I Tried 16 Mexican Beers and Decided THESE Are the Best of the Best

If you looked in my fridge, you’d see a lot of American IPAs with maybe a red ale or two and a saison in the mix. I’m married to a beer nerd and homebrewer, what do you want? But that doesn’t mean I don’t love Mexican beers as well. As a California native, some of the first beers I ever drank were Mexican beers—and there is no topping a cold, Mexican lager paired with a paper plate of tacos (carnitas, carne asada, and extra crispy tripas, por favor). 

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But what is the best Mexican beer? 

A lot times, you only have a choice between two or three—Dos Equis, Tecate, or Modelo. And you probably have your go-to pick (just like everyone has a preference for either Asahi or Sapporo at every mid-level sushi restaurant). But there are many, many, many more incredible Mexican beers out there. I personally lined up and tasted 16 Mexican beers in search of the best ones. And I think you might be surprised as to which ones made the cut and which ones didn’t (the ones that didn’t, it shouldn’t be noted, weren’t necessarily bad, they just weren’t as good as the ones you’ll find on this list).

How we judged the Mexican beers: 

• Bubbles. We considered the bubble quality, looking for either zippy, spritzy fizz in the lighter beers, or bigger bubbles that gave the darker beers a creamier feel. 
• Flavor. Obviously we wanted Mexican beers that tasted good. We considered the level of malty flavor and what any hops did to the experience. And while some Mexican lagers are crafted to be pretty neutral, we still wanted them to taste good—not just like fizzy water. 
• Finish. A beer can taste great at first but then leave you with that flat, slightly stale flavor (think about any light beer you had in college). The best Mexican beer leaves no trace of any unpleasantness. 

Here are the best Mexican beers to try. While it’s not quite the exhaustive list I have planned, it’s a pretty good start. 

Best Mexican Beers, Ranked

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Best Non-Alcoholic Mexican Beer

Dos Equis Non-Alcoholic Lime & Salt 0.0

Total Wine

Light, limey, with just a touch of salt, this N/A Mexican beer is so incredibly refreshing. You can drink it solo and totally quench your thirst, or you can pair it with food. Even if you’re drinking alcohol, you should take a break and sip one of these zero ABV Mexican beers in-between full booze brews. It’s that good. 

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Mexican Beer for Day Drinking

Estrella Jalisco

Total Wine

If you’re looking for an extra smooth ride, Estrella Jalisco is the best Mexican lager for you. It’s not as carbonated as the other lagers on this list and it creates a lovely, creamy head when poured into a glass. It also finishes with a zesty lime flavor that is just so refreshing. Pack a cooler with ice and a few of these bad boys and you’ve got a lovely afternoon of day drinking ahead of you.

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Ultra Crisp Mexican Beer

Pacifico

Total Wine

If you want something on the exact other end of the carbonation spectrum, then Pacifico is the best Mexican lager for you. It’s super crispy with lots of tingly, prickly bubbles that help cleanse your palate in between bites of food (or sips of tequila). It doesn’t pack a ton of complex flavor, but it’s refreshing as hell and finishes so clean. Pacifico is often compared to Corona, but it’s so much lighter and crisper.

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Hoppy Mexican Beer

Modelo Especial

Total Wine

I’d never noticed how flavorful Modelo Especial was until I tasted it against a bunch of other Mexican beers. In this line-up, it’s straight up dank. Like, if you matched this against a West Coast IPA, would it taste super hoppy? No, of course not. But compared to other Mexican beers, Modelo goes surprisingly heavy on the hops. If you’re looking for the best Mexican beer to give your IPA-loving pal (or if you are that IPA-loving pal), then Modelo Especial is the beer for you.

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Dark Mexican Beer

Modelo Noche Especial

Total Wine

This was my favorite find from our taste test of Mexican beers. It’s really malty and toasty with a caramelized flavor that I adore. But, for a dark Mexican beer, it goes down super easy. It’s a chuggable dark, malty brew. Pair this with rich dishes like mole or birria or barbacoa. It’s definitely the best tasting Mexican beer if you’re looking for those deeper, darker flavors. 

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Bohemia Pilsner

Total Wine

Bohemia Pilsner is the best Mexican beer. It has a little bit of everything—a hint of hops, some toasty grain flavors, a touch of malt. It’s really refreshing with a food-friendly slightly bitter finish. I truly think it’s a perfect beer—Mexican beer or not. After enjoying it so much in this taste test, I pledge to always have a six-pack of Bohemia in my fridge.

Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Other Mexican beers we tried: 

Corona, Tecate, Corona Familiar, Dos Equis Ambar Especial, Sol, Modelo Negra, Tona, Quilmes Clasica, Carta Blanca, Victoria