Tangy, refreshing, and with just the right amount of kick, the Mexican Michelada is the ultimate low-key, laid-back cocktail.


How to Make a Michelada: Classic Michelada Cocktail Recipe

A Michelada, also known as chelada, is a Mexican beer cocktail, usually served in a pint or Pilsner-style glass. While a Michelada’s construction is endlessly customizable, the basic ingredients are a light Mexican-style beer, lime juice, salt, and some form of light heat, either from chile powders or hot sauce. Popular additions include soy sauce, chili powder, pickled-sweet chamoy powder, or flavored tomato juice. Like a shandy, which pairs light beer with sweet, tangy lemonade, a Michelada is bright and fizzy, with an undercurrent of umami from clam liquor-infused tomato juice, if that’s your style. Dishes like *[cochinita pibil](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-cochinita-pibil)* (roasted pork shoulder), hearty stews like [pozole](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-pozole), and juicy [barbacoa](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-mexican-beef-barbacoa) tacos pair well with the effervescent Mexican drink.

There are two popular origin stories concerning the Michelada and its name. The first attributes the invention to a man named Michel, who, sometime in the 1960s, began ordering his beers at a venerated sports club in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, with lime, salt, and ice, topped off with a straw. The concoction resembled lemonade and soon became known as “Michel’s lemonade,” which was shortened to “Michelada.” The other origin story states that the word is a derivation of the Spanish phrase “*mi chela helada*,” which means “my ice-cold beer.”  

Both the Michelada and the Bloody Mary are two spicy brunch-time quaffs that share a few common ingredients, but the most significant difference lies in the levels of intensity:  

- __Hard alcohol__: A [Bloody Mary](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/easy-bloody-mary-recipe) features vodka as its base spirit, while a low ABV light beer or lager serves as the Michelada’s base.
- __Mix-ins__: While Michelada recipes vary by region and personal preference, the basic formula is beer, lime juice, and a dash or two of salty chile powder or hot sauce. Some prefer to add a funky brine in the form of clam-based tomato juice or *camaronazo* (shrimp-based tomato juice). Meanwhile, Bloody Mary purists would argue the drink must feature its signature hit of Worcestershire sauce and fresh, eye-watering horseradish, along with a smattering of spices, like celery salt and black pepper.

Tangy, refreshing, and with just the right amount of kick, the Mexican Michelada is the ultimate low-key, laid-back cocktail.


A Michelada, also known as chelada, is a Mexican beer cocktail, usually served in a pint or Pilsner-style glass. While a Michelada’s construction is endlessly customizable, the basic ingredients are a light Mexican-style beer, lime juice, salt, and some form of light heat, either from chile powders or hot sauce. Popular additions include soy sauce, chili powder, pickled-sweet chamoy powder, or flavored tomato juice. Like a shandy, which pairs light beer with sweet, tangy lemonade, a Michelada is bright and fizzy, with an undercurrent of umami from clam liquor-infused tomato juice, if that’s your style. Dishes like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-cochinita-pibil' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-cochinita-pibil","linkCopy":"cochinita pibil","category":null}'>cochinita pibil</a> (roasted pork shoulder), hearty stews like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-pozole' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-pozole","linkCopy":"pozole","category":null}'>pozole</a>, and juicy <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-mexican-beef-barbacoa' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-mexican-beef-barbacoa","linkCopy":"barbacoa","category":null}'>barbacoa</a> tacos pair well with the effervescent Mexican drink.

What Is a Michelada?

There are two popular origin stories concerning the Michelada and its name. The first attributes the invention to a man named Michel, who, sometime in the 1960s, began ordering his beers at a venerated sports club in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, with lime, salt, and ice, topped off with a straw. The concoction resembled lemonade and soon became known as “Michel’s lemonade,” which was shortened to “Michelada.” The other origin story states that the word is a derivation of the Spanish phrase “mi chela helada,” which means “my ice-cold beer.”

A Brief History of the Michelada

Both the Michelada and the Bloody Mary are two spicy brunch-time quaffs that share a few common ingredients, but the most significant difference lies in the levels of intensity: <ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Hard alcohol: A <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/easy-bloody-mary-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/easy-bloody-mary-recipe","linkCopy":"Bloody Mary","category":null}'>Bloody Mary</a> features vodka as its base spirit, while a low ABV light beer or lager serves as the Michelada’s base. </li><li class="">Mix-ins: While Michelada recipes vary by region and personal preference, the basic formula is beer, lime juice, and a dash or two of salty chile powder or hot sauce. Some prefer to add a funky brine in the form of clam-based tomato juice or camaronazo (shrimp-based tomato juice). Meanwhile, Bloody Mary purists would argue the drink must feature its signature hit of Worcestershire sauce and fresh, eye-watering horseradish, along with a smattering of spices, like celery salt and black pepper. </li></ul>

What Is the Difference Between a Michelada and a Bloody Mary?

Classic Michelada Recipe

Tangy, refreshing, and with just the right amount of kick, the Mexican Michelada is the ultimate low-key, laid-back cocktail.