Modelo Especial 24OZ

Modelo Especial 24OZ is a pilsner-style Mexican lager brewed at 4.4% ABV, available here in a convenient 24-ounce single-serve format. As one of the best-selling imported beers in the United States — earning Market Watch magazine's "Beer Brand of the Year" distinction in 2012 — Modelo Especial has become a defining name in the Mexican lager category.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.4%  |  Origin: Mexico City, Mexico  |  Style: Pilsner-Style Lager  |  Brewery: Grupo Modelo

Production & Heritage

Grupo Modelo first brewed Modelo Especial in 1925 in the Tacuba neighborhood of Mexico City, positioning it as a premium pilsner-style lager from its inception. The beer is brewed with water, barley malt, non-malted cereals (corn), hops, and yeast across seven brewing plants spread throughout Mexico — from Yucatán to Sinaloa to Guadalajara. A key production detail that separates Modelo Especial from many competitors is its use of brown glass bottles, which provide UV protection and help prevent the light-struck, "skunked" off-flavors that can develop in clear or green glass packaging.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with distinctive orange blossom honey, followed by gentle malty sweetness and a subtle herbal note from the hops. It is clean and inviting without any sharp or aggressive grain character.

Taste: On the palate, Modelo Especial leads with a lightly sweet corn and malt backbone that moves into a balanced mid-palate of soft honey-like sweetness. Light hop bitterness arrives gently, keeping the beer from tipping into cloying territory. The overall impression is smooth, approachable, and well-balanced for its style.

Finish: The finish is crisp and clean, drying out quickly with just a whisper of residual malt sweetness. There is no lingering bitterness — just a refreshing close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Modelo Especial

Straight from the can or poured into a chilled glass, Modelo Especial drinks best ice-cold, ideally between 35–40°F. A squeeze of fresh lime into the can or glass brightens the honey and herbal notes and is the most popular way to enjoy it. Beyond the classic serve, this lager works well in a Michelada — the tomato-and-lime beer cocktail where its clean malt profile balances the savory, spicy mix. It also serves as a solid base for a Chelada, where its light sweetness pairs naturally with lime juice and salt. For something less conventional, try it in a Beer Margarita (Beergarita), where the lager's crispness tempers the tequila and citrus.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and summer grilling sessions
• Pairing alongside tacos, ceviche, or street-style Mexican food
• Watching sports with friends when you want a full-size single serve
• Stocking a cooler for beach days or outdoor gatherings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Modelo Especial taste like? Modelo Especial is a smooth, lightly sweet pilsner-style lager with notes of orange blossom honey, mild malt, and a subtle herbal hop character that finishes clean and crisp.

How does Modelo Especial compare to Corona Extra? Both are top-selling Mexican lagers, but Modelo Especial tends to have a slightly fuller malt body and more pronounced honey-like sweetness, while Corona Extra is generally perceived as lighter and more neutral. Modelo's brown bottle also provides better UV protection, reducing the risk of light-struck off-flavors that Corona's clear glass can allow.

Is Modelo Especial good for casual drinking? Absolutely — its 4.4% ABV and clean, balanced flavor profile make it one of the most approachable and sessionable Mexican lagers available, well-suited to relaxed social settings.

Where is Modelo Especial made? Modelo Especial is brewed by Grupo Modelo, originally founded in Mexico City's Tacuba district in 1925. Today, production takes place across seven brewing facilities located throughout Mexico, including plants in Yucatán, Zacatecas, Coahuila, Guadalajara, Oaxaca, Sinaloa, and Hidalgo.

What foods pair well with Modelo Especial? Grilled carne asada benefits from the beer's crisp carbonation cutting through charred, fatty meat. Fish tacos with cabbage slaw complement the lager's light sweetness. Fresh ceviche mirrors the citrus and honey notes in the aroma. Spicy chicken wings are tempered by the beer's clean, cool finish. Queso fundido and chips work well because the malt body stands up to rich, melted cheese.

What sizes does Modelo Especial come in? Modelo Especial is widely available in 12oz bottles and cans, this 24oz single-serve format, as well as 32oz bottles and various multi-pack configurations.

Is Modelo Especial worth the price? Modelo Especial positions as a premium import lager, sitting slightly above mainstream domestic beers in its price tier. For the quality of ingredients, the clean flavor profile, and the brand's nearly century-long brewing heritage, it represents solid value within the imported lager category.

Why Modelo Especial?

Nearly a century of continuous production — dating back to 1925 in Mexico City — gives Modelo Especial a heritage few imported lagers can match. Its pilsner-style recipe, built on barley malt and corn with restrained hop bitterness, has remained remarkably consistent across decades, earning it sustained industry recognition including IMPACT magazine's Blue Chip Brand award and 18 consecutive Hot Brand awards through 2012. The brown bottle packaging is a practical quality advantage, shielding the beer from UV degradation that plagues clear-glass competitors. In a crowded Mexican lager market, Modelo Especial's combination of brewing pedigree, balanced drinkability, and thoughtful packaging makes it a reliable standard-bearer for the category.