As a pair of Mexican Lagers, Dos Equis and Tecate are great choices in beer for those who enjoy a refreshing brew. The question is which one do you prefer and why?
Despite both being owned by Heineken, Dos Equis Especial and Tecate are very different beers. Dos Equis is significantly more popular – and slightly more expensive. Tecate has slightly more calories and carbs per serving as well as a slightly higher ABV, although it is still incredibly sessionable.
Let’s go over the main differences between these two great beers. First an overview, then a breakdown for each beer.
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Dos Equis vs Tecate comparison overview
Today, Dos Equis and Tecate are both owned by Heineken. Though they have the same owner, these beers have different histories and styles.
Dos Equis Lager Especial is a light lager in a Pilsner style. It has a light malt profile that tends towards cracker flavors. It is overall refreshing, light, and easily drinkable. Its lightness is shown in its lower-than-average calories and ABV.
Tecate Original is considered a full-bodied beer that behaves like a light lager. This allows it to have slightly more flavor than some other light beers. With this increase in flavor, it appeals to drinkers of both lighter and fuller styles.
| Comparison | Dos Equis | Tecate |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 131 | 141 |
| Carbs | 11 grams | 12 grams |
| ABV | 4.2% | 4.5% |
| Ingredients | Water, malted barley, corn syrup, hops, ascorbic acid | Water, barley, hops, yeast |
| Taste | Light malt, hints of corn sweetness | Lightly roasted malt, grain, minor hops |
| Aroma | Light malt, a hint of skunk | Malt, hints of floral notes |
| Cost (6 pack) | $9-9.50 | $7-8.50 |
| Popularity (in popular opinion Q1 2023 US) | 26th | 44th |
| History | Introduced in the US in 1983 | First brewed in 1944 |
What is the difference between Dos Equis and Tecate?
When it comes to these two beers there are many factors we can use to compare them.
Using the below aspects let’s break down the differences between Tecate and Dos Equis.
- Dos Equis vs Tecate calories
- Dos Equis vs Tecate carbs
- Dos Equis vs Tecate alcohol content (ABV)
- Dos Equis vs Tecate ingredients
- Dos Equis vs Tecate taste, flavors, and aroma
- Cost
- Popularity and sales
- History
The first few aspects – calories, carbs, alcohol content, and ingredients – help to determine the objective differences between the recipe and the final product.
Then we can break down why people like one over the other. By covering the taste, flavors, and aromas of the two beers we can highlight some of the subjective reasons for people’s preferences.
Lastly, we’ll cover the marketing and history of the two beers. That will include the cost, popularity, and sales of Tecate and Dos Equis.
Dos Equis Lager Especial
Even if you’ve never had the pleasure of imbibing from a bottle bearing the distinctive red XX, you’re sure to know the man who doesn’t always drink beer but prefers Dos Equis.
The Chuck Norris of beer, The Most Interesting Man of the World is just as well-known as the Budweiser Clydesdales.
Want to know more about the beer he prefers? Keep reading!
Calories, carbs, and other nutrition facts
A 12-ounce can of Dos Equis contains 131 calories, 11 grams of carbs, 4 grams of protein, and 0 grams of fat.
To put that calorie count into context, a personal container of 2% Greek yogurt is 130 calories. To reach the average recommended daily calorie intake of 2,000 you would have to drink about 15 beers.
Alcohol Content (ABV)
Each 12-ounce can of Dos Equis has 4.2% alcohol by volume (ABV).
This is slightly lower than the average 4.5% ABV for lagers. In reality, a 0.3% difference is quite small. Use inebriation cheat sheets to determine how many beers it might take to become impaired.
Ingredients
The exact quantities and specific ingredients of Dos Equis are not revealed to the public, but we do know the basic ingredient list.
Dos Equis is brewed with water, barley malt, ascorbic acid, corn syrup, and hops. As with all fermented beverages, yeast is used in the brewing process. However, most of the yeast is filtered out after fermentation.
The adjuncts of corn syrup and ascorbic acid are listed. The corn syrup adds consistency to the beer as it is easy for the yeast to ferment.
Ascorbic acid or vitamin C acts as an antioxidant. This helps to prevent off-flavors in the final product.
Taste, flavors, and aroma
There is little to no bitterness in this beer. The mouthfeel of Dos Equis is quite light and watery. That said, this beer is incredibly refreshing on a hot day.
Dos Equis Especial tastes of light malt flavors, often a cracker note. Other flavors include corn sweetness and occasionally light skunkiness. The aromas are similar to the taste–primarily light malts.
Find out what Dos Equis tastes like!
Cost
A 6-pack of 12-ounce Dos Equis costs between $9 and $9.50. That said, the price can vary greatly depending on your region. A pint at a bar could cost around $5 to $7.
Dos Equis is sold in a wide range of packaging styles. The most common are 6-packs though 12-packs, 24-packs, and 30-packs are also frequently found at liquor stores.
Popularity and sales
According to YouGov America, Dos Equis is the 26th most popular beer in the 1st Quarter of 2023. Dos Equis Especial has a popularity rating of 38% and a fame rating of 78%.
The popularity score is based on Americans that have a positive opinion of Dos Equis. The fame score is based on the percentage of Americans who have heard of the beer.
If you enjoy Dos Equis there are several other popular beers that taste like Dos Equis you might enjoy.
History
The brewery that makes Dos Equis was founded in 1890 and named after Moctezuma, the last Aztec ruler.
The Moctezuma Brewery first brewed a beer called Siglo XX or 20th century. Fast forward nearly a hundred years and the brewery’s signature beer is imported to the US for the first time. The two Xs of Siglo XX became synonymous with the beer. This led to the name “Dos Equis” or “two X’s.” Siglo XX eventually became known as Dos Equis Ambar Especial.
As for the Lager Especial, it eventually became the fastest-growing import beer in the US in 2009. This was likely due to the success of the marketing campaign depicting “The Most Interesting Man in the World” which began in 2006.
Tecate Original
If you’ve only had one Mexican beer, chances are it isn’t Tecate. Despite this, it’s still a solid beer and worth a try if you can find it!
Calories, carbs, and other nutrition facts
A 12-ounce can of Tecate contains 141 calories, 12 grams of carbs, 1 gram of protein, and 0 grams of fat.
To put that in context an average handful of Goldfish has 140 calories. To reach the recommended daily calorie intake for a woman (2,000 calories) you would need to drink roughly 14 12-ounce Tecate beers.
Alcohol content (ABV)
Each 12-ounce can of Tecate has 4.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).
Use inebriation cheat sheets to determine how many beers it might take to become impaired. These sheets typically assume a 4.5% ABV beer so if your reaction to beer is standard these charts will be quite accurate.
Ingredients
The exact quantities and specific ingredients used to make Tecate are not revealed to the public. This is particularly true of Tecate which does not have any ingredients listed.
Tecate is brewed with water, barley, and hops. As with all fermented beverages, yeast is used in the brewing process. However, most of the yeast is filtered out after fermentation.
Like many other Mexican lagers, it also uses malts, although you may notice that the malt flavor is more prominent here than in other examples of the style.
Taste, flavors, and aroma
Tecate tastes of lightly roasted malts and hints of grain. There are also hints of hop flavors though they are not as strong as in other beers. The aroma is similar to the taste with malt-forward notes.
The mouthfeel is light while not being too watery. It is decently carbonated and has a white head that can linger. It is an overall well-balanced beer that is inoffensive and easily sessionable.
Cost
A 6-pack of 12-ounce Tecates costs between $7 and $8.50. That said, the price can vary greatly depending on your region. A pint at a bar could cost around $5 to $6.
Tecate is most commonly available in 12-packs either cans or bottles but usually 12 ounces. Some liquor stores also sell Tecate in 24-packs. Other sizings may be available in some areas.
Popularity and sales
According to YouGov America, Tecate is the 44th most popular beer in the 1st Quarter of 2023. Tecate Especial has a popularity rating of 35% and a fame rating of 64%.
The popularity score is based on Americans that have a positive opinion of Tecate. The fame score is based on the percentage of Americans who have heard of the beer.
If you enjoy Tecate, there are several other popular beers like Tecate that you might be interested in trying.
History
Tecate was first brewed in 1944. This is the same year that the brewery, Cervecería Tecate, opened. In the 1950s the brewery was bought by Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma which also owns Dos Equis.
Tecate became quite popular in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona a few years after being created. Today, it continues to enjoy popularity though nowhere near as much as commercial beer giants such as Budweiser.
Tecate branded itself as the official beer of boxing from 2007 through 2020, although it has now turned its marketing attention toward soccer and music festivals.