Michelada

Stir up a Michelada for happy hour tonight! This cocktail made with beer and tomato juice is one of our favorites for happy hour, brunch or holiday parties!

Cocktail recipes like this Michelada are always fun to make, and fun to drink! Also check out our Tequila Limeade drink and this Spicy Pineapple Margarita!

A Michelada cocktail with a spice rim

What Is A Michelada?

A Michelada is essentially a cocktail made with beer and tomato juice, spices and lime in a salt rimmed glass. There are many different variations of a Michelada recipe throughout Mexico. Latin American and of course the USA.

What Is The Difference Between A Michelada and A Chelada?

A Chelada is another beer cocktail, but not a spicy one. A Chelada is a beer that has been flavored with fresh lime juice and a salted rim. I’ve had these drinks first hand in Mexico and I can tell you that they are super refreshing and delicious.

I know there are plenty of brands of beer that have lime in them, they are nothing though compared to this fresh lime beer cocktail.

Michelada Ingredients

As we said before, there are many different variations on this drink recipe, but today we’re sticking with the classic ingredients!

  • Beer: A light beer or cerveza of your choice
  • Tomato Juice: Use regular tomato juice, not a variation like V8 because we want to flavor this cocktail the way we like it with these classic ingredients.
  • Fresh Lime Juice: Yes, please use fresh squeezed lime juice. It will make all the difference in the world when making this Michelada recipe!
  • Worcestershire Sauce: This flavorful ingredient gives a Michelada a distinct flavor.
  • Hot Sauce: Use your favorite brand of hot sauce, as spicy or as mild as you like.

How To Make A Michelada

Start by rimming your glass with rimming salt, kosher salt and/or chili powder. Using chili powder mixed with salt gives this cocktail and extra boost of flavor that we really love.

A spicy rim on a beer glass filled with ice

Pour in tomato juice and the flavorings, give it a stir and then top the drink off with beer. The amounts will vary depending on the size glass that you’re using so keep that in mind when you add the spices and Worcestershire sauce.

Beer pouring into a glass to make a Michelada

How To Serve A Michelada

Serve this Michelada with extra lime wedges for garnish and for squeezing into the drink. You can make this drink up ahead of time and store in a pitcher for easy serving.

Make sure to have plenty of beer on hand for making as many Micheladas as your party requires!

Michelada cocktail with a beer and a pitcher in the background

Appetizers To Enjoy With Micheladas

Whether you’re serving these drinks for happy hour, brunch or at a party, you’re going to need food! Serving a lot of different appetizers at parties instead of a main course is one of our favorite ways to celebrate!

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Close up of a Michelada cocktail with a salted rim, garnished with a lime wedge, with a beer bottle and pitcher in the background.

Michelada

  • Author: Dan
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink 1x

This spicy Mexican cocktail is a favorite for brunch, holidays like Cinco de Mayo or just for happy hour!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup tomato juice
  • 12 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, depending on taste
  • 1/21 teaspoon hot sauce, depending on taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice and extra lime wedges for garnish
  • 46 ounces beer, any light style beer that you like
  • Chili powder and kosher salt for rimming the glass

Instructions

  1. Add chili powder and salt to a shallow plate or bowl using a 50/50 ratio. Use a lime wedge to wet the rim of the glass, then roll the rim around in the chili powder and salt mixture to rim the glass.
  2. Add ice to the glass and then the tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, pepper and lime juice to the glass and stir.
  3. Top with beer and serve with extra  lime wedges.

Recipe Notes

You can make this cocktail as mild or as spicy as you like! Also, you can use just plain salt for rimming the glass if you prefer, or leave the rim plain.

  • Category: Cocktails
  • Method: Stir
  • Cuisine: American

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