I find it interesting that you emphasized that you apparently dislike Modelo Especial (the AAL Modelo beer). Why do you emphatically dislike this beer? Does it taste drastically different from Pacifico and Dos Equis for your palate? Cheers!
I've done a blind taster with these four and Tecate before....Splitting hairs but I had it like this: 1. Dos Equis 2. Modelo 3. Pacifico 4. Tecate 5. Corona First two were very close...Pacifico had a bit more hops if I remember right...Tecate seemed like a budget AAL, and Corona was typical Corona..a bit skunked...would love to try it on draft sometime to see what it tastes like unskunked..
Maybe 30 years ago I had a (free!) Modelo on an Aeromexico flight. It had a reasonably strong flavor, not comparable to the watery Corona and similar beers like Sol. Over time the flavor might have been "adjusted", possibly because of the changes in ownership.
Negra Modelo is best, IMHO, whether you’re enjoying Mexican food or just sipping a beer. By a LOT. By a LOT lot. Cubed.
I like Modelo, Pacifico was painfully bland for me, I never had Corona or Tecate, and I tried Dos Equis before I really got that acquired taste for beer, so I definitely wanna try it again at some point (hell, I thought I'd never like Modelo around the time that I first tried Dos Equis lol)
In about 1974, several of us had a blind tasting of six beers, 5 US AALs (including Coors, Lucky Draft Can, Bud) and a Mexican Tecate. At the time, the Tecate stood out with a much bigger hop bitterness and body than any of the US beers at the time. These days it rates a BA Poor (61 average).
That was an early US "light beer" (Gablinger-Meister Brau era, pre-Miller) Carling attempted in the eastern markets (MA, MI, GA, OH, MD breweries all seem to have brewed it), late 60s-early 70s. Only 25% fewer calories, so how could it succeed. Carling even brewed and marketed the regular Heidleberg as a sort of premium-priced beer (Black Label was sold at popular-prices in most markets), out of the Natick MA brewery around the same time).
Specific to the Cerveza AAL style I always liked Sol better than Corona. But an ice cold Corona with lime with a good beach vibe always works fine any time. Dos Equis has been my most consistent favorite, but honestly all the beers mentioned work fine for me. Not buying any really just to have around the house for casual drinking…got to be at a Mexican restaurant or beach setting.
Pretty strange deal with Sol. The big multinationals must have been sitting around one day and Molson Coors' rep was complaining about not owning a Mexican beer to get some spill-over from the Corona/Modelo gravy train. Heineken overheard them. "Oh, we own a bunch of them - would you like to import one of ours?" https://www.thebeveragejournal.com/heineken-molson-coors-sign-import-agreement-sol-beer/
I am in the Modelo crowd. I would also rate the Amber Dos Equis a close second. Getting a little older so I've shifted from 32 oz Texas Margaritas when I'm eating Mexican!
Carling used th The also tried Heidelberg in British Columbia (https://www.ebay.com/itm/305671468396), at least near its original market. Strange that Carling would want to launch a Heidelberg label on the east coast and midwest. At the same time they apparently didn't bother (or didn't try hard) to sell Black Label in the northwest. I never saw Black Label even in Southern California in the early 70s. Their dalliance with Tuborg made more marketing sense (but cost them licensing fees).
If we're just going with the standard pale lagers from Mexico, I'll take Bohemia. It's basically a pilsner that happens to be using a little bit of corn as an adjunct. I'd take it vs. some real pilsners to be pretty honest. When it's fresh, it's top tier. Of the others, I like Modelo and Tecate. Modelo's richer, but Tecate has a unique character that gives it a slight zesty note.
I met some buddies yesterday at a local craft beer bar as a holiday get together. I enjoyed a couple of draft IPAs with one being Stacy's Mom from Evil Genius. When it came to eating food I opted for Buffalo Chicken Wings and for the meal I opted for a draft Modelo Especial which was a pleasant accompaniment with that meal. Cheers!
I love Lord Chesterfield, and also love Genny Cream when I can buy it. Good honest Cream Ale AAL goodness.
