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Summer Cocktail Recipe: Michelada

2008_05_22-michelada.jpgFor our relaxed Memorial Day party. this weekend, we know that beer will be the drink of choice. But to make it a little more fun and fancy, we'll be offering guests the option of making a michelada with their beer.

This traditional Mexican beer cocktail is sometimes known as a cerveza preparada. It's a little spicy, a little tart, and just perfect on a hot summer day.

 
 

Michelada
makes one drink

1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 pinch black pepper
1 lime wedge, plus juice from 1/2 a lime
ice
3 dashes hot sauce
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
12 ounces beer, preferably a Mexican beer like Dos Equis (or Negro Modelo for those who prefer dark beer)

Combine the salt, chili powder, and black pepper in a small dish, then salt the rim of a tall glass by rubbing it with the lime wedge and dipping it the salt. Fill with several cubes of ice.

Add the lime juice, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce, then pour in beer and serve.

Image: Nina Callaway for the Kitchn.

Related: Guinness Milkshake Recipe

Comments (9)

I would never make a michelada with dark beer, those beers should be drunk by themselves. You can also add a little bit of tomato and clam juice.

posted by Sofia E on May 22nd 2008 at 6:25am
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my boyfriend and i were at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant when we saw a couple next to us "dressing up" their beers. as soon as we saw them splashing a cold cerveza with tabasco sauce, we asked if they'd make one for us—and what it was called. they said "it's a michelada," and we were won over!

posted by ambsATX on May 22nd 2008 at 6:25am
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I love these. I am allergic to tomatoes so this is my bloody mary replacement!

posted by mizrobot on May 22nd 2008 at 6:43am
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I just whipped these up 2 weeks ago!

I live in the Barrio so I picked up some of that chili limon at the corner store for the rim. And the clerk insisted that I use Tamazula sauce.

posted by art on May 22nd 2008 at 6:49am
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Sofia -
I actually do prefer the light beer. But friends disagree, saying that only a dark beer stands up to the chili and lime. So I offer both, but drink the dos equis!

posted by NinaC on May 22nd 2008 at 10:30am
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I am addicted to the micheladas! In NYC the mecca of Mexican food, Rosa Mexicano, serves these. I had been making them before I ate there, but found that the bartenders poured a LOT more lime juice then myself. So I started adding more and found juicing limes when you are trying to drink beer is not fun. A great alternative is Nellie & Joe's Key Lime Juice. (http://www.keylimejuice.com/) It is NOT from concentrate and really tasty. Add some salt and pepper to the actually drink itself.

posted by stuzzeo on May 26th 2008 at 10:59am
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sorry for the typo. I had been drinking.

posted by stuzzeo on May 26th 2008 at 11:16am
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Where is the pint glass from? Is it a Brooklyn Brewery special?

posted by cara_mia on May 27th 2008 at 2:36pm
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those brooklyn glasses used to be at fishs eddy - but i don't see them on their website anymore: www.fishseddy.com

posted by helmutkang on May 30th 2008 at 7:33am
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