Michelada

Updated Apr 16, 2026 · 2 min read

Beer is great. That is unassailable. But beer cocktails combine two wonderful categories into one drink, and that is a union everyone can get behind. Take the Michelada: This Mexic.

The Michelada’s origins are unclear, with multiple legends surrounding its creation. But it likely dates back to the middle of the 20th century when it became popular in Mexico to serve beer with lime and salt. The word itself is a combination of “chela,” which is slang for a light beer, “helada” (cold), and “mi”—essentially “my cold beer.”

Many Michelada recipes call for tomato juice or Clamato (a mixture of clam and tomato juices) to create a Bloody Mary-style drink made with beer instead of vodka. Others choose to skip the tomato juice entirely. In Mexico City, for example, the Michelada is commonly made without tomato juice and instead relies on citrus, spices and hot sauce.

This recipe aligns closer to the Mexico City version, forgoing tomato in favor of lime juice, hot sauce and seasonings. You can choose your favorite beer as the starting point, but you can’t go wrong with a Mexican lager like Tecate, Sol or Modelo Especial. Rim the glass with a salt-cayenne mixture, and you’ll have a hint of savory spice with each sip.

Ingredients

• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 lime wedge
• 1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 2 dashes Tabasco sauce
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 1 pinch celery salt
• 1 bottle Mexican lager beer, chilled
• Garnish: lime wedge

Steps

1. Add equal parts salt and cayenne pepper to a plate or shallow bowl. Rub the lime wedge along half the rim of the pint glass and then dip the rim into the salt-cayenne mixture.
2. Add the lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, black pepper and celery salt into the glass.
3. Fill with the beer and garnish with a lime wedge.