Review: Modelo Chelada Tamarindo Picante

Review: Modelo Chelada Tamarindo Picante

Modelo’s latest release is a spin on its long-running canned Chelada, a new flavor that adds tamarind and chipotle peppers to the classic chelada recipe of beer, tomato juice, salt, and lime.

I tried the new product, rimmed with Halo de Santo spicy/citrusy salt blend that Modelo conveniently sent along.

All of the extra flavors in the Chelada have a really light touch here. The primary character is Mexican lager, crisp and lightly malty, with some brightly citrusy flavors driven by the lime. The tamarind is more noticeable than the tomato even (despite the ruddy brown-orange color), and the Chelada isn’t particularly picante unless you sip it with a chunk of rimming seasoning. I highly recommend this approach, as the spice really elevates the beverage into something festive. Straight from the can, it’s fine, but too boring to get excited about.

3.3% abv.

B+ / $3 per 24 oz can 

Modelo Chelada Tamarindo Picante

$3
8.5

Rating

8.5/10

Christopher Null is the founder and editor in chief of Drinkhacker. A veteran writer and journalist, he also operates Null Media, a bespoke content creation company.

3 Comments

  1. Mary Leonu on January 28, 2018 at 11:34 am

    These are delicious

  2. SC on March 11, 2018 at 9:05 pm

    bleh! I love a good michelada but good canned ones are few. I do like the Modelo Chelada and prefer it over Budweiser’s take on it. I was excited to see this Tamarind Picante version of Modelo’s Chelada and took a swig and was hit with a sickly sweetness that did not belong in a savory michelada. I took a couple more glugs and it just got worse. The tamarind just makes it too sweet and there’s barely any picante heat or lime tartness to balance it. The heat left on my tongue was that of an extra shake of black pepper on some eggs and I am a wuss when it comes to heat so that says a lot! I just prefer my michelada savory, salty, tart, and with some heat……the sweetness of the tamarind just ruined it for me.

  3. Phyla Jane on January 4, 2019 at 6:48 pm

    i love these. i agree, not much “picante” or what I think Picante should taste like. I prefer Mdela versus Yucky Budweiser chelada.

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