Michelada is a cocktail drink that originates from Mexico. Because there are many Mexican restaurants and bars in Texas today, it is not surprising that many Texans have tasted and enjoyed michelada. James Oseland, in the book Saveur: The New Comfort Food: Home Cooking from Around the World, describes michelada as “a particular favorite in Austin, Texas.”
Michelada Trivia
- One of the two theories regarding the origin of michelada involves a man named Michel Ésper and Club Deportivo Potosino, which is located in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. As the story goes, Michel prefers his beer in a chabela cup, with lime, salt, ice, and a straw. What he wanted was similar to beer lemonade, so those who wanted the same drink asked for Michel’s limonada (lemonade), the name changing and evolving over time, ending up with what we now know as michelada.
- Another theory regarding the origin of the name michelada is much simpler: the name of this beer-based drink is derived from the phrase “my ice cold beer” in Spanish, which is mi chela helada.
- In the book Cooking Across America: Country Comfort, michelada is described as a “nice alternative to a margarita or a Bloody Mary.”
Michelada Buying Guide
- Michelada is very popular in Texas. Here in Lone Star State, it is not difficult to find a restaurant or bar that serves frozen margaritas. To be sure, do some research online on which nearby restaurants or bars serve michelada. Or ask family and friends if they have a place to recommend.
- Some restaurants allow customers to choose the beer to use when making house blend michelada. If you have a particular beer you like and the restaurant is willing to accommodate your choice, go ahead and pick a brand you want.
- Micheladas are delicious and refreshing but keep in mind that this cocktail drink is an alcoholic beverage, so don’t let the refreshing and delicious taste of this drink cause you to order more than you can handle. A michelada hangover the following day is a real problem for those who overdo it.
- This drink contains spicy ingredients. Before ordering, ask the waiter or bartender how spicy the drink is so that you have an idea if you can tolerate the heat and if it is spicy enough to be enjoyable for you.
- If you want to join your friends but do not drink alcohol, try looking for restaurants or bars that serve non-alcoholic michelada or michelada mocktails. Yes, there is such a thing as a nonalcoholic michelada and michelada mocktail.
Michelada Production & Farming in Texas
In Texas, michelada is offered primarily by Mexican bars and restaurants operating in the state.
Beers produced in Texas are used in making micheladas. Brad Thomas Parsons, in the book Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas, mentioned that the michelada made in The Hotel San Jose in Austin using the beer produced by Spoetzl Brewery, which is based in Shiner, Texas.
Producers of popular beer brands like Miller, Budweiser, and Tecate added a michelada line to their products to cater to consumers who enjoy drinking michelada. These are sold in Texas as well as in other parts of the country.
Dorada Draft Michelada Chiltepe is the michelada of Cervecería Centro Americana, a Guatemalan Brewery.
Pesticides, Additives, and Chemicals
There are many different versions of the modern michelada, influenced primarily by the style and taste of the bartender. It is common to find many additives in a michelada, like soy sauce, Tajín, Worcestershire sauce, chamoy powder, or tomato sauce.
Geography
Michelada originated from Mexico. Today, it is enjoyed in many Latin American countries, in the US, and in other parts of the world. Michelada is found not only in Texas but in other parts of the US as well, like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.
In Texas, here’s where you can go for micheladas:
Austin
Micheladas Cafe Y Cantina
Phoebe’s Diner
Conroe
Micheladas el norte
Crosby
El Ranchito Micheladas
Dallas
Micheladas Restaurant and Bar
Micheladas El Matador
Fort Worth
Micheladas Olmos
Galveston
Vintage Crown
Houston
El Taller Micheladas
Micheladas El Guero
Micheladas Mi Jalisco
Micheladas Xpress
Spring
Micheladas To Go
Packaging
To-go micheladas are sold in mason jars, plastic bottles, and plastic cups. You can also buy micheladas in cans, which are sold at the supermarket or grocery store.
Enjoying Michelada
James Oseland, in the book Saveur: The New Comfort Food: Home Cooking from Around the World, describes michelada as a tart-spicy beer-based savory cocktail, and a “peppery and refreshing beer cocktail.” Ross McCammon and David Wondrich, in the book Drink Like a Man: The Only Cocktail Guide Anyone Really Needs, recommend drinking michelada instead of a regular light beer when feasting on delicious pork barbecue.
Michelada is a delicious drink. Nonetheless, have something to eat while drinking. It is not ideal to consume alcohol or sour-tasting drinks on an empty stomach because it may cause sudden stomach pain and cramps. It is common to find a glass of michelada with shrimp and cucumber slices (among others) on the rim. That’ll guarantee you have food to go with your drink.
As a nod to the country from which michelada originated – and since michelada is commonly served in Mexican restaurants and bars – enjoy this drink with your favorite Mexican or Tex-Mex food. Tacos are hands down an easy pick to pair with an order of michelada.
Michelada is an alcoholic beverage. It is served to customers who are of legal age to buy and consume alcoholic drinks. Enforcing the law varies from place to place, of course, depending on local customs, traditions, and practices. Beatriz Aldana Marquez, in the book From the Peaceable to the Barbaric: Thorstein Veblen and the Charro Cowboy, wrote about her observation in Mexico and the locals drinking beer. “In the summer of 2013, I observed a ten-year-old boy holding his own michelada, a spicy Mexican beer and lime cocktail.”
If you’ve been recently hospitalized or if you have lingering medical and health issues, or if you have been taking any medication, consult first with your doctor if it is ok for you to drink.
Remember that consumption of alcohol will impair your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. Michelada contains alcohol. Drink moderately. Too much alcohol in the body can result in immediate and long-term health problems.
Storage
Store ready-to-drink michelada in cans in a cold, dry place. Refrigerate before drinking so that you have a cold drink.
Making Michelada
To make a michelada, you will need beer, lime juice, and your choice of chili-based sauces, spices, and chili peppers.
Michelada is served chilled, in a salt-rimmed glass.
You can find many different tutorials online on how to make a michelada.
Nutritional Benefits
Here are the health benefits of beer, lime, and spices – the three main ingredients found in a michelada.
Beer – In moderate amounts, beer can help improve heart health, reduce the risk of kidney stones, lower bad cholesterol, strengthen bones, and reduce stress. According to the book Beer in Health and Disease Prevention, “Current science indicates that, in moderate or low amounts, the consumption of beer may be beneficial to good health.”
Lime – Lime can help reduce inflammation, protect against infection, prevent kidney stones, protect against stroke, maintain healthy teeth and bones, and improve immunity. John P. Hunter III, in the book Health Benefits: From Foods and Spices, wrote about how lime can help lower blood cholesterol, improve resistance to disease, aid in healing wounds, and protect the eyes. Hunter also pointed out that “lime contains by far more vitamin C than the lemon.”
Spices – Eating spicy food or drinking a spicy beverage is beneficial because spices help fight inflammation and cancer cells. Spices also help improve metabolism, help kill bacteria, help lose weight, help improve digestion, help boost mood and memory, help deal with congestion, help manage diabetes, help improve heart health, help manage stress and depression, help in digestion, and help in pain management.
