Modelo beer is a popular Mexican lager that has gained popularity in recent years due to the low-carb and ketogenic diet trends. With its light, crisp taste, Modelo can be an appealing option for those watching their carb intake. But exactly how many net carbs are in a Modelo beer? Let’s take a closer look.
What are Net Carbs?
When counting carbs on a low-carb or keto diet, it’s important to pay attention to net carbs rather than total carbs. Net carbs account for the fiber and sugar alcohols that are included in the total carb count but do not actually impact blood sugar levels.
To calculate net carbs, you subtract the grams of dietary fiber and sugar alcohols from the total carb amount like this:
Net Carbs = Total Carbs – Fiber – Sugar Alcohols
Focusing on net carbs rather than total carbs provides a more accurate picture of a food’s true carbohydrate content and impact on blood sugar.
Nutrition Facts for Modelo Beer
Now let’s look at the nutrition facts for a 12 ounce serving of Modelo Especial beer:
| Nutrition Facts | Per 12 fl oz (355 ml) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 142 |
| Carbohydrates | 5 g |
| – Fiber | 0 g |
| – Sugar alcohols | 0 g |
| Protein | 1.3 g |
Looking at the nutrition label, we can see that a 12 ounce serving of Modelo contains 5 grams of total carbohydrates. Since it has 0 grams of fiber and 0 grams of sugar alcohols, the net carbs are also 5 grams.
Net Carbs in Different Types of Modelo Beer
While regular Modelo Especial contains 5 net carbs per 12 ounce serving, the carb content can vary slightly between different Modelo beers:
- Modelo Especial – 5 net carbs per 12 oz
- Modelo Negra – 7 net carbs per 12 oz
- Modelo Chelada Tamarindo Picante – 10 net carbs per 12 oz
- Modelo Chelada Mango y Chile – 11 net carbs per 12 oz
As you can see, the darker Negra style contains a few more carbs than the original Modelo Especial. The chelada flavored versions with juice and spices are significantly higher in carbs.
How Modelo Compares to Other Beers
Compared to other Mexican lagers like Corona and Pacifico, Modelo tends to be very similar in terms of carb content:
| Beer (12 fl oz serving) | Total Carbs | Net Carbs |
|---|---|---|
| Modelo Especial | 5g | 5g |
| Corona Extra | 5g | 5g |
| Pacifico | 6g | 6g |
When comparing Modelo to light beers like Michelob Ultra or Bud Light, it contains a few more carbs due to having a higher alcohol content and not being a true light beer. However, with only 5 net grams per 12 ounce serving, Modelo is still a relatively low-carb option.
Low-Carb Beer Options
Here are some examples of popular low-carb beer options with even fewer net carbs than Modelo:
- Michelob Ultra – 2.6g net carbs
- Bud Light – 3.2g net carbs
- Miller Lite – 3.2g net carbs
- Coors Light – 5g net carbs
Higher-Carb Beer Options
And here are some beers with significantly more net carbs per 12 ounce serving compared to Modelo:
- Sam Adams Boston Lager – 13.2g net carbs
- Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – 14g net carbs
- Dos Equis Lager – 16.4g net carbs
- Stella Artois – 17.1g net carbs
Does Alcohol Impact Ketosis?
When following a very low-carb ketogenic diet, you want to stay under 50g of net carbs per day to maintain ketosis. Some people can stay in ketosis with carb intake up to 100g per day.
Hard alcohols like whiskey, vodka, gin, and tequila contain zero carbs and will not take you out of ketosis. However, your liver will metabolize the alcohol first before fat which can pause ketone production.
Beer contains more carbs than hard alcohol, so drinking moderate amounts of low-carb beers like Modelo in a day shouldn’t kick you out of ketosis. Drinking multiple high-carb beers or mixing with sugary cocktails can easily bring your carb intake above the ketosis threshold.
Tips for Drinking Modelo on a Low-Carb or Keto Diet
Here are some tips for enjoying Modelo beer without disrupting your low-carb diet too much:
- Stick to 1-2 servings of original Modelo Especial or Negra which have only 5-7g net carbs per serving.
- Avoid the higher-carb flavored Chelada styles with extra sugars.
- Drink plenty of water before, during, and after to stay hydrated.
- Avoid beer on empty stomach which can lead to faster alcohol absorption.
- Pair your beer with low-carb foods like wings, steak, or cheese to help slow absorption.
- Test ketones the next morning to ensure you’re still in optimal ketosis.
Low-Carb Cocktails with Modelo
You can also create some refreshing low-carb cocktails using Modelo as the base:
Modelo Margarita
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz blanco tequila
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 oz orange liqueur
- Pinch of sea salt
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Directions:
- Rim glass with lime juice and sea salt.
- Fill glass with ice.
- Pour in tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice.
- Squeeze lime wedge over drink and add to glass.
- Top with Modelo and stir gently.
Paloma Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz tequila
- 1 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- .5 oz fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp honey syrup (1:1 honey/water)
- Pinch of sea salt
- Soda water
- Ice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Directions:
- Fill glass with ice.
- Add tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, honey syrup and sea salt.
- Top with soda water and stir.
- Garnish with lime wheel.
- Pour Modelo into glass and serve.
Michelada
Ingredients:
- Squeeze of lime
- Pinch of salt
- Dash of hot sauce or Worcestershire sauce
- 12 oz Modelo
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Directions:
- Rim pint glass with lime juice and salt.
- Add dash of hot sauce and/or Worcestershire sauce.
- Fill glass with ice.
- Pour in Modelo and stir gently.
- Squeeze lime wedge over drink and add to glass.
Is Modelo Keto Friendly?
At just 5 net carbs per 12 ounce serving, Modelo can definitely fit into a keto diet when consumed in moderation. It’s one of the lowest carb beer options out there.
Some important points about drinking Modelo on keto:
- Limit intake to 1-2 beers max per day.
- Always account for beer carbs in your daily tracker.
- Test ketones the next day to ensure you’re still in optimal ketosis.
- Hydrate well and don’t drink on an empty stomach.
- If weight loss stalls, consider cutting back or avoiding beer for a period.
While it won’t kick you out of ketosis like higher carb beers, overdoing it with Modelo or any alcohol can slow progress. Moderation and tracking intake is key.
The Bottom Line
Modelo is one of the lowest carbohydrate beer options out there, containing only 5 grams of net carbs per 12 ounce serving.
Sticking to 1-2 servings of Modelo Especial or Negra won’t significantly impact ketosis for most people. The chelada styles with extra sugars should be avoided on keto.
Drink plenty of water, watch your portions, and account for the carbs in your tracker. Also, test ketones the next day to ensure you remain in optimal ketosis.
Modelo can be an occasional low-carb treat as part of a well-formulated ketogenic diet when calories and carbs are controlled.
