If life gives you limes, make a michelada!
The first time I had one of these refreshing drinks I thought, “Wow, this is like a limonada and beer all in one! How come I didn’t think of this combination?” My next thought was, “I need to have another one.” A michelada goes down especially well on a hot sunny day or while enjoying a football game and eating some spicy Mexican food. Danger, you can’t have just one.
There are quite the variations of micheladas. Some are made with lime juice and assorted sauces, spices, peppers, and tomato juice, but I like to keep mine simple and make more of a “Chelada”.
Easy Chelada With Mexican Beer
A chelada is a quick beer cocktail (or cerveza preparada) made with ice, lime, and salt
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
- Fresh lime juice is going to produce a better tasting Chelada. Do not be tempted to use bottled lime juice.
Nutrition
Calories: 144kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 1g, Sodium: 13mg, Potassium: 152mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin C: 18mg, Calcium: 12mg
Photography by Jeanine Thurston
the first time i tried a michelada was at DMK Burger Bar in Chicago. they make theirs with tomato juice, lime and Pabst Blue Ribbon. I usually don’t go for savory drinks but it was surprisingly refreshing!
Pabst Blue Ribbon … I guess that’s a good way to disguise the taste of that beer. LOL
I won’t drink beer any other way now.
Yum. One of my favorite things to order at my favorite Mexican restaurant here in Chicago.
I had to move to Mexico to discover Micheladas. Now, it’s a favorite way to drink a cold beer on a hot day.
Kathleen
Even on a FREEZING day in Colorado a Michelada still sounds great!!! YUM!
I love this drink! I often will add a dash or two of hot sauce as well.
Salud Spicy Greg!
No Clamato? 🙁
I think I’ll have to post a “Bloody Mary Beer” recipe soon for all you Clamato lovers 😉
This one is called a rusa. To be called michelada it needs maggi seasoning sauce and clamato juice, at least.
Sandy: I have never heard it called a “rusa”? I learned something new today 😉
We are from El Paso and if you are ever in Juarez or El Paso and you order a Michelada you will get the ice+beer+lime juice+salt rim = absolute heaven on a hot day!
Yeah, even in some parts of Mexico, rusa = michelada. I live in Guadalajara (where michelada was invented) and thats how we drink it really spicy.
I fell in love with these in the Yucatan a few years ago, but I’ve learned to ask questions before actually ordering a michelada around here (Michigan). The first time one showed up looking like, well someone had poured tomato juice in it, I was like what’s going on here?! When I explained what I wanted, my waiter told me that (beer+lime+ice+salt) was called a preparada…I’ve tried that name with other waiters and they’ve given me blank looks. LOL I was also told once that a michelada had tomato or clamato juice and spices in it, while a chelada did not. Like most things, it depends on where you live or learned the recipe from.
So while I love it, it’s much easier to make it myself than try to order it. 🙂
I’m with you. Getting thirsty just looking at the pictures. No tomato in mine please.
I’ve never heard of a michelada without tomato juice. I use Sol, Dos X, or Bud Light or whichever is on hand; clamato picante, lots of tapatio, sal en grano, pepper, and LOTS of lime. Yummmmmmm!
Our version is more of a “Chelada”! Mmmm! Now I’m craving one 😉
When I was in Costa Rica a michelada is made exactly like your recipe. When in Mexico a michelada is of the tomato and spicy variety. The drink is different in every region and it always annoys me when someone tells me I am wrong when referencing the name to the lime juice version.
Thanks for sharing this nice recipe! I would recommend using Lava bloody mary and Tecate. No fuss, just pour and enjoy. The Lava has a nice little kick and is very yummy. www.lavabmm.com. Cheers!
THIS is a michelada!
Everything else is a bloody beer!
1st one in was in Del Rio ‘96