Modelo Oro is a 90-calorie, four percent alcohol by volume Light Lager brewed in Mexico by Grupo Modelo, makers of Modelo Especial.
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 Do Other People Think of This Light Beer?
Beer reviewers don’t hate Modelo Oro. The beer receives mediocre ratings.
| Reviewer | Modelo Oro |
|---|---|
| Untappd | 3.9 out 5 |
| Rate Beer | 3.3 out of 5 |
| Influenster | 4.2 out of 5 |
| Beer Advocate | 78 (okay) |
| Average | 3.8 |
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.
