Beer of the Weekend #62 and #63: Modelo Especial and Negra Modelo
Not only is Mexico in the news thanks to swine—
Oop! I’m sorry, Mr. Vilsack. I mean H1N1.
Let’s start over. Not only is Mexico in the news thanks to H1N1 flu, but it’s also in my fridge.
In honor of Cino de Mayo, BotW is double dippin’ south of the border. The first beer this weekend is Modelo Especial brewed by Cerveceria Modelo of Mexico City, Mexico.
There are many Mexican lagers to choose from, but I picked ME because the BevMo! profile says, “Modelo Especial is one of those rare Mexican beers that is better without the lime.” Serving beer with limes is not my thing.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce bottles. ME is the first beer I’ve reviewed to come in a clear bottle.
Appearance: Poured an effervescent, golden yellow. A light, white head developed but dissipated instantly, leaving a ring around the edge and a slight lacing.
Smell: Immediately after I popped off the cap I got a whiff of…Corona. The aroma is slight, but there is a hint of macro lager grains there.
Taste: Not bad. Obviously it doesn’t deliver any complexity, but it’s a good ice cold lager. The grains dominate. Nothing special.
Drinkability: I’m impressed. The humble bottle and foil don’t promise much, but Modelo Especial has a little something to offer. It’s a good anytime lager — the Pabst of Mexico.
Fun facts about Modelo Especial:
-Serving temperature: 35-40°F.
-Alcohol content: Unknown.
-Food pairings: I’m going out on a limb this time to make my own food pairing recommendation: Mexican. Tomorrow night I'll probably visit Las Barcas and test that suggestion.
-Each bottle of ME is 145 calories.
-Apparently there’s a misconception that Cino de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day. That’s September 16th. Cino de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s defeat of French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Despite being outnumbered (two to one) and outgunned, the Mexican’s handed the French military its first defeat in almost 50 years. Gooooooooall!
The Quiet Man’s grade: C.
~
The second brew tonight is Negra Modelo, also brewed by Cerveceria Modelo of Mexico City, Mexico.
I’ve had Negra Modelo before, but it was a long time ago. I don’t remember the taste at all.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce (brown!) bottles.
Appearance: Poured a light, caramel brown. A finger of head developed before dissipating to a bubbly lacing.
Smell: Very subtle aroma. Caramel and vanilla.
Taste: It’s grainy for a darker brew. Caramel and nutty. There is just a slight hint of hops at the end.
Drinkability: It’s not bad. Anyone for dessert after a couple Modelo Especial’s?
Fun facts about Negra Modelo:
-Serving temperature: 45-50°F.
-Alcohol content: 5.40 ABV.
-Food pairings: BA recommends German cuisine, and I’ll tell you why in a second. It also recommends smoked or grilled meat.
-BA classifies Negra Modelo as a Munich Dunkel Lager. A German style brew from Mexico? Why not? If swine— Ouch! Yes, Mr. Vilsack. If H1N1 flu can make it to Germany from Mexico, then good beer recipes can make it to Mexico from Germany.
-Each bottle of NM is 169 calories.
-I’m done.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B-.
Oop! I’m sorry, Mr. Vilsack. I mean H1N1.
Let’s start over. Not only is Mexico in the news thanks to H1N1 flu, but it’s also in my fridge.
In honor of Cino de Mayo, BotW is double dippin’ south of the border. The first beer this weekend is Modelo Especial brewed by Cerveceria Modelo of Mexico City, Mexico.
There are many Mexican lagers to choose from, but I picked ME because the BevMo! profile says, “Modelo Especial is one of those rare Mexican beers that is better without the lime.” Serving beer with limes is not my thing.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce bottles. ME is the first beer I’ve reviewed to come in a clear bottle.
Appearance: Poured an effervescent, golden yellow. A light, white head developed but dissipated instantly, leaving a ring around the edge and a slight lacing.
Smell: Immediately after I popped off the cap I got a whiff of…Corona. The aroma is slight, but there is a hint of macro lager grains there.
Taste: Not bad. Obviously it doesn’t deliver any complexity, but it’s a good ice cold lager. The grains dominate. Nothing special.
Drinkability: I’m impressed. The humble bottle and foil don’t promise much, but Modelo Especial has a little something to offer. It’s a good anytime lager — the Pabst of Mexico.
Fun facts about Modelo Especial:
-Serving temperature: 35-40°F.
-Alcohol content: Unknown.
-Food pairings: I’m going out on a limb this time to make my own food pairing recommendation: Mexican. Tomorrow night I'll probably visit Las Barcas and test that suggestion.
-Each bottle of ME is 145 calories.
-Apparently there’s a misconception that Cino de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day. That’s September 16th. Cino de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s defeat of French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Despite being outnumbered (two to one) and outgunned, the Mexican’s handed the French military its first defeat in almost 50 years. Gooooooooall!
The Quiet Man’s grade: C.
~
The second brew tonight is Negra Modelo, also brewed by Cerveceria Modelo of Mexico City, Mexico.
I’ve had Negra Modelo before, but it was a long time ago. I don’t remember the taste at all.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce (brown!) bottles.
Appearance: Poured a light, caramel brown. A finger of head developed before dissipating to a bubbly lacing.
Smell: Very subtle aroma. Caramel and vanilla.
Taste: It’s grainy for a darker brew. Caramel and nutty. There is just a slight hint of hops at the end.
Drinkability: It’s not bad. Anyone for dessert after a couple Modelo Especial’s?
Fun facts about Negra Modelo:
-Serving temperature: 45-50°F.
-Alcohol content: 5.40 ABV.
-Food pairings: BA recommends German cuisine, and I’ll tell you why in a second. It also recommends smoked or grilled meat.
-BA classifies Negra Modelo as a Munich Dunkel Lager. A German style brew from Mexico? Why not? If swine— Ouch! Yes, Mr. Vilsack. If H1N1 flu can make it to Germany from Mexico, then good beer recipes can make it to Mexico from Germany.
-Each bottle of NM is 169 calories.
-I’m done.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B-.
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