Mexican Lager
Mexican lager is the pale, light, very crisp lager of Corona, Modelo, Pacifico and Dos Equis. It descends from the Vienna lagers that Austrian brewers brought to Mexico in the 1800s, lightened over time with corn. It is one of the fastest-growing beer styles in the United States.
Food pairings
- Tacos and ceviche
- Grilled shrimp
- Guacamole
Glassware and serving temperature
Pilsner glass or bottle with lime35 to 41°F (2–5°C)
What it tastes like
Light grain and a faint sweetness, a clean finish and sometimes a little corn softness. Bitterness is low. The amber versions, Negra Modelo and Dos Equis Ambar, keep more of the Vienna lager's toasty malt. A lime wedge adds the citrus the beer itself does not have.
Where it comes from
Austrian and German brewers set up in Mexico during the 1860s, when Maximilian, an Austrian archduke, briefly ruled as emperor. They brewed Vienna lager, which survived in Mexico long after it faded in Vienna. The pale, lighter version came in the twentieth century and conquered the US market in the 2010s, with Modelo Especial becoming the best-selling beer in America in 2023.
How to serve it
Very cold, 2–5°C, from the bottle or in a pilsner glass. A lime wedge is traditional for the pale versions and unnecessary for the amber ones.
What to eat with it
Tacos, ceviche, grilled shrimp, guacamole, carne asada and anything with chili and lime.
