A few months ago I was at a restaurant and ordered a Michelada. I had confused it for a sweet beer-based sangria. When it arrived, I took a huge swig, expecting sweetness. Instead, spicy saltiness hit my tongue and I almost choked, totally surprised. When I recovered, I realized that it actually tasted really good, even if it wasn’t what I was expecting. A Michelada is spicy like a Bloody Mary, but because it’s beer-based it’s not as heavy. I love a good Bloody Mary, and beer is my go-to, so the Michelada is the perfect drink for me, and great for Cinco de Mayo this weekend.
Michelada
You need:
1 cold beer (Mexican beer is best, in my opinion)
1 lime
hot sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Maggi seasoning (soy sauce is a good substitute)
Margarita salt
Beer glass or mug
Quarter your lime. Rub one slice along the edge of your glass.
Dip the glass in margarita salt. YUM.
Add ice to the glass, then squeeze the juice from your limes into the glass. If you don’t have fresh limes, bottle lime or lemon juice will work (about an ounce and a half of juice).
Add a few dashes of Maggi seasoning. Maggi seasoning can be found in the Asian or Latin section of your supermarket. My Ralph’s didn’t carry it, but Vons did. If you can’t find Maggi, soy sauce is a close-enough substitute. This adds yummy saltiness to your drink.
Add a few drops of Worcestershire sauce. I only had the thick stuff, but I really like how it tastes in the drink.
Add hot sauce to taste. I add about eight drops – I like mine really spicy.
Finally, pour in your beer!
They aren’t normally this dark – my thick Worcestershire sauce is responsible for this.
Salud – to your health!
WHY DID I THINK THIS FACE WAS A GOOD IDEA?!?!
As you make the drink, you’ll figure out how much of each seasoning to add – you may want more spice, more salt, etc. Experiment! Try with different beers. Enjoy!
- 1 cold beer
- 1 lime
- hot sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Maggi seasoning
- Margarita salt
- Beer glass or mug
- Quarter your lime. Rub one slice along the edge of your glass.
- Dip the glass in margarita salt.
- Add ice to the glass, then squeeze the
- Add a few drops of Worcestershire sauce.
- Add hot sauce to taste.
- Pour in your beer.
Jackie says:
My husband makes a drink very similar to this but adds in Clamato juice – similar to a Chalida – delicious!
Heather says:
I’ve heard about the version with tomato/clamato juice – I will definitely have to try it!
laurel says:
actually, a real michelada (lived in south america!) is just beer and lime and salt rimmed glass but your version sounds like a yummy alternative!!!!!
Heather says:
Around here, that drink is a Chelada! I think the names vary from place to place.
Marianne says:
Never heard of this before. You should keep doing more of these how-to-make-drinks posts. I enjoy them!
AmazingGreis says:
Michelada’s are very popular around these parts!
Cathy says:
Why wasn’t Annie involved in this taste test?
Kayla says:
Because it’s an alcoholic beverage, silly!
Lucy says:
In Mexico we call “Michelada” the beer with lime and salt and “chelada” the spicy one….. I guess somewhere in the transition the names were swap… Either version is delicious!!
Sleeping Mom says:
Oooh, nice! Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Shan says:
I love it. Certainly will be trying it soon! Will go nicely with the carnitas I posted recently for Cinco de Mayo as well. Thanks!!
giselle says:
Looks good.. I was surprised there was no bloody mary mix with it though!
Rachel says:
I suspect that my Meixcan husband will love this. Sounds delicious!
Marta says:
Not a fan of bloody marys, but I do love sangria. You have to figure out what is this beer based sangria, because that sounds magnificent.
gayatri . lifeunordinary says:
In honor of cinco de mayo?
Trisha says:
My mom calls hers a red rooster. Half beer, half tomato joice, a squeeze of lime, a dash of hot sauce and a salted rim!