Most people who know Grupo Modelo’s beers know Corona and Modelo Especial, not Barrilitos, which is exactly why it caught my attention the first time I saw it in a Mexico City corner store cooler, a can I recognized the logo family on but had genuinely never tried. It turns out to be the same brewer’s answer to a slightly different question: instead of Corona’s balance or Modelo’s fuller body, Barrilitos goes as light and low-ABV as the family gets, a beer built purely for drinking several over a hot afternoon without much else on your mind.
At a Glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brewery | Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V. |
| Style | American Adjunct Lager (Mexican) |
| ABV | 3.4-3.6% |
| Flavor profile | Light malt, floral hops, a touch of corn sweetness |
What It Actually Tastes Like
Barrilitos pours a pale straw gold, thin white head, and drinks light from the first sip to the last. The corn adjunct gives it a slightly sweet edge that’s common across the Grupo Modelo lineup, and at 3.4 to 3.6 percent ABV it’s noticeably lower alcohol than Modelo Especial or Corona Extra, which both sit closer to 4.5 percent. That lower strength makes it feel more like a hot-day session beer than a serious lager.
If you’ve had Modelo or Corona, you basically know what to expect here, just a lighter, lower-ABV version of the same house style. My Carta Blanca review covers another Mexican lager from the same broader tradition if you want to see how they compare, and my best salt and lime beers roundup has more Mexican lager and gose picks if that’s the flavor lane you’re after.
- Very light and easy to drink, good hot-weather option
- Lower ABV than most Mexican lagers if you want something more sessionable
- Limited US distribution compared to Corona or Modelo
- Not much complexity if you’re looking for actual flavor
Why Light Mexican Lagers Dominate Their Home Market
Grupo Modelo built its whole lineup around beers like Barrilitos for a specific reason, Mexico’s climate rewards light, low-bitterness lagers that stay refreshing in heat most European or American beer styles weren’t designed for. The corn adjunct isn’t a shortcut to cut cost the way it can be read in the US, in this context it’s a deliberate choice for a lighter body that drinks easily at higher volumes over a long, hot afternoon. That’s also why almost every Mexican lager in this family gets served with lime, the acidity cuts through any sweetness left by the adjunct and keeps the beer feeling crisp even as it warms up in your hand.
Where to Actually Find One
Barrilitos isn’t currently listed on Saucey in the US. Since it comes from the same brewer as Corona and Modelo, these are the closest real alternatives if you want the same house character and can actually get them delivered:
For more on how Mexican lagers compare against the wider adjunct lager category, my ale versus lager explainer breaks down the yeast side of it, and my best salt and lime beers roundup has more history on this whole style family.
For more of this specific corner of the beer world, my beers to pair with tacos guide leans heavily on Mexican lagers like this one, and my El Brazo review covers a very different regional session beer if you want the contrast. My broader Lager Brands roundup puts Barrilitos’s cousins Corona and Modelo Especial in context against the rest of the world’s biggest lager brands.
More Mexican Lager Reviews
Barrilitos is one of many light Mexican lagers I have worked through. Here is the rest of that lineup:
FAQs
Who makes Barrilitos beer?
Grupo Modelo, the same Mexican brewing company behind Corona, Modelo Especial, and Pacifico.
What’s the ABV of Barrilitos?
Sources put it between 3.4% and 3.6% ABV, noticeably lower than Modelo Especial or Corona Extra, which are closer to 4.5%.
Is Barrilitos the same as Barrilito?
Yes, it’s commonly spelled both ways (Barrilito and Barrilitos) depending on the source and region.
