Heineken's tequila-flavored beer comes to America
Facebook/Desperados


Are you a "spontaneous, adventurous" individual in need of an alcoholic beverage that will deliver maximum "excitement and likability" for your night out on the town? Then look no further, because Heineken has your answer with Desperados, a tequila-flavored, barrel-aged lager the company says combines the refreshment of a beer with the "high-energy and nightlife image usually associated with spirits."
With Americans shying away from beer over the past two decades in favor of other alcoholic drinks, companies have tried to keep pace by introducing potent, sugary brews that straddle the line between beer and spirits. Think Four Loko or Budweiser's Lime-a-Rita. Desperados, which has been sold abroad for years and is entering American markets in the Southeast this week, is Heineken's 5.9 percent ABV offering in that same vein.
So how does Desperados taste? Terrible, say the reviewers at Beer Advocate, who give it a 58 out of 100 and describe it as "very hard to drink" and "cheap lager + lemonade."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I used to find these highly drinkable," writes one reviewer, "but then I grew facial hair."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
-
Magazine solutions - June 27, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - June 27, 2025
-
Magazine printables - June 27, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - June 27, 2025
-
Army commissions tech execs as officer recruits
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Some of the tech industry's most powerful players are answering the call of Uncle Sam
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores