Dos Equis Special Lager - Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, S.A. de C.V.

Zizick

Texas

3.99/5  rDev +44.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: Pale straw color, foamy-fizzy head. Much carbonation.

S: Pleasant smells of some malts, kinda like a Heineken in some way that I couldn't explain. Really really faint though.

T: Has a fair amount of bitterness, but not a lot at the beginning and finishes very clean, has some taste of malts and adjunct but definitely not a lot.

M: Light, a tad bit watery. Easy to gulp down ice-cold on a hot day.

O: It's a nice beer, definitely not offensive, has great drinkability. All in all, it has it's place.

Serving type: can

05-20-2013 22:08:28 | More by Zizick

beergoot

Colorado

2.88/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Poured a pale yellow color with a big, foamy white head; little carbonation in the body. Funky, sour-like aroma. Fair flavor with just a hint of cereal. Good mouthfeel; clean, crisp, and dry.

Just an average beer for this style. The weird aroma really distracts from things as well. Drinkable? Sure. Makes you want more? Not unless there is absolutely nothing else available.

Serving type: can

05-19-2013 22:33:27 | More by beergoot

CloudStrife

New York

2.74/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

24oz can poured into a nonic glass.

A: Pours a clear light yellow gold with a 1 finger white head. Bit more head than your typical AAL but still fizzes away fairly quickly. Average visible carbonation.

S: Not much going on here, corn and other malts. Bit of sweetness that reminds me of cheap beer.

T: Same flavor you would expect from this style, a bit more on the sweet side of things.

M: Light body with average carbonation. A bit sticky on swallowing from the sweetness. Could be more crisp.

Overall not the best of the Mexican beers but inexpensive and great for a hot day. Bit too much corn going on.

Serving type: can

05-05-2013 18:14:00 | More by CloudStrife

Alextricity

Michigan

2.64/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

Looking to get a cheap buzz, I bought a 24oz of Dos Equis, having never had it before. Well, here we go... I'll just skip the appearance since I had it straight from the can.

Smell: Don't ask me what I mean, because I'm not sure -- but it smells Mexican. Has a bit of spice/twang to it that I don't usually get out of adjuncts. Interesting to be sure, but not very inviting.

Taste/feel: The initial taste I actually quite like, as it's an adjunct flavor with a bit of pepper or something. The finish on this one (maybe because it's a can) is EXTREMELY metallic. If it weren't for that metallic/copper/blood taste that I'm getting, this could be a surprisingly tasty adjunct. That after taste pretty much ruins it for me though... which is a shame. The carbonation is medium/high, as well.

Overall, this trumps the Natty Daddy that I just had ... no contest. Natty had a bizarre sweetness to it, but Dos Equis is actually a decent adjunct lager. In comparison to Budweiser or Coors, I like it quite a bit more, as it doesn't have that extremely skunky corn aroma or flavor. Quite carbonated and lacking flavor (that DAMN metallic taste...), but still a decent choice if you want to get a buzz.

Serving type: can

02-25-2013 02:25:35 | More by Alextricity

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

2.79/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

A: Pale straw colour, 1/4 inch head, no lacing, very clear.

S: slight toasty scent. A bit of adjunct detectible, soft grassy hops.

T: Very light flavoured. Sorta hard to even find a flavour here. Light adjunct and that's about it.

M: well carbonated but a bit fizzy on the tongue.

O: Refreshing and thirst quenching, aroma is good but no flavours.

Serving type: can

02-17-2013 20:38:48 | More by Kremlock

dbrauneis

New Jersey

2.7/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a crystal clear yellow in color with moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a quarter finger tall bright white head that quickly reduces to a small to medium sized patch of very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of adjunct malts - corn is the strongest with grainy coming right behind.

T: The taste is similar to the smell with the corn and grain adjunct malts dominating and a light amount of lingering bitterness.

M: Light bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin/watery.

O: Easy enough to drink but not really anything special with this beer.

Serving type: can

08-12-2012 23:54:53 | More by dbrauneis

godlessape

Georgia

2.75/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured a tall can into a snifter and the head sunk down rapidly to just a bit of foam around the edges of the glass. The body is a clear light gold--standard issue North American adjunct lager.
The aroma is all corn and grain with corn in the lead.
As far a taste goes, it follows the nose--corn and grain, with a smidgin of wet bread. Very little sweetness to it and not a hint of hop bitterness.
The mouthfeel is equally underwhelming. I could think of a hundred lagers more thirst quenching then this brew.
Overall, I have to say I'd never buy this beer again. If someone handed me one I'd down it without a thought, but as far a plopping down money for one, no way. It's not the worst beer in the world it just doesn't have much going for it outside of the fact that it's wet, cold, and if you drink enough you could catch a buzz. Great advert campaign, but I guess this review renders me the least interesting man in the world.

Serving type: can

08-08-2012 13:38:31 | More by godlessape

metter98

New York

2.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: The beer is clear yellow in color and has a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin bright white head that quickly died down and left lacing on the surface and a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are aromas of adjunct malts in the nose—corn seems to stand out in particular—as well as grainy malts.
T: Like the smell, the taste has flavors of corn and grainy malts along with a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light-bodied and a little watery on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer isn’t horrible but the taste is relatively bland and uninteresting.

Serving type: can

08-04-2012 19:55:27 | More by metter98

JDizzle

Indiana

2.13/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Poured from a 24 oz can. Nuff said...

Looks like golden piss. I mean, lets not sugar coat this. Head goes away fairly fast.

Smells like grain and corn. Not as bad as Bud Light, but not good.

Taste is really grainy. I can see why they serve this with a lime. It's watery with a light corn taste. I don't get it.

Mouthfeel is thin and gross.

Thin and gross

Serving type: can

04-30-2012 22:15:12 | More by JDizzle

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.95/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

24 ounce can states crafted in Mexico since 1897 to commemorate the arrival of the 20th Century. Pours a clear golden hue with fizzy carbonation forming a white head that dwindles quickly. Aroma has corn and rice adjuncts with a slightly metallic note, not bad overall...another mass produced lager for sure. Cereal grains noted for sure full of creamed corn and cooke veggie notes this beer is something else to be entertained by...tastes like a cooked vegetable note with cereal corn and rice grains in the flavor minimal hops becomes cloying after a short amount of imbibing. Not the best or worst beer I've ever tried but something I shall steer clear of in the future. God Bless America this is horrible adjunct lager we are forced to drink due to an large amount of Mexicans entering the culture always a beer I enjoyed the amber lager version of, the Lager especial just isn't up to my standards.

Serving type: can

04-22-2012 18:31:28 | More by WVbeergeek

boneboy

Kansas

2.78/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Pours a pale, yellow straw color with lots of visible bubbles. The head is a finger width, white head that dissipates to a thin film.

S - The smell is of grain and sweet corn.

T - There isn't a whole lot here. It is quite typical for a light lager. Nothing really stands out, but there are no offensive flavors either. It's smooth, refreshing, with the slightest hint of hops.

M - Light, crisp, well carbonated.

O - This would hit the spot on a hot, summer day. As far as macro-lagers go, this is not a bad choice.

Serving type: can

08-30-2011 03:01:27 | More by boneboy

Fenris244

Texas

2.15/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clear straw yellow, fizzy soapy white head about 1 finger thick, lasted for about 5 seconds and left some lace.

A little sourness, cooked veggies, corn maybe

Certainly low in flavor, sweetness is there, bubblegum almost, the hops taste used and flat, not much else.

Light in body, carbonation is kinda heavy makes it feel slick, very watery.

Would drink it if it was offered to me by a friend or something but it's lacking in flavor and body an I wouldn't go out of my way to find it. Its better than most other American adjunct lagers but not by much

Serving type: can

03-31-2011 18:29:58 | More by Fenris244

tone77

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to woodychandler for the trade.Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a pale golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is mild, slightly sweet. Taste is crisp, light, a touch of sweetness and finishing a tad bitter. Feels light in the mouth and has good drinkability. Overall this is a mediocre beer.

Serving type: can

09-11-2010 22:31:12 | More by tone77

mdaschaf

Washington

2.78/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours an extremely pale yellow, with lots of carbonation bubbles and a very small head that does not last at all.

S: You can smell the corn/adjunct and a slight skunkyness to it as well.

T: Light and crisp, but not a lot going on here. There is a little spice, but the corn flavor dominates.

M/D: The bubbles that form when poured don't really hit you on the mouthfeel. Its an easy drinking Mexican beer. It does the job, and with so few options in Mexico, it is better than most. Plus, the most interesting man drinks it.

Serving type: can

07-21-2010 02:49:32 | More by mdaschaf

bunnyhustle

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

One of the better adjunct lagers I've had, but that aint saying much. Pours a really pale, clear, yellow, with fizzy fluffy head. No retention or lacing. Smell has a slight grain and cereal smell. Taste is pretty bland but I swear a light kiss of lemon perhaps, though there isnt much there I swear there was a slight sweetness. Mouthfeel is light and highly carbonated. Easy drinker. About the only reason I'm reviewing this is to say this: This may be the best beer to pair with fish tacos! A 6 pack of this was on sale for $4 so I picked it up, had a couple, then the next day had a couple with fish tacos and it was a perfect compliment!

Serving type: can

04-08-2009 01:20:50 | More by bunnyhustle

kguyty

Missouri

2.2/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a light yellow, with a very thin white head. Not much smell to speak of, and the taste resembles the smell. It is pretty thin, so drinkability loses points as well. Not awful, but not worth the extra money (if in the US). It is pretty good for free, but I have had better Mexican beers.

Serving type: can

11-11-2008 22:41:38 | More by kguyty

pmcadamis

Illinois

1.93/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3

I can't believe that I've never reviewed this! I've had this about a billion times in Mexico, but I've always just assumed that I've reviewed it.

A - Clear, yellow, and fizzy-looking with a rapidly dissipating white head. Nothing to see here folks, please move on.

S - Corn tortillas, salt, and lagery funk. Not offensive, but not good either.

T - About the same as the nose,...lagery funky corn, with a hint of a metallic flavor...maybe from the can.

M - Fizzy and refreshing. Good for a hot day at the beach, but not much else.

D - A halfway decent alternative to the much-despised Corona, but do yourself a favor and find some Indio or Negra Modelo.

Serving type: can

06-06-2008 19:18:26 | More by pmcadamis

BeerBelcher

Ohio

2.05/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I recently vacationed in Mexico, and while most of the Mexican beers I drank tasted much better than they do in the US, this one actually tasted worse. Aroma was virtually non-existent. Mouthfeel was highly (unpleasantly) carbonated and flavor was corny and metallic.

Serving type: can

07-05-2007 21:31:04 | More by BeerBelcher

nekronos

Mexico

3.55/5  rDev +28.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Worst beer in Mexico ever!, plus the light ones. Maybe, the lager concept was mistaken by light, because this beer ahs been always very light, water flavor and easy to get spoiled with a little heat over it. Some amateur drinkers like it because of it smootness and not getting drunk so easy.

Serving type: can

09-15-2005 16:38:13 | More by nekronos

bondjedi

Washington

3/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I'm shocked that this beer has so many "bad" reviews here on Beer Advocate. It is not bad, but only average. It is overwhelmingly average, so gargantually run-of-the-mill and ordinary that this is the first review that I have ever posted that awards five "3" grades in the ASTMO categories.

I had it with an average plate of wings at the mundane Buffalo Wild Wings in Tacoma on a Wednesday.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2013 22:12:14 | More by bondjedi

TheSixthRing

California

1.88/5  rDev -31.9%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Appearance - Pours a crystal clear pale yellow with a white, finger width head. Poor retention.

Smell - There's supposed to be a smell with this beer? Went and smelled the rodent cage just to be sure my nostrils were working. They are. I'm picking up almost nothing with this beer. Ghostly hint of grain and sweetness.

Taste - Follows the nose; almost nothing to be had here. Slight grain and residual sweetness. Finishes stale, like cardboard.

Mouthfeel - Light in body with a nice, crisp bite. Goes down smooth before a semi-dry finish.

Overall - So apparently the Most Interesting Man in the World drinks the most uninteresting beer in the world. Cool. I've had tap water with more character. Reading the date code, I believe this was bottled on January 30th, 2012. If these kinds of beers are supposed to quench one's thirst, then I guess everyone is taking Interesting Man's motto of "Stay thirsty, my friends" to heart. As indifferent as I am to this beer, it is a candidate for a re-review.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 03:38:00 | More by TheSixthRing

ranger7

Texas

3.28/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I've had this beer a couple of times. Once from a bottle without a slice of lime.
This time, I drank it with a lime at La Hacienda with their signature fajitas .

A - Very light in color; pale gold. About average for a lager.

S - Underwhelming. Typical lager scent. The lime overpowers most of it.

T - Very light. The lime helps.

M - A lot of carbonation: very fizzy and goes well with Tex-Mex.

Summary - As a lager, this is overall pretty poor. The smell and taste is non-existent and it is much too fizzy to be enjoyable on its own. With a lime wedge and some nice Tex-Mex, however, Dos Equis is a great option.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2013 02:12:50 | More by ranger7

The21ner

3.43/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I tried the bottled version. I was very impressed. I really came to believe that all Mexican beers were as bad as the American. But it wasn't the case. This beer is above average, very smooth , very drinkable. Dos equis became one of my go to beers when watching a game.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 22:09:44 | More by The21ner

ColdWaffles

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Reviewed from notes of stuff I've had over the past month or so.

This one was reviewed directly from the bottle with a bit of lime and served with authentic Mexican food.

Appearance: Through the bottle, but you can tell this is a gold lager in the image of an adjunct. Given the style it's appropriate.

Smell: Adjunct characters through and through. I personally added lime after the initial taste. Everything about the beer was better, including the smell.

Taste: Clean, crisp, lightly skunky, surprisingly good for what it is, especially when citrus is added.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, pretty light and with exceptional carbonation. Kinda soda-esque.

Not a great beer by any standard, but in the Mexican adjunct category it's not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 23:46:27 | More by ColdWaffles

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

1.63/5  rDev -40.9%
look: 3 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.75

Draft: Poured a golden yellow color lager with a medium white foamy head with average retention and some light lacing. Aroma of overly sweet adjunct is quite gross. Taste is also dominated by loads of gross sweet adjunct notes with a bland aftertaste. Body is light with light oily notes. Overly sweet bland lager.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 19:37:45 | More by Phyl21ca