Modelo Especial is one of the most popular beers in the US today.
It actually became THE best selling in the wake of the Bud Light Boycott following that beers promotion with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
So what’s Modelo Especial like? And how many calories does it have compared to competing beers and other beers in the Modelo range?
The short answer is that a can or bottle of Modelo Especial contains 143 calories and 13.6g of carbs.
In this article we give you all the nutritional and health information about the Modelo range.
How Many Calories in Modelo Especial (4.4% ABV) Explained
Modelo Especial is the signature in the Modelo range of Mexican lagers produced by Grupo Model, the same brewer that produces Corona.
Modelo Especial is an international pale lager in terms of classification – the same as Sol, Victoria, Corona Extra and other competing beers and has 143 calories per 12 fl oz serving.
Modelo says Especial is brewed for a “Well-balanced taste and light hop character with a crisp, clean finish (and) Modelo Especial is characterized by an orange blossom honey aroma with a hint of herb.”
In terms of ingredients, Modelo Especial is brewed using water, barley malt, non malted cereals (code for either corn or rice) and Hops.
Each can or bottle of Modelo Especial contains 20mg of sodium, 90mg of potassium and 1.1g of protein.
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How Many Calories in Modelo Especial compared to other Beers
Modelo Especial, with 143 calories, is about right on the average for similar beers including Mexican lagers Corona Extra and Dos Equis.
It is on a par in terms of calorie count with the main American lagers, with the exception being Busch, which has just 114 calories per 12 fl oz can or bottle and can almost be considered a light beer.
| Beer | Calories per 12oz serving size |
|---|---|
| Modelo Especial | 143 |
| Corona Extra | 148 |
| Budweiser | 145 |
| Busch | 114 |
| Dos Equis | 141 |
How Many Calories in other Modelo Beers
There are three main beers in the Modelo beer range: Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra and Modelo Oro (Modelo’s light offering).
Personally I am big fan of Modelo Negra (buy here at Drizly) as it offers something a bit different. Negra is a dunkel beer, so it’s more brown in color than the pale straw color of Modelo Especial. As a dunkel it contains hints of chocolate and bread crust flavors and is less sweet than pale lagers such as Especial and Corona. You can also taste the influence of the hops more with this style.
Modelo Oro, on the other hand, is at the other end of the spectrum and is more like a pilsener. This is the Modelo beer you want to drink if you are really want to consume fewer calories are on a low carb diet (Oro has just 3g of carbs per 12 fl oz serving) so it is great for those striving for weight loss (buy here at Drizly).
| Beer | Calories per 12 oz serving size |
|---|---|
| Modelo Especial | 143 |
| Modelo Negra | 172 |
| Modelo Oro | 90 |
How Much Sugar in Modelo Especial Beer?
There is no residual sugar in Modelo Especial Beer. All the sugar present is consumed by the lager yeast during the brewing process.
Is there fat in Modelo Especial?
No, like most beers there is no fat present in Modelo Especial beer.
Is Modelo Especial Keto Diet Friendly or Low Carb?
Modelo Especial, with 13.6g of carbohydrates per can or bottle, can’t be considered low carb or keto friendly (here are some low calorie beers we recommend). The closest to keto diet friendly of low carb in the Modelo range would be Modelo Oro with just 90 calories and 3g of carbs.
Is Modelo Especial a healthy beer?
Modelo Especial beer is similar to other beers in terms of how healthy it is. As general nutrition advice it is best to limit the amount of beer and alcoholic beverages you drink and take an approach of drinking in moderation.
What Does Modelo Especial Taste Like?
Modelo Especial is a easy drinking and refreshing lager. This review from Death Adder on Beer Advocate sums up the taste quite well:
“A tasty cerveza with a hint of honey and citrus. While not as good as its darker beer brother, and while the price is nothing to write back home to Mexico about, it is indeed a tasty beverage. The cool looking bottle wrapped in gold aluminum foil doesn’t hurt either.”
