Pro tips for the best Michelada Beer cocktail
- Chill beer glasses in freezer at least 1 hour before serving.
- For the best result rim the glass with a salt and cayenne pepper
- Adjust your seasoning to taste. You might prefer extra seasoning or more hot sauce.
Best food pairings for a Michelada
An ice-cold beer cocktail can sure get the appetite going, so it’s good to have a few options at the ready. Tacos are a fantastic pairing with a Michelada beer cocktail or other Mexican cocktails, as is slow-cooked chipotle shredded pork, especially for a Cinco de Mayo party. Spicy tuna or white fish ceviche with a good measure of fresh lime juice is also a stellar combination. A Michelada cocktail is also one of the best brunch cocktails, which you can serve with a fry-up of hash browns, eggs, bacon, or Huevos Rancheros.
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The story of the Michelada beer cocktail
Michelada, loosely translated in Spanish, means “my cold beer”; the “Mi” is my, “chela” is slang for a pint of beer, and “ada” is from helada which means cold.
The origins of this drink are unclear but a Mexican beer cocktail Michelada became popular in Mexico in the 1940s, when thirsty beer enthusiasts would ice a cold light lager, pour it over ice, add a dash of spicy clamato (Mexican tomato juice), and finish with a good squeeze of lemon and hot sauce. That’s the traditional way, but Mexico City locals prefer a light lager served with a shot of lime in an iced pint glass with a salted rim.
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