Originally Posted by
darthbimmer
A bit of both, actually. Sometimes a server says "Modelo" without knowing which one. There are also times when a server specifically offers Negra Modelo when the beer is actually Modelo Especial. I presume this happens because Negra Modelo is most common Modelo brand in the US and some servers assume anytime they see the Modelo label it's got to be cerveza negra.
Ouch. Luckily, I've never hit either of those; it's pretty rare for me to run into a place serving Modelo Especial where it's not a Mexican restaurant where I'd hope the servers know the difference.
(Also, while I share the observation of seeing to Negra Modelo more frequently and at a much broader range of restaurants, Modelo Especial has much, much higher sales volume in the US so I'm not sure it's fair to call Negra Modelo the most common Modelo brand in the US...)