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Modelo’s “pure refreshment” transported one reviewer to a Mexican restaurant with “tacos that are too spicy,” while Corona’s smell was described as “very sweaty” and its “skunk-like aroma and flavor” was likened to Heineken. VinePair’s blind tasting of Mexican lagers yielded surprising results Modelo Especial stole the show from Corona Extra, coming in at second place. business to Constellation Brands, effectively retaining rights to Corona and Modelo everywhere except in the U.S. The following year, AB InBev sold Grupo Modelo’s U.S. In 2012, Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the Belgian-based drinks conglomerate, acquired Grupo Modelo for $20.1 billion. Corona Extra, also a pilsner-style, is bottled at 4.6 percent ABV. Modelo Especial, a pilsner-style, comes in at 4.4 percent ABV, while Negra Modelo, fashioned after Dunkel-style beers first popularized in Munich, is made with roasted caramel malts and clocks in a bit higher at 5.4 percent ABV. Bemused by its sudden and rapid popularity, beer experts referred to the craze as the “Corona phenomenon.” In 1990, Modelo Especial followed Corona stateside.

Pulque, a milky ferment made from the maguey cactus, was the favored alcohol for centuries, but as the country became more industrialized, the interest and demand for beer grew.īack in Mexico, Corona turned its eye to an international audience, but struggled to keep up with demand after it began exporting Corona Extra to the U.S. Over the next several decades, Fernández helped expand the business nationally, eventually turning it into “Mexico’s largest brewer.” The brewery later became known under the company name Grupo Modelo, and today operates eight breweries across Mexico.Īs the article notes, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that beer culture found its way in Mexico. Accounts vary as to who founded the brewery, but according to The New York Times, it began with Pablo Díez Fernández, a Spanish immigrant and bakery entrepreneur. OriginĬorona and Modelo were first brewed in the 1920s at the Mexico City brewery Cervecería Modelo. Keep reading to learn more about how these two iconic brands from south of the border stack up.

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With the outdoor season in full swing and beach and poolside vacations on the rise, there’s never been a better time to reach for a crisp and refreshing Mexican lager. Modelo isn’t far behind with a total revenue of over $3.3 billion, placing it seventh on the list. And despite Corona’s unfounded association with the novel coronavirus, it is considered by the consultancy group Brand Finance to be the world’s most valuable beer brand with gross revenue in 2020 of more than $5.8 billion. While once fairly unknown stateside, Corona and Modelo have both become beloved imported beers among American drinkers, coming in sixth and seventh respectively as best-sellers in the U.S.

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