Do you like margaritas? Do you like beer? If you do, Dos Equis may have just the thing for you. It’s called Dos Equis Dosarita Lager Margarita, and as of April 2014 it’s just now hitting store shelves in the following states: TX, AZ, CA, NV, NM, CO, FL, GA, NC, SC and AL. But does this fusion of beer and mixed drink live up to the hype? Read on, oh lover of malt and mayhem, and see for yourself.
Disclaimer: I got a few cans of this beer as a free sample to evaluate for review purposes. As is my custom, I made a donation in excess of the retail value of the samples to my favorite charity. I did see the beer for sale at my local Total Wine for $14.99 a twelve-pack of 8-ounce cans.
Here is how Dos Equis describes Dosarita Lager margarita in a press release:
Dos Equis, one of the fastest growing Mexican import beers in the U.S., announces the launch of Dos Equis Dos-A-Rita, the premium, ready-to-serve Lager Margarita that will hit retail accounts beginning this spring. Modeled after the popular cocktail recipe originally created on-premise in Texas, Dos-A-Rita is a blend of Dos Equis Lager and classic Margarita flavors, sweetened with 100% premium Agave nectar. Dos Equis’ Dos-A- Rita is the first imported, authentically Mexican ready-to-serve lager margarita on the market.
That last sentence sounds to be true, at least I’ve never heard of mixing a lager with a margarita before. I am a fan of Dos Equis beers, and often order them on draft at Mexican restaurants. Dos Equis Special Lager is my favorite of their two flagship beers, but Dos Equis Amber is tasty as well. Dos Equis Dosarita Lager Margarita is made with Dos Equis Special Lager. It has an alcohol content of 7.2% by volume and is sold in 24 ounce single cans in addition to the aforementioned 12-packs.
Dos Equis Dosarita Lager Margarita pours to a hazy greenish/yellow color with a very minimal, short lived head and a bright lively nose of lime and spicy agave. Taking a sip, I’m not really getting a lot of beery quality here folks, but the lime and tequila margarita flavors do come through. Some sweetness emerges, but it’s attenuated and dried by liquor flavors and a bit of alcohol in the finish. If you enjoy a classic margarita then let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t going to replace a fresh mixed one. Still, for a quick pour of refreshing margarita flavor, Dos Eqis Dosarita is rather enjoyable, and very refreshing. I enjoyed the second can over ice as suggested on the can, and it was tasty enough on a warm day.
That said, I’m not sure of the point here. If I want a beer I’ll have a beer, if I want a margarita I’ll have one of those. The beer flavor does not really come through, and at $14.99 for 8-ounce cans it seems a bit pricey. To be perfectly honest, I think I’d stick with pre-mixed margaritas if I’m in the mood for them but too lazy to make them, and just make them fresh if I’m feeling ambitious.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft