Coronita vs Corona Beer – Similarities & Differences

Corona beers quickly became a staple with the American beach and barbecue lifestyle.

Corona Extra is one of the breweries top-selling cerveza on their list. But what is a Coronita? Did they rebrand? Is it another booming product from Corona? And what even is a Coronarita? 

Corona Beer: Where It All Started

Corona Beer Where It All Started

Pablo Diez, the founder of Grupo Modelo, was born in Spain. Pablo Diez studied Classical Literature and Philosophy hoping to be a priest. Later, he discovered it was not his calling and sailed out to Mexico. He became a successful businessman after venturing. And in 1922 he established Cervecería Modelo, later named Grupo Modelo. 

Corona is a Mexican lager first brewed in 1925 by Grupo Modelo under Anheuser-Busch InBev, one of the largest breweries in Mexico. A decade after, Corona became one of Mexico’s best-selling drinks because of its fine quality and unique marketing strategy.

They also produce other well know brands such as Budweiser, Modelo, and S. Pellegrino.

Corona Extra started selling out in the United States in 1979. Its global expansion began in the South and Southwestern US regions specifically.

The origin came from the American tourists returning from Mexico who wanted to bring the taste of Corona with them. Soon, Corona reaches other countries like Singapore, Greece, and Germany. 

Fast forward to 1980, Corona Extra became predominant in liquor stores and considered a go-to drink by most Americans. But not everyone seemed pleased about the calorie count it contains. Luckily, the brewery listened to its consumers and produced a calorie-conscious beer now known as Corona Light.

In June 2013, Grupo Modelo and Anheuser-Busch InBev transferred all US rights to Constellation Brands. From then on, Corona continued producing excellent beers to give varying options to everyone.

Corona Premier, Corona Seltzer, and Corona Refresca are some of their pioneer beers. Currently, they have seven types of cerveza available in the US.

Corona Beers Selection

Corona Beers Selection

Corona Extra

One bottle (12 fl. oz.) contains 4.6% ABV, 148 calories, and 13.9g of carbs. Corona Extra has a balance of heavy European imported beer and light domestic beer. People consider it a laid-back drink perfect for sunny weather because of its refreshing and smooth taste.

And unlike other beer lagers, Corona Extra is light and easy to drink. Still not sure what food to pair it with? Try the beer-battered fried chicken taco recipe.

Corona Light

One bottle (12 fl. oz.) contains 4.8% ABV, 99 calories, and 4.8g of carbs. Corona light is perfect for those who seek a flavorful beer low in calories during a long sunny day.

The aroma, flavor, and ingredients are all similar to the Corona Extra; the only difference is the calorie count. Pair your uniquely refreshing beer with spicy and citrus-infused dishes. 

Corona Premier

One bottle (12 fl. oz.) contains 4.0% ABV, 90 calories, and 2.6g of carbs. Corona outdid itself by brewing a beer that is even lighter than its light version. Yes! You read it right. Corona Premier has a lower calorie count than all their other beers.

It has a sweet, crisp, and even-bodied taste like you would expect from a premium beer. If you plan on serving it at events, it is best to pair it with light-flavored grilled meat like chicken, fish, or pork. 

Corona Familiar

Corona Familiar

One bottle (12 fl. oz.) contains 4.8% ABV, 156 calories, and 14.6g of carbs. Corona Familiar has a fuller flavor with a higher ABV in 12-ounce and 32-ounce packaging that is best for sharing.

It has a malty, fruity aroma with hints of caramel that is very inviting. The taste is rich and crisp with cereal sweetness giving a full-bodied texture on the palate. Serve it with chicken, fish, and salads to complete your Corona Familiar experience with your family.

Corona Refresca

Corona Refresca is a spiked cocktail. It has five tropical flavors: guava lime, coconut lime, passionfruit lime, pineapple lime, and mango citrus. It has a light, refreshing, sweet taste that is bursting with flavors.

Each can (12 fl. oz.) contains a different value of carbs, alcohol content, and calories. Except for the Corona Refresca Mas mango citrus. Corona Refresca Mas (24 fl. oz.) contains 8% ABV, 251 calories, and 25.6g of carbs.

Is Corona Beer Gluten-Free?

Is Corona Beer Gluten-Free

Corona only has two gluten-free beers: the Corona Hard Seltzer and Seltzerita. After years of people asking if they have gluten-free beers, Corona finally released their own version of gluten-free Hard Seltzer. It is available in wide refreshing flavors like tropical, berry, and citrus lime. 

One can of Corona Hard Seltzer (12 fl. oz.) contains 2-3g of carbs, 2-3g of sugar, and 100 calories. 

Coronita Beer

Corona beer made its way out in the world as a perfect compliment to life’s simple satisfaction. But what in tarnation is a Coronita?! 

Let’s break down the wording first and understand its origin. Do you notice how families in Mexico refer to girls as “nita“? Nita is a friendly form of the word “hermanita” which means little sister.

But let’s only take the suffix -ita (small or little) for this one. Meanwhile, a crown is called a “corona” in Spanish. Cornita directly translates to Little Crown.

Are you still confused? To make it short, Coronita is Corona Extra’s little brother. Nothing much differs between the two except for the visible size difference. It is the perfect beer to drink when you take a short break on a busy day.

Corona Vs. Coronita

Corona Vs. Coronita

Differences Between Corona and Coronita

Corona and Coronita have more similarities than differences. But here are three of their distinct differences.

  1. Corona Extra comes in a 12-fluid-ounce bottle (330ml). Coronita comes in a 7-fluid-ounce (210ml) bottle. A total of 120ml difference.
  2. Corona is known as Coronita in Spain because of its small bottle compared to other countries. 
  3. Coronas are usually served with lime but never in a Coronita.

Coronita’s small size is not the only reason it’s given such a name. In Spain, they did not allow the use of the brand name Corona because of a trademark dispute. It was only in 2016 that everything got sorted out. 

Why Do They Serve Corona With A Lime Wedge?

Why Do They Serve Corona With A Lime Wedge

You may also wonder why they put a lime in Corona. There are a lot of theories as to why bartenders do that. First, and probably the most reasonable, limes combat the “skunky” taste of the beer when exposed to light.

Corona beers have a translucent bottle where UV light can easily permeate. Once exposed to the sunlight, it can alter the hop and cause a disturbing smell.

Second, placing a lime wedge at the mouth of the bottle keep flies from getting into your drink. Lastly, some believed it was a bet between bartenders if they could start their trend of serving Coronas with lime. However it is served, we can all agree that Corona still tastes superior even without the lime.

There is no direct explanation for why they don’t put a lime wedge on a Coronita. But we think that a bottle of Coronita can be finished before a fly even gets to the drink. What do you think?

Similarities Between Corona and Coronita

Even with the size difference, Coronita still has the same taste and flavor as its predecessor. Here is a list of Corona and Coronita similarities. 

  1. They are pale lagers.
  2. They contain the same ingredients.
  3. They both have 4.6% ABV.
  4. Both have a fruity, malty, with notes of honey aroma. 

The next time you visit the liquor store, do not get confused with Corona and Coronita because they are the same. 

How To Make Coronarita

How To Make Coronarita

Corona and Coronita are no longer greek to you after you read this article. But wait, we still need to introduce you to Coronarita. And nope, we are not dissecting the origin of the name again. 

Coronarita is a wordplay between Coronita and margarita. Simply put, it is a Coronarita bottle flipped into a margarita glass. Create the ultimate happy hour drink made with the crispiness of a Coronita and the salty-sweet taste of a margarita.   

What you will need:

  • Margarita Glass
  • Shaker
  • Ice
  • 2 oz. tequila
  • 1/2 oz. Triple Sec
  • 1 oz. Lemon Juice
  • 1 oz. Lime Juice
  • 1 oz. Simple Syrup
  • 7 oz. Coronita Beer
  • Salt for rimming

Instructions:

  1. In a shaker, combine 1 ounce of tequila, 1/2 oz. of triple sec, 1 ounce of lemon juice, and 1 ounce of simple syrup.
  2. Add some ice into the shaker and give it a good shake.
  3. Rim your margarita glass with salt (optional).
  4. Strain the mixture into the margarita glass.
  5. Moving in a real quick motion, flip the Coronita beer into the margarita glass.
  6. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Here is another recipe to try if you don’t have a shaker available at home:

Summary

Corona and Coronita beers are mostly the same. They both have a crisp, clean, and well-balanced flavor between hops and malts.

Whether you want a 12-ounce or 7-ounce bottle drink, Corona will still give you beer made for all occasions. Mix it with a Margarita, and you got yourself the best of both worlds Cheers!

Coronita vs Corona Beer - Similarities & Differences

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