) BUY HERE
• Modelo Negra (dark beer based on a Munich Dunkel Style Lager) BUY HERE
  

Final Thoughts on Modelo Especial

Model is the best selling imported beer in the United States. It is a light beer that appeals to the masses, so it makes sense that it has taken over this spot from Bud Light. It is a good beer but lacks character and flavor. It will work when you need a cold one on a hot day.  

Light beer is the world’s most popular beer category, and Modelo created the Modelo Oro light beer to compete in light beer’s high-end price tier.   

What Makes Modelo Oro a Light Beer?

Light beers are diet beer versions of regular strength beers. An average-strength beer has around 140 calories. Light beers aim to offer a similar beer-drinking experience at a fraction of the calories and carbs of regular beers. 

Brewers can employ various strategies to reduce the calories and carbohydrates in a beer offering. One way to brew a beer with fewer calories is by brewing a weaker beer. The average beer is around five percent ABV.

A significant portion of the calories in beer will come from the alcohol strength. By brewing a beer with less alcohol, the beer will offer fewer calories per serving – and in the case of Oro, the beer clocks in at four percent, which is less than a typical beer.

A second way to create a beer with few calories and carbs is to add enzymes post-fermentation. In a standard brewing process, there will be limits on how much and the type of sugars yeast can consume. At the end of fermentation, residual sugars will be left in solution. However, brewers can add enzymes to the beer to further break down sugars into molecules the yeast can convert, thereby reducing the amount of calories remaining in the beer. 

Modelo Oro Flavor

Oro claims an elevated taste, calling itself the “gold standard of light beer,” but I found that it reminded me more of budget beer. The flavor is of lightly toasted malt, metallic, and harshly bitter. This premium beer lacked the character of similar light beer offerings with no hop aroma. The mouthfeel was watery with an aftertaste I found unpleasant. 

See here for our full review of Modelo Oro.

Modelo Oro Brewing Process and Ingredients

Light cervezas are brewed with pale malt, hops, water, yeast, and adjuncts like corn. 

How Many Calories in Modelo Oro?

Oro lists 90 calories per serving. See here for more nutritional and calories information on Modelo Oro.

Best Way To Drink Modelo Oro?

Drink this beer extremely cold. Its goal is to be refreshing, so anywhere you may need to be refreshed is game on. 

What To Eat With Modelo Oro

I would not call this beer an excellent food pair. It’s not brewed as an authentic cerveza style, which would make it a no-brainer for Mexican dishes. Instead, use it as a palate cleanser of rich meats and BBQ. 

See also:

• What Does Modelo Negra Taste Like?
• How Many Calories in Modelo Especial?

What Do Other People Think of This Light Beer?

Beer reviewers don’t hate Modelo Oro. The beer receives mediocre ratings. 

Beers that are like Modelo Oro

Some beers that are reasonably similar to Modelo Oro are:

• Michelob Ultra (buy here)
• Corona Premier (buy here)
• Wiseacre Irusu (buy here)
• Keystone Light (buy here)
• Modelo Especial (buy here)

Final Thoughts on Modelo Oro

I’m not a fan of this member of the Modelo Family.

To be perfectly honest, this is not the gold standard of light beer. It’s a beer trying to fill a portion of the store shelf and isn’t offering much value to the beer drinker.

The packaging (and price) would suggest it wants to compete with other premium light beer offerings, like Michelob Ultra.

Still, it lacks the exceptionally smooth premium flavor of the light lagers in this price category. Instead, it takes me back to the beers we’d play beer pong with at college. To its credit, my wife didn’t think it was terrible. Drink Responsibly. 

The beer’s name, translated as gold in Spanish, is marketed as the “gold standard of light beer” that “seals in Modelo’s golden flavor to deliver an exceptionally smooth, elevated taste with a crisp, clean finish.”

Whatever that means.

Oro is another premium light beer created to take a bite out of the dominance of Michelob Ultra. Does this premium beer offering stack up? We go digging into gold to find out its true value. 

History: When was Modelo Oro released?

Modelo Oro is a recent addition to the very successful Modelo family of beers. Oro joins Modelo Especial and their marketing campaign known as the Fighting Spirit, along with Negra Modelo, a much-loved dark lager, in May of 2023. 

The new Oro light beer’s release comes nearly a century after Modelo started operation near Mexico City in 1925. Today, the Modelo brand boasts the number one selling beer in the United States with Modelo Especial, considered by many as an authentic cerveza perfect match to classic Mexican dishes or to celebrate Mexican cultural events such as Cinco de Mayo. 

Ostensibly, this new light beer, with fewer calories than Modelo Especial but a “premium flavor,” is designed to fill a market for a high-end light cerveza and lagers created with the success of Michelob Ultra. Other beer brands have aimed to capture the Michelob Ultra market, including Corona with Corona Premier. 

US owners of Modelo, Constellations Brands wrote of Oro in their introductory press release the following:

“Filling a void in the high-end light beer category, Modelo Oro is a time-crafted cerveza that seals in the golden flavor of Modelo to deliver an exceptionally smooth, elevated light beer with a crisp, clean finish that is worthy of the name “gold.”

“People are increasingly reaching for high-end, premium light beer offerings,” said Greg Gallagher, Vice President of Brand Marketing at Modelo. “After a successful regional launch in which two-thirds of buyers were new to the Modelo brand**, we’re confident that offering Modelo Oro across the country as the new gold standard for light beer will help us build authentic connections with new drinkers.”

Classification

Ultra Premium Light Beer is more of a marketing term than a recognized beer style. Modelo Oro, thus, fits appropriately in light beer categories if referring to the Beer Judge Certification Program guidelines. 

Flavor: What Does Modelo Oro Taste Like?

A light beer’s flavor is all in its subtlety. Appropriately, Oro tastes of lightly toasted malt balanced by what I’m describing as “twangy” bitterness. The beer is one-dimensional, thin, and lacking in beer character. There is no hop flavor or muddled bitterness in the finish. 

Mouthfeel

High carbonation accentuates the low-medium body. It is watery with a sharp finish, coupled with an unpleasant aftertaste. 

Aroma

Modelo Oro smells of bread flour from lightly toasted malt. I detect no hops in the aroma. The beer is very clean and free of any notable fermentation characteristics. 

Appearance

The beer’s color is straw yellow and very clear. The highly carbonated light lager pours a thin white foam head that spreads to the edge of my pilsner glass. 

Calories and Nutritional Information

Most light beers’ calorie counts hover around 90 to 100 calories. The 90-calorie count puts Oro at the low end of this range. Additionally, the beer lists three carbs, less than a gram of protein, and no fat per 12-ounce serving. 

Alcohol Content

Alcohol can contribute a sizable portion of calories to a beer. Modelo Oro’s ABV sits at 4 percent, which makes it a low alcohol offering compared to standard lagers. 

Brewing Process & Ingredients

Light cervezas are brewed with pale malt, hops, water, yeast, and adjuncts like corn. 

What’s the Best Way to Drink Modelo Oro

Best Temperature to Drink This Light Lager?

As cold as possible. 

Can, bottle or glass?

I’m unsure if this beer is bottled, and it is probably pretty limited if the draft is available. The beer comes in a slender, white aluminum can, which reminds me a lot of – you guessed it – Michelob Ultra. 

Food Pairings

Food is a great way to ensure you drink responsibly. The carbonation will help cleanse your palate of rich, fatty foods, but the lack of flavor limits synergistic combinations. 

Modelo Oro Light Beer Would Suit?

Modelo Oro is right up your alley if you’re a light beer fan. The beer is perfect for backyard BBQs or a day of golf. It could be a better food match and lacks some nuance in the finish, but it will be satisfying on a hot day.

Similar Beers?

Some beers that are reasonably similar to Modelo Oro are:

• Michelob Ultra (see our review of Michelob Ultra)
• Corona Premier (see our review of Corona Premier)
• Wiseacre Irusu 
• Keystone Light

What Do Other People Think of Modelo Oro?

Beer reviewers don’t hate Modelo Oro. The beer receives mediocre ratings. 

Final Thoughts: Is Modelo Oro a Good Beer?

While I’m not surprised, I’m disappointed as this beer is marketed as an ultra-premium offering.

The beer lacks the nuance and flavor I associate with ultra-premium – even light beers. For $17 or $18 a 12-pack, I should not think this beer reminds me of beer we used in college for beer pong. Give it a try, and let me know if I’m off here. 

In contrast, dark beer conjures thoughts of cozying up to a toasty fire – huddled up enjoying some grilled meats, perhaps in a Colorado ski town or at a Munich festival. And yet, the beer we will discuss today is an iconic Mexican beer. 

Negra Modelo is a dark lager brewed in Mexico by Grupo Modelo. The same brewery to bring you Corona, Modelo Especial, and Victoria – all light, crisp lagers – also brews a Munich Dunkel style lager with slow roasted caramel malts that creates a medium bodied lager with rich flavor, blanched by super galena hops for a remarkably smooth taste that still has the distinctive taste that is classic cerveza flavor. 

History: When was Modelo Negra released?

How did Mexico become a huge fan of Munich dunkel style lager? I’ll tell you.

Large numbers of German immigrants settled in Mexico during the 19th Century. This immigration significantly influenced Mexican culture, including the county’s preferred beer styles. Before German-style lagers, native Mexicans preferred fermented corn beverages, like pulque or chicha. Over time, and with the help of a smear campaign to label these historic drinks as unsafe, pulque and chicha became replaced by pilsner-style lagers and German amber beers. 

One of the companies that benefited from the newfound preference for German lagers was Cerveceria Modelo, founded in Mexico City in 1925. Later, in 1926, the brewer introduced Modelo Negro, a full flavored dark brew that was an equally refreshing beer as the pale, pilsner styles like Corona Extra or Modelo Especial are. 

Today, dark Mexican beer is still popular, and Modelo Negra is a perfect example of an easy drinking beer that bridges two cultures. 

Classification

Until now, we have referred to Negra Modelo as a Dunkel, but that’s how the brewery describes it. It could fit into the category, but the Beer Judge Certification Program, which creates style guides for amateur brewing competitions, places it as a classic style under Vienna Lager. Many beer styles overlap particularly German lagers. Now would be a good time to grab a tasting glass, pry the strong bottle cap from the beautiful gold foil, and taste for yourself. Below are my notes. 

Aroma

Brown bread, light treacle; despite it being a Mexican beer, the smell reminds me of a cold day at a pub. I reviewed this beer in July, and though the temperature outside was in the 90s, I got a shiver. It’s wild how a beer can transport you like that.

Appearance

Chestnut brown, tawny, and amber, all from darker malts; I’ve been reviewing a lot of pale beers lately, so the appearance was a sight for sore eyes. Poured from an ornate, brown glass bottle with a foil top, Modelo Negra has a thin white head formed atop the beer. Eventually, the film spread to the edges of the beer but remained more resilient than its pale compadre, Modelo Especial.  

Flavor: What Does Modelo Negra Taste Like?

When was the last time you went to the chain steakhouse Outback? For me, it’s been decades, but with one sip of this beer, I recall the warm brown bread you used to get. And hey – I even get a subtle taste of Diet Coke. How’s that for tasting notes? It would have been really unbelievable if the hop flavor was reminiscent of an Awesome blossom, but no dice. The bitterness was low, and the hops were spicy. To finish it off, I picked up a bit of alcohol taste. 

Mouthfeel

Darker beers get a wrap for being heavy and strong, but this beer is far from that. Medium body with soft carbonation, this beer is a well balanced dark lager with nothing that leads you to think strongly stout. No roast or coffee notes combined with the soft body for an experience most Mexican beers can’t deliver and one that only a beer nerd would appreciate. 

Calories and Nutritional Information

Negra Modelo lists 172 calories, 15.7 carbs, 1.5 grams of protein, and no fat for a 12-ounce serving. 

Alcohol Content

This dark lager has an ABV of 5.4 percent, which is average for the beer industry. 

Brewing Process & Ingredients

Modelo Negra is brewed with water, barley malt, non malted cereals, hops, and yeast. 

What’s the Best Way to Drink Modelo Negra

Temperature

Serve it cold, and note how the flavors develop as the beer warms. 

Can, bottle or glass?

If the beer tastes great, it doesn’t really matter. 

Food Pairings

Amber beers are prized for their versatility. The beer’s roasted malt caramel flavor complements grilled meats, like steaks and sausages, while helping to calm excessive heat, so don’t be afraid of choosing it for particularly spicy dinners. 

Who Would this Dark Lager Suit?

Those looking for a very refreshing beer but are looking for something a bit different from light beers or hazy IPAs.

Similar Dark Beers to Modelo Negra?

Like this style? Try these:

• Great Lakes Eliot Ness 
• Boulevard Bobs 47 Munich-Style Lager
• Old Dominion Aviator Amber Lager
• Gordon Biersch Vienna Lager
• Capital Wisconsin Amber
• Olde Saratoga Lager
• Penn Pilsner

What Do Other People Think of Modelo Negra?

I was shocked that Beer Advocate reviewers almost like this beer. Overall, review sites give Negra Modelo an average rating value.

Final Thoughts: Is Modelo Negra a Good Beer?

Mexican dark beer? Munich Dunkel? Vienna? Whatever you call it, Modelo Negra makes for a fun night, whether at the beach or in the cold.