High ABV fruit-flavoured Modelo launches in the US
Constellation Brands has introduced Modelo Chelada Suprema, an 8% ABV offering that is a mix of Mexican beer and blended fruit flavours, which is targeted to appeal to Gen Z and Millennial drinkers. db finds out more.
The new variant Modelo Chelada Suprema is set to tap into “drinking occasions before a night out by bringing bolder, higher-proof experiences to the Modelo Chelada portfolio,” according to the company.
‘Bold’
Speaking to the drinks business, Modelo vice president of brand marketing Logan Jensen said: “With the rise in demand for bolder, higher-proof ready-to-drink experiences combined with the growing nostalgia for authentic social moments among Gen Z and Millennials, the market is primed for a bold, high-ABV option that doesn’t sacrifice taste for proof.”
The new variant will be available in 24-ounce cans in two flavours: Modelo Chelada Suprema Mangonada, which features the flavours of mango and chamoy and Modelo Chelada Suprema Tropical which features the flavours of guava and pineapple.
The launch follows recent innovations in the Chelada portfolio, including Modelo Chelada Limón y Sal Non-Alcoholic, which launched in early 2026. Plus, last year, Constellation Brands revealed it had spent US$155 million on Modelo advertising, boosting its Modelo Especial brand to become the most-advertised beer brand on American television, with the business digging deep to make the most of its continued exposure.
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According to recent data from Mintel, more than 70% of both Gen Z and Millennial drinkers are “eager to experiment” with new ready-to-drink flavours and 30% of them are seeking “international flavours” from drinks.
Describing more about the way the market has adapted since the pandemic, Jesnsen pinpointed that, in an era of being chronically online, Gen Z and Millennials are nostalgic for the “getting ready for a night out” rituals of the early 2010s that are rarely experienced anymore.
Showing up ‘in new moments’
Jensen explained: “We know a night out doesn’t start when you get to the bar – it starts when you’re hanging out with friends and cracking open that first can. Modelo Chelada Suprema gives people the bolder, higher‑proof option they’ve been asking for, without losing the authentic Mexican flavour they love. It lets us show up in new moments that feel social, spontaneous, and worth celebrating.”
Jensen told db: “The new to market format brings the full-flavoured, authentic Mexican Chelada experience they know and love, but with the elevated ABV that they’ve been seeking. This is Modelo meeting the culture where it is in 2026, and it’s just the beginning of how we continue to evolve and lead the Chelada category.”
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