Even the darker versions tend to be darker in color only and rarely exhibit rich caramel or roast flavors. Typically, these are pale lagers (though some versions are darker and flirt with Vienna lager or even dunkel territory).

The category gets its crisp, light flavor profile from the German-style Vienna lager that informed Mexican brewing traditions.

Undoubtedly the most pleasing and refreshing of our selection, Tecate inspired one taster to say, “It’s almost like a Pilsner — like a beer in its correct form.” It offered up a gentle aroma of sweet corn, followed by Champagne-like effervescence and a lightly bitter finish. The beer is fermented to dryness leaving the finish memorably snappy. As we embarked upon this experiment, we wondered if personal brand allegiance affects perceptions of taste. We start with 6 pounds (2.7 kg) of Maris Otter and 3 pounds (1.4 kg) of flaked maize, which lends the beer a nice grainy background with a touch of corn flavor, like a fresh corn tortilla.

Both will give you a beer that’s crisp, bright, and clean, and at the temperature at which we’re fermenting, there’s no real risk of noticeable esters even with the ale yeast. One taster noted its effervescence seemed to diminish as she sipped.

The category’s pervasive marketing and distribution inspires fierce brand loyalty. Our light and crisp reinvention is brewed with malted barley and flaked maize, and aromas of orange blossom and a faraway Mexican beach.

(“Pacifico? When fermentation is finished, cold crash (again, for clarity) and then package. You should be buying these staples at …

In a shocking twist (no lime), Corona totally bombed our blind test. “Barely there, in an enjoyable way,” one taster said.

Dos Equis was sweeter than the others from the start, with an upfront carbonation that quickly diminished. When we visited nearby grocers to purchase sample bottles for an in-office tasting, total strangers stocking the cold cases eagerly volunteered their favorites.

Typically, these are pale lagers (though some versions are darker and flirt with Vienna lager or even dunkel territory). Executive Editor Emily Saladino and Senior Staff Writer Cat Wolinski blind-tasted seven Mexican lagers: Sol, Corona, Modelo Especial, Tecate, Dos Equis, Victoria, and, yes, Pacifico. An almost-amber color led tasters to believe this pour would offer more malt-driven flavors and aromas. Lifts off the tongue nicely with a finish that desires more.