I really wish there was a lot that I could say about Modelo Especial, but really there’s not. Short, stubby bottles with a foil covering on the top you have to cut through and get rid of to drink, it’s not exactly a beer for every day, especially when it’s basically Corona in a different package. But is there a place for it? You bet.

It’s not really a secret that I like strong beer.  Some (everyone here other than Matt M) would call it an obsession. Weak beer (read: most lagers) have no flavor, and are brewed to the lowest common denominator. The worst offenders (Keystone, Natty Light, etc don’t actually count as beer) are South American beers, which generally taste something like water that’s had a urine soaked sock thrown in the vat. I honestly can’t think of anything I’d want to drink less. Frankly, the fact we’ve given a South American Beer higher than a 50 on this site should call into question that reviewer’s beer palate in general. That said, I’m a fan of Corona, and I’m a fan of Modelo Especial (as a technical note, they’re from Central, not South America).

Here’s why: not everyone else likes strong beers. Sad though it may be, most people’s idea of a beer is something that tastes slightly more bitter than water, and as a result if you start showing up with Barleywines to parties, you’re not going to be invited back. Furthermore, people don’t drink things they think look weird, and even if you show up with something light and tasty like a normal hefeweizen or wit, you end up taking home all the beer you brought. On the other hand, there’s a niche for beers you can buy that other people will drink and you find acceptable, and in my opinion, Modelo’s two light lagers (Corona and Modelo Especial) are the two best to get.

The tastings: I could write about its light, crisp flavor, but honestly this is Corona in a different bottle. Some people might say different, but it’s the same brewery, and I’d challenge any of those people to tell the difference in a 3-way taste test. It’s best enjoyed with a lime, though not strictly necessary. Great with spicy food, or really all things Mexican, it has enough flavor and character that it is worlds above any South American lager that you can buy.

I don’t buy light lagers much. As mentioned above, I buy them mostly when I’m going to be with people who are afraid of real beer. That said, Modelo is a beer I don’t mind drinking. It is, simply put, Corona for people who want to look like beer snobs, or people who don’t want to look like American tourists in your hole in the wall Mexican place. This is one to remember, not because you actually want to drink it, but because you can bring it to avoid options that are far worse.

Score: 87