Dos Equis Special Lager
Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, S.A. de C.V.

cincyhudypo from Tennessee

3.22/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

I've been reluctant to try this beer because it's only been available in green bottles in my area. But today l found it on draught at a Mexican restaurant, ordered a 20 oz. served in a Pilsner glass. Sweet corny smell, little hop aroma or taste, pleasant, but no better than a Busch, High Life, Bud, Coors, or other similar U.S. lagers. It did well washing down 3 chile rellenos and rice and refried beans. l'll order again whenever l visit this establishment, would take it over the bottled Modelo, Corona, or Sol. Tasted ok without lime.

Feb 05, 2021

Caldwan123 from Iowa

3.57/5  rDev +30.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

By far my favorite Mexican beer, It ice cold in a mug with some Mexican Food it is incredible. This is not a daily drinker. But a very solid sipping beer when eating food.

Nov 24, 2020

IPAs_for_days_13 from Texas

1.59/5  rDev -42%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Poured from a can into a pint glass. Has that classic lager look transparent yellow with a lot of bubbles & a two finger white head that leaves the glass pretty quickly. Smells like corny syrup, bread & the inside of an aluminum can. Tastes heavily of corn syrup, yeasty aftertaste. Highly carbonated beer & thin that goes down smooth when cold. Overall, the corn syrup taste to this beer ruined it for me, it makes it almost to sweet.

Aug 29, 2020

BigGold from Mississippi

2.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Most recently had Lager Especial poured from a 12-oz. bottle, stamped "BBD JAN 2021," into a pilsner glass.

Off the pour this is a standard corn lager with a fizzing, fleeting, purposeless head. The best thing about the sweet, funky aroma, other than a little noble hop spice, is that it is also fleeting. On drinking, sweet corn malt and a full mouth feel dry away into an astringent, metallic finish.

Aug 12, 2020

WICKEDRACER2020 from Pennsylvania

1/5  rDev -63.5%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

horrible beer tastes like really bad carbonated water I would never recommend this to anyone , if you have taste buds you will question the fact that you do , I was expecting a similar taste to peroni, or Colbitzer but what i got was complete trash I cannnot believe this is a real mexican beer ! unless something happened and i got a bad lot !thats the only thing that could save this seltzer water with alcohol in it !
The look is not good extreme light
the smell does not exist after 3 minutes
feel like bad seltzer water that has gone flat its just terrible!
I hoped for a-lot more beer especially when it says its a lager . i am very unhappy and wish the outcome was better , but trying another new beer , and very dissapointed

Jul 28, 2020

VelvetExtract from Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle. Just a ho-hum Mexican lager. A little sweet for my taste but it’s light and drinkable. A beer that does it’s best when drank in weather > 80°. Quickly.

Jul 18, 2020

realJohnnyHobo from Maryland

2.82/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

For a germanic recipe turned into an adjunct lager that celebrates corn maize this is not offensive, highly approachable, well priced for a 12 pack, and has a nice refreshing semi-dry, mild action body, with notes of corn throughout the presentation. Beautifully dark yellow clear appearance, with a 1 1/2 finger head which dissipated - even with a semi-aggressive pour. Americanized 'adjunct' lager smell, but there is a bit more depth. Flavor notes are sweetened corn, mild hops, and very soft water is used. Slightly above average and great for 4th of July weekend.

Jul 03, 2020

jwp777 from Oklahoma

2.99/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

Poured from a can into a glass:

Pours golden yellow with foamy white head that fades and does not lace.

Smell is very corny and bready. Not very strong.

Taste is better than the smell. More corny than the nose lets on. There are just barely enough malts to keep the corn from being overly powerful.

Feel is light and crisp with high carbonation. Finish is quick and clean. Drinks easily.

Overall, it’s got strong points and week points. Nothing to write home about.

May 27, 2020

Singlefinpin from North Carolina

2.1/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Drinking this from a can poured into a pint glass.
Dated good until February 2021
Appears golden yellow with a nice foamy head that dropped very quickly to nothing.
Smells very lightly bready, corn
Taste follows the nose especially corn.
Mouth feel is crisp and light.
Overall, corn in beer is a bad idea, but I'm taking these to a cookout so they are fine for that.
Does Equis Special Lager? Not that special. Try a Dos Equi Amber a much better beer.

May 14, 2020

puma_cope101

3.82/5  rDev +39.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

I have nothing bad to say about this beer. I grew up LDS so I’m on this beer drinking journey to find the one I like best. Their commercials are legendary I’m a good way which is great. The look of the beer leaves a little to be desired, not a lot of carbonation. Not horrible though. The smell has a perfect corn aroma that just takes you to memories of eating delicious tacos in corn tortillas. The taste translates well from the smell, a little more watered than I’d like, but it’s not bad. A very drinkable beer.

May 11, 2020

mothman from Minnesota

2.5/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle. White head that dissipates quickly. Full clear golden color.

Typical Mexican lager. Corn and grains. Crisp. Light bodied. Bready and a bit biscuity. Not bad, not great.

May 05, 2020

mnrider from Connecticut

2.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

12 oz. Green Bottle. BBD JUN/2020

A: Pours a clear yellow color with a half finger of strong fizzy white head. Dies to nothing quicker than it formed. So no retention and no lacing.

S: Strong aromas of sweet malts. Grains. Corn and such.

T/M: Not unsimilar to the aroma. Sweet. Syrup. Corn. Lots of grains. A hint of bittering hops. Pretty light bodied. Watery, yet has a thick syrup feel at times. Carbonation is moderate. Aftertaste is more sweet malts.

O: Pretty Poor. Somewhat crisp. Sweet. Not very refreshing to be honest. Flavors are one sided and boring. There are better Adjunct Lagers around.

Cheers!

Feb 05, 2020

EJPA_0425 from California

1.5/5  rDev -45.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

In all honesty. This is just as bad as Corona. Pours light golden color with minimal head. Smells of basically corn. Tastes watery with tortilla chips. Light AF. Beer pong beer :(.

Jan 14, 2020

Livyatan1996 from Missouri

3.28/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

a pleasant surprise here. picked up two 16oz cans, best by june 2020, and lazily poured one into a pint glass on the back porch. it's a shade lighter than gold with a decent lil white head that went by fairly quickly. the nose was fairly clean grains, like a loaf of wonder bread was sittin nearby. some hints of floral/earthiness going on but i could be imagining things. didn't throw me off like i was expecting. the taste really hit the spot, lightly sweetened crackers/bread dough with a tinge of earthy/grassy hops and bam you're done. no weird cheap beer aftertaste, no overpowering corn syrup. just refreshment, slightly watery but endlessly drinkable refreshment. my gas station hot dog covered in cholula plus the second one of these, with the afternoon sun cutting through the cool breeze. heavenly. beers like this have a time and place and damn if this isn't it.

Jan 06, 2020

Stevosps from Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +28.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

When poured from a bottle this lager yields a half inch head with a very light hops aroma.it is clear and light amber in color. It has a full lager taste. Slight sweetness to the taste buds.
Good lager to kick back to with your favorite sports event !

Oct 26, 2019

mngermanshepherd from Minnesota

3.79/5  rDev +38.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Decent carbonation, has a big frothy head and a corn taste. Not as bad or offensive as I thought it would be, not sure why the bad scores but there are certainly worse beers to be had. On tap at B Dubs.

Oct 01, 2019

Wigglejig from Arkansas

2.94/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Needs a lime. Anytime I buy a sixer of this I also buy a lime, just needs lime to be the complete experience. It is not the greatest beer you will have, but it is common and acceptable. Try to leave your snobby expectations at the cap with this one, just enjoy what the alcohol does to you.

Sep 29, 2019

jg24rules from New Hampshire

1.63/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.75

I wanted so much to like this beer. But no matter how many tries I gave it, I just found nothing to like. The beer smells skunky as soon as you open it. It looks and tastes like a beer that's been sitting around getting flat for too long. The head is non-existent and the mouthfeel tastes like gargling with Listerine. Despite it's overall bad taste, this beer is a slight step up from all the other mass produced Mexican beers. But that's not saying much. Dos Equis is a bad beer. Period.

Aug 22, 2019

defunksta from North Dakota

3.9/5  rDev +42.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear golden lager color with a strong, pillowtop white head that lingers. SRM of 8-9 (3.75)

Aroma: Strong corn malt sweetness with traces of honey & lemon. Some slight grass and spice maybe from the vanilla. Lots of honey, sweet corn, and vanilla, but also some German biscuit breadiness. Hints of Munich malts reminiscent of cherry. (3.75)

Flavor: Flavor follows the nose with creamed corn, vanilla frosting graham cracker, mild cream corn, with a strong honey malt sweetness on the back-end to finish. Fresh cornfield and lemon, cherry vanilla sing to round out a German Biscuit flavor. Finishes slightly sweet. Stronger Munich malts. (4.00)

Feel: Medium to heavier bodied for the style. Moderately-carbonated and crisp. The sweetness gives it a slight honey-like sweetness. (3.75)
Lighter-bodied and relatively crisp.

Compared to Modelo and TJs: it has a lighter color, lighter body and dryer finish. It has a dryer grain and cereal flavor. Less honey malt flavor. I think I prefer Dos Equis.

Compared w/ Harp Lager 3/1/20: Slightly lighter color. More dry, crisp cereal. Less grassy and rubbery. Otherwise fairly similar.

Compared w/ Sapporo 3/1/20: Similar color. Slightly more grassy twang. Less cereal, rice malts. Hoppier, stronger carbonation, and crisper.

Compared w/ Corona 6/8/20: Slightly darker color. Strong Munich malt flavors, more vanilla. Less yeasty.

Compared w/ Carta Blanca 3/27/20: Pours a slightly darker color. Much stronger corn, malts, and sweetness. Less dry, crisp, yeast. Overall, heavier, sweeter, and more flavor.

Compared w/ Modelo 4/1/20: More airy and zesty aromas. More lemon hop and cherry notes. Less sweat, bread and honey. Less earthy and lighter. More rounded
9/17/20: Pours a slightly lighter color. More bready and crackery. Less skunked, but also less smooth honey.
2/1/21: Lighter color. More earthy, cracker, bread. Less skunk and honey. More Munich flavors.

Compared with Stella Artois 4/28/20: Pours a slightly darker color. Milder aromas. More pale malt and cream/corn/vanilla. Less earthy earthy and stone Munich malt. Finishes sweeter.
10/6/20: Pours a slightly darker color. More cracker, mash, and suds. Less honey, lemonflower. More carbonation and dry. Less smooth and more abrasive.

Compared to Trader Joe's Lager 7/27/20: Pours a similar color. More bready and earthy aromas. Less skunk and rice.
10/30/20: Pours a similar color. More pepper spice, and stone. Less smooth and sweet pale malts. Winner: Dos Equis.

Compared to Molson Candadian Lager 9/24/20: Pours a similar color. More peppery and carbonated. Less bready, and smooth.

Compare to Warsteiner German Pilsner 12/30/20: Pours an identical color. More yeast, mash, honey. Less white bread, earthy honey, and grass. Similar though.

Overall: This is a good adjunct lager. The corn mash isn't too strong (but it's there), and there's quite of bit of dry grains. Much dryer than I expected. Even dryer and cleaner than Modelo which had me surprised. I actually prefer this one. (Overall: 3.90)

Jul 04, 2019

Parmesan from Colorado

2.39/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.25

L:. Pours a very pale straw yellow with a small fizzy white head and so e lacing around the glass.

S:. Grain, a bit of vegetable, a light floral hop, slight malt sweetness.

T:. Grain, a bit of vegetable, light floral hop, finishes with a slight malt sweetness.

F:. Light, crisp and clean, easy drinking

O:. This is a light lager, not overly flavorly but not offensive either.

Jun 08, 2019

nickles from Illinois

2.56/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Has a very light-beeresque color of transparent straw golden yellow. There is a slight ring of lacing around the outside of the glass. More beady than foamy. Taste is of a bready barley forefront with the feel of a tiny blanket of pop rocks washing over your tongue. The barley taste fades away to a subtle hoppy taste that is both slightly bitter and fruity. Overall this is a muted tasting light bodied beer that serves its purpose as one of those beers you knock back after mowing the lawn on a summer day or slamming 12 of them on a friday night. Its not the worst beer by a long shot but i think ill stick to modelo tecate or pacifico if i want a mexican import

May 12, 2019

HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

2.3/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25

Has some grain,corn,corn syrup aroma but overall aroma is weak
Taste really follow the aroma,nothing to distinct or overwhelming. Has that corn,sweet corn syrup taste that lower quality beer has that is just unappealing.
I guess on tap and ice cold it might be passable but I didn't care for it

May 08, 2019

Buckeye55 from North Carolina

2.52/5  rDev -8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Stay thirsty my friends, thrsty for something else. Used to drink this beer back in the day and liked it, tried it recently and did not. Just seemed to lack any real flavor. Maybe it was a one off bad experience, so I'll have to give it a try someday and see if this ranking holds

Apr 30, 2019

detgfrsh from Texas

2.33/5  rDev -15%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

From a can. Golden color without much head. Smells of sweet grain. Light feel. Tastes of grain and sweet corn with an unpleasant metallic aftertaste. Poor, even compared to Mexican beers. Definitely not worth the premium price you often see it for.

Apr 28, 2019

puck1225 from Texas

2.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Guess I am used to the amber, which is tolerable. This really is not, at least not the bottle I had.

Week, boring, not much taste, did not enhance food, will not get again unless on draft and it is the only thing the restaurant has on draft.

Apr 07, 2019