#15/16/25/48/88 Negra Modelo Dark Beer (Cerbeeceria Modelo, S.A.) (3A)

Negra Modelo has long been the dark beer alternative for Mexican beer drinkers. It has been identified as one of the few surviving examples of Vienna style lager - a style that was largely replaced in European breweries with Oktoberfest, a slightly lighter lager, in the early twentieth century.  While Negra Modelo is brewed in Mexico and bears a Spanish name, it is (dark) lager first brewed in Mexico by Austrian immigrants.

“Vienna Lager”? It’s an increasingly rare style developed in Austria in the mid-19th century and brought to Mexico by German immigrants.

Pours a dark brown. Smells roasty and sweet thanks to those Munich malts.  A medium-bodied beer, easily drinkable, malty and sweet, not hoppy. And it don’t need no stinkin’ limes.  Negra Modelo isn’t the only Mexican beer that has character, but it’s on a very short list. A bottle of Negra Modelo next to a bottle of Corona is like Clint Eastwood next to Ryan Seacrest.

Flavors and aromas This beer stands out among its Mexican peers, with its full body of caramel and slight roasted notes and light bitterness.

BJCP Style 3A Date Brewed 41021 ABV /5.78 OG 1.052 FG 1.008 Calories 146 SRM 16.2

Receipe #1  Grains 3.3 lb Munton Extract LME 3 lb Amber Extract DME 2 oz Chocolate Malt 6 oz Crystal 60L Malt 8 oz Vienna Malt Hops 1 oz Hersbrucker (60 min) .5 oz Tettnang (60 min) .5 oz (15 min)Tettnang Yeast WL940 Mexican Lager

Receipe #2 Grains 6 lb NB Munich Malt 1 lb NB Golden Malt 3 oz Chocolate Malt 6 oz Crystal 60L Malt 8 oz Vienna Malt Hops 1 oz Hersbrucker (60 min) .5 oz Tettnang (60 min) .5 oz (15 min)Tettnang Yeast Wyeast 2124 Bohemian Lager

After asking for feedback on the different yeast, I tried both and have found that I prefer the Bohemian Lager for the malty characteristics.  The was a good article in BYO related to vienna lagers that is worth a read.

I originally started with a recipe from Austin Homebrew, but have made changes over time.  The first attempt can be read #06 Austin - Negra Modelo (3A).  The big change over the versions has been a change to the Munich Malt.  I may try to change the Munich Malt ratio on future efforts.