Dos Equis Dos A Rita 24OZ is a 7.2% ABV flavored malt beverage in a 24-ounce can that blends Dos Equis Lager with classic margarita flavors and 100% premium agave nectar. Launched as the first imported, authentically Mexican ready-to-serve lager margarita on the U.S. market, this product has since been discontinued and has not been brewed since 2015.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.2%  |  Origin: Mexico  |  Style: Flavored Malt Beverage (Lager Margarita)  |  Brewery: Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma (Heineken)

Production & Heritage

Dos-A-Rita was produced by Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, one of Mexico's oldest and most prominent brewing operations, and imported to the United States by Heineken USA. The concept was modeled after a popular cocktail recipe originally created on-premise in Texas, combining two traditional Mexican staples — Dos Equis Lager and the margarita — into a single ready-to-drink format. A key production distinction was the use of 100% premium agave nectar as the sweetener, setting it apart from competitors that relied on natural and artificial flavorings.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Lime-forward citrus leads, followed by a mild malt sweetness and a subtle agave-driven honey quality. The nose reads more margarita than lager.

Taste: The entry is bright with tangy lime and citrus margarita character. At mid-palate, the Dos Equis lager backbone provides mild grain and a gentle bready quality, while the agave nectar contributes a rounded, natural sweetness that avoids the cloying artificiality found in many flavored malt beverages.

Finish: Relatively short and clean, with lingering lime zest and a faint malt dryness. The aftertaste tilts toward the citrus-sweet side, making it a straightforward, easy-drinking product when served cold.

How to Drink Dos-A-Rita

Dos-A-Rita was designed to be served cold, ideally poured over ice for maximum refreshment. At 7.2% ABV in a 24-ounce format, it delivered a full cocktail-style experience straight from the can. While it was positioned as a complete drink on its own, adventurous drinkers used it as a base in variations such as a Michelada (adding hot sauce, lime, and Tajín for a savory-spicy twist), a Paloma-Rita (mixing with grapefruit soda to bridge the margarita-Paloma gap), or a Frozen Lager-Rita (blending with ice for a slushy warm-weather serve).

Best For

• Summer cookouts and outdoor gatherings where convenience matters
• Fans of ready-to-drink margarita-style beverages seeking an import option
• Collectors or enthusiasts tracking discontinued flavored malt beverages
• Casual social settings where a cocktail-flavored single-serve format is preferred over mixing drinks

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Dos-A-Rita taste like? Dos-A-Rita tastes like a tangy lime margarita layered over a light, clean lager base, with natural sweetness from 100% agave nectar rather than artificial sweeteners.

How does Dos-A-Rita compare to Bud Light Lime-A-Rita? Dos-A-Rita was positioned as a more premium alternative to Bud Light Lime-A-Rita, primarily because it used 100% agave nectar while Anheuser-Busch's Rita lineup relied on natural and artificial flavorings. Dos-A-Rita was also imported from Mexico, whereas Lime-A-Rita was domestically produced.

Is Dos-A-Rita good for sipping on its own? Yes, it was formulated as a complete ready-to-serve lager margarita meant to be enjoyed straight from the can over ice, requiring no additional mixing or preparation.

Where is Dos-A-Rita made? Dos-A-Rita was brewed in Mexico by Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, one of the country's leading breweries, and imported to the United States exclusively through Heineken USA.

What foods pair well with Dos-A-Rita? Grilled shrimp tacos complement the citrus-forward margarita character; chips and guacamole echo the lime notes naturally; spicy chicken wings benefit from the agave sweetness cutting through the heat; carne asada works well against the lager backbone; and fresh ceviche mirrors the bright, tangy citrus profile.

What sizes does Dos-A-Rita come in? The 24-ounce single-serve can was the primary retail format for Dos-A-Rita during its production run.

Is Dos-A-Rita worth the price? When it was available, Dos-A-Rita was positioned as a premium option within the flavored malt beverage category, priced above domestic competitors like Bud Light Lime-A-Rita and justified by its imported Mexican provenance and 100% agave nectar formulation. As a discontinued product, any remaining stock would primarily hold novelty or collector interest.

Why Dos-A-Rita?

Dos-A-Rita held a genuinely unique position in the flavored malt beverage landscape as the first imported Mexican lager margarita available in the United States. Its use of 100% premium agave nectar — rather than the artificial sweeteners common in competing products — gave it a more authentic flavor profile rooted in actual margarita tradition. The Dos Equis lager base provided legitimate brewing heritage from Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, one of Mexico's most established breweries. Though discontinued since 2015, it remains a notable entry in the ready-to-drink category's evolution and a reference point for the premium end of the lager-cocktail hybrid segment.