Sipwise

Chelada

The stripped-down Mexican original that Michelada is built on: cold beer, fresh lime juice, and a salted rim. No hot sauce, no Worcestershire — pure, elemental refreshment.

More drinks like this
Chelada cocktail made with beer, served in a chilled mug
Base
beer
Glassware
Chilled mug
Flavor Profile
sourrefreshing

Ingredients

  • 1 can or bottle (12 oz) cold lager or light beer
  • Juice of 1 lime (about 1 oz)
  • Coarse salt, for the rim
  • Lime wedge, to garnish

Instructions

  1. 1Run a lime wedge around the rim of a chilled mug or pint glass and dip in coarse salt.
  2. 2Fill the glass with ice.
  3. 3Squeeze in the lime juice.
  4. 4Pour the cold beer over the ice and stir gently.
  5. 5Garnish with a lime wedge.

Origin & Story

Mexico, mid-20th century

The Chelada predates the Michelada and represents the purist position in Mexican beer culture: cold lager, squeezed lime, and salt. Nothing more. The name comes from the Mexican slang 'chela' (beer) and 'helada' (cold/iced). The Michelada is a dressed-up version that added tomato juice, Worcestershire, and hot sauce over the decades — but across Mexico, and especially in the north, the original Chelada remains the more popular everyday order. It is the beer cocktail in its most minimal, most refreshing form.