Modelo Especial
Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V.
- From:
- Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V.
- Mexico
- Style:
- American Adjunct Lager
Ranked #169 - ABV:
- 4.5%
- Score:
- 68
Ranked #39,511 - Avg:
- 2.9 | pDev: 22.41%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 806
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 29, 2026
- Added:
- Aug 22, 2001
- Wants:
- 48
- Gots:
- 854
SCORE
68
Poor
68
Poor
Brewed as a model of what good beer should be, this rich, full-flavored Pilsner-style Lager delivers a crisp, refreshing taste.
Well-balanced taste and light hop character with a crisp, clean finish. Modelo Especial is characterized by an orange blossom honey aroma with a hint of herb.
Well-balanced taste and light hop character with a crisp, clean finish. Modelo Especial is characterized by an orange blossom honey aroma with a hint of herb.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington
3.5/5 rDev +20.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev +20.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
"Brewed in Mexico." Pours a clear, rather dark amber with a flush of foam that dissipates surprisingly. Prickly and light bodied on the tongue at first, than flabbier. Taste is weak tea with a hint of sweetness. Even weak sweet tea in the nose. I wouldn't say it's bad, but the mouthfeel is so sub-standard. There might be a hint of hops, or at least some bit of alfalfa taste. Finish is just slightly bitter and not unpleasant. Overall this seems like it actually has too much earthy taste to be a light refreshing fizzer. From the big can.
May 28, 2026
Reviewed by BurtonRed from England
2.94/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
2.94/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
UK brewed version - 620ml bottle.
Clear glass bottle light strike caused skunked aroma but not much of the taste affected. Malty and maize sweetness notable. No off-water like many UK brewed lagers have. High carbonation. Surprisingly smooth body. Honestly not bad apart from the skunky aroma from the light strike.
May 08, 2026Clear glass bottle light strike caused skunked aroma but not much of the taste affected. Malty and maize sweetness notable. No off-water like many UK brewed lagers have. High carbonation. Surprisingly smooth body. Honestly not bad apart from the skunky aroma from the light strike.
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
1.87/5 rDev -35.5%
look: 2 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 1.75
1.87/5 rDev -35.5%
look: 2 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 1.75
Copenhagen 8/3 2015. 35,5 cl bottle from Netto. The characteristic broad Modelo bottle in clear glass.
Pours golden yellow with a bubbly, white head which disappears almost instantly. No lacing at all.
Aroma is grainy and sourish with a little glue and straws.
Medium strong carbonation. Thin, watery, lively and tingling texture.
Flavor is a malty sweet with an unpleasant grainy aftertaste. The aftertaste is rather weird and like I would imagine glue is tasting (I have not had the pleasure of actually tasting glue).
Not a very pleasant "Especial".
May 07, 2026Pours golden yellow with a bubbly, white head which disappears almost instantly. No lacing at all.
Aroma is grainy and sourish with a little glue and straws.
Medium strong carbonation. Thin, watery, lively and tingling texture.
Flavor is a malty sweet with an unpleasant grainy aftertaste. The aftertaste is rather weird and like I would imagine glue is tasting (I have not had the pleasure of actually tasting glue).
Not a very pleasant "Especial".
Reviewed by Petercrage from South Carolina
2.34/5 rDev -19.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
2.34/5 rDev -19.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Thin front and mid palate with a bitter “monolithic” lingering finish.
“Poor” at best. Look elsewhere for lager (germany is a good choice)
Lotsa advertising, poor execution.
Apr 27, 2026“Poor” at best. Look elsewhere for lager (germany is a good choice)
Lotsa advertising, poor execution.
Rated by Manfrombelmonty from Massachusetts
2.6/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
2.6/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
Manky skunky mess of a beer found in the fridge after all the Easter guests have gone home.
Won’t be inviting them again.
Need 17 more characters
Apr 05, 2026Won’t be inviting them again.
Need 17 more characters
Reviewed by Matthewmetcalfe from Georgia
3.1/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.1/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I seem to be drinking more of this as it's popping up in bars more often, especially ones with a limited beer selection. Just a standard Mexican lager, malty, sweet, corn that pours golden with a head that doesn't stick around. It's a good quaffable beer with consistent flavor at a reasonable price. A good option when the offerings are all macros.
Mar 21, 2026
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland
3.43/5 rDev +18.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev +18.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Uncomplicated easy drinker that's too easy to start pounding. Maybe not memorable but tasty, widely available and reasonably affordable. Well carbonated, light bodied mouthfeel with no off flavors. Went well with my wings tonight.
Mar 12, 2026
Rated by deleted_user_1379257
3.5/5 rDev +20.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev +20.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is the one (yellow) Mexican beer I will drink outside of a Mexican restaurant. And I quite enjoy it.
Feb 20, 2026
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