Michelada Totally Explained

Everything about The Michelada totally explained

The Michelada is a popular Mexican alcoholic beverage of a genre known in Spanish as cerveza preparada (prepared beer) and in English as a variety of cocktail. There are several variations. In some cases it's similar to a Bloody Mary but containing beer instead of vodka, although a less complicated concoction of Mexican beer with sauces and lime juice added (see recipe below) is also referred to as a Michelada. The drink dates back to the 1940s, when mixing beer with hot sauce or salsa became popular in Mexico. In recent years, the drink has begun to become popular in the United States, and now various ready-made mixes are marketed and sold to US consumers.
Simply mixing beer with tomato juice is a popular version of cerveza preparada, but if lacking the salsa inglesa (Worcestershire sauce) or Maggi sauce, this concoction would usually not be referred as a michelada. If the Michelada has any type of hot sauce in it, in Mexico it may be called a "Michelada Cubana". The name is a double reference to both Cuba and the habanero pepper. The Habanero pepper is named after the capital of Cuba, "La Habana", and is one of the most intensely spicy peppers in the world and so this spicy drink takes its name as a strained reference to both.
Recently, major American beer produces have begun marketing cervezas preparada, illustrating the wide variety of recipes in the Chelada/ Michelada category. For example, Miller_Brewing_Company produces Miller Chill which is a "Chelada-style light lager with a hint of salt and lime".(External Link

). Going a different route, Anheuser-Busch is manufacturing Bud Light Lime as a combination of lager, clamato, lime juice, and salt.(External Link

)

Origin of Name

The Michelada cocktail is often referred to as a Mexican drink, there's neither a clear nor official origin of the name, but the most wide spread versions say that the name came after Mexico's Revolution General Augusto Michel, from San Luis Potosí in central Mexico who used to drink his beer at his favourite restaurant added with some spicy sauces and lemon juice. The other version of the origin of the name, also pointing to San Luis Potosí, says "Michel Esper" invented it in the "Club Deportivo Potosino".
Another theory is that the name derives from the American beer, Michelob, a popular beer made by Anheuser-Busch and distributed widely in both North America and Central America. In Spanish, the "ch" in Michelob would likely be pronounced like the "ch" in "chair".
Another possible root of the word would be "Mi Chela Helada" meaning "My Cold Beer".

Recipe (International Readers)

This recipe is the most common way of preparing a Michelada.
In a chilled Salt-rimmed mug or glass pour in 325 mL (12 Fl. oz.) of tomato juice or Clamato. Clamato is becoming more common.

A few drops of hot sauce, such as Valentina or Bufalo. McIlhenny's Tabasco sauce isn't usually used, as it leaves a slight vinegary aftertaste.

A few drops of Worcestershire sauce

A few drops of Maggi seasoning or soy sauce.

Squeeze a lime wedge (lemon wouldn't be strong nor sour enough).

Mix the ingredients in the glass.

Slowly add one 325 mL (12 Fl. oz.) Mexican beer (preferably a light beer like Sol or Corona).

Recipe (Central Mexico)

There are big discussions in central Mexico about what is a Michelada since 50% says it's called cubana and the other 50% says it's indeed michelada. Borrachos (drunken Mexicans) can argue the point for hours.
Cubana recipe: (In the state of Jalisco, Mexico it often goes by the name: Russa)

Squeeze one green lemon in mug (depending on the lemon's juice you might just use one half).

Add salt

Add three cubes of ice.

Add what ever Mexican beer you want, be careful when serving because salt makes the beer have more foam.

Mix it and enjoy your fresh drink. Michelada recipe:

Squeeze one green lemon in mug (depending on the lemon's juice you might just use one half).

Add a pinch of salt.

Add three ice cubes (iced beer is acceptable in Mexico).

A few dashes of Tabasco Sauce.

A few dashes of Worcestershire sauce

Any Mexican beer. (Victoria Beer is a good choice, but it isn't exported). Be careful when pouring because the salt will make the beer foam more than usual.

Mix and enjoy. Michelada recipe:

Rim double rocks glass with salt

Pour 2 parts beer (Mexican is best; sol or corona) and one part clamato (or tomato juice)

Hot sauce to taste

Splash of lime

sprinkle of salt and pepper (it is important to do this last as the salt will cause the beer to foam)

Garnish with lime wedge The simplified and more oft used Michelada recipe (for example the one not served at the tourist hotels):

Fill a glass with ice cubes.

Add juice of one lime.

Add hot sauce or dried chili flakes al gusto.

Add a sprinkle of salt, or leave out if the hot sauce is sufficiently salty.

Pour in one beer, preferably a European style lager beer that finishes bitter, a variety that includes most Mexican beers. Avoid American style beers that finish sweet. Recently, San Antonio Spurs Champion Manu Ginobili has a variation of the recipe named for him as the "Manuchelada" Manuchelada recipe:

Rim glass with Twang chili-lime salt

Fill with ice in a pint size glass

Squeeze the juice of one half lime onto ice

Shake half a teaspoon of celery salt and a half of a teaspoon of pepper into glass

Add two dashes of worchestire sauce to the mix

Add three to five dashes of Tabasco (according to taste)

Pour Heineken over mix

Shake in large shaker and pour back into glass Michelada - El Salvador

one can of tomato juice

two cans of beer

hot sauce to taste

two limes

one tea spoon of salt

one table spoon of pepper

two dashes of Worcestershire sauce Michelada - Honduras

Rim glass with salt

Add dash of worchester sauce

One green lemon (lime)

Dash of salt

Dash of tobasco sauce

Dash of black pepper mixed with cumins

Fill glass with ice

Add Port Royal (local Honduran beer) Kingchelada - Canada

10 dashes of Tapatio hot sauce

5 dashes worcestshire sauce

a squirt of lime juice

4 shakes of pepper

4 oz Clamato

pour in 12 oz of domestic beer

In language

A popular quote "If life gives you limes, make Michelada" was popularized by Olesya Romanovna, inspired on the lemonade quote by Dale Carnegie

I can't speak for everywhere, but 20 years ago, in Connecticut in the USA, half a beer & half tomatoe juice was called a "Bloody Buddy"
Don C. Stratford, CT.

Further Information

Get more info on 'Michelada'.

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