Negra Modelo

Review Date 10/22/2005  Last Updated 5/22/2017 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Vienna Lager   Brewery: Modelo   Country: Mexico   State: N/A   $ Per OZ: $.11 (B), $.36 (D)   ABV: 5.3%

Put down that Corona! If that’s your idea of Mexican beer then think again. There’s much more to beer in Mexico, just as in the United States beer is not limited to Budweiser. A great example of this is Negra Modelo, a surprisingly good Vienna-style Lager. Ironically Negra Modelo is brewed by the same company as Corona: Grupo Modelo, which just happens to be partially owned by Anheuser-Busch, the makers of Budweiser. Small world, eh?

Mexico does not share the rich beer diversity that exists in the United States, at least not as of yet. But they can claim to be brewing a great style of beer when such was quite rare in the United States during the sixties and seventies. Here’s what Modelo says about Negra Modelo:

Better known as the "cream of beer", Negra Modelo® was first sold in Mexico as a draft beer in 1926.

This Super Premium beer, which is distributed throughout Mexico, is the country's biggest-selling dark beer. It is also one of Grupo Modelo's® five export brands.

Negra Modelo® - an internationally popular —Munich-style— beer - was first exported to the USA at the beginning of the 1980s and has now found great success in Europe, Australia, and Central and South America.

Negra Modelo comes in distinctive bottles that are stubby and elongated at the bottom. But it’s the beer inside that sets the brand apart from its more popular brother Corona. This is an approachable beer that many can enjoy, and in fact many do. I recall my days working in a liquor store, and we had a small contingent of Mexicans in the area. They would eschew most of the best selling brands in favor of Negra Modelo.

Obviously, Mexican food comes to mind when pairing this beer with food, though that is really psychological. Still, Negra Modelo does work well to wash down tacos and refried beans. Realistically, this is broadly a German style and would work as well with bratwurst and sauerkraut.

Modelo is to be applauded for preserving this style for so long. I seem to recall Michael Jackson lauding it at one point for being the only example available in North and South America, though that is no longer the case. Although a German style, Negra Model has a Mexican character all its own, and is a symbol of what Mexican brewing can do. As such, I’ve chosen it to represent Mexico in my series of reviews entitled, Around the World in Eighty Brews.

Negra Modelo pours to a bright brownish orange color with a generous head formation and a sweet slightly nutty malt nose. The palate is smooth and creamy, not overpowering but very flavorful. It has a fair amount of slightly toasty, nutty malt flavors that the style is known for and just a hint of chocolate. In the finish the slight sweetness is balanced with a gentle touch of hop bitterness.

The key here is drinkability with flavor. The malt flavors are soft and delicious, refreshing and nicely accented by the hops. You can drink a lot of this beer and never get tired of it. There are no off-putting adjunct flavors, and there is enough body to satisfy the seasoned drinker. But the newcomer won’t be put off either.

If you usually drink light colored lagers, don’t be afraid to try a Negra Modelo at your favorite Mexican restaurant. It truly is Mexico in a bottle.

Update 5/22/17: Negra Modelo at Taco Mac! Smooth, nutty malty, toasty, chocolate. Soft grassy finish. All about the malt and a fine Vienna Lager. An old favorite I 'm glad I revisited for just $5.75

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??