How to use beer in cocktails with this delicious California-inspired Michelada!

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How to use beer in cocktails with this delicious California-inspired Michelada!

January 27, 2015
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How to use beer in cocktails with this delicious California-inspired Michelada!

If you are curious about how to use beer in cocktails, look no further than the Michelada. The Michelada is a semi-spicy Mexican cocktail that gets its savory flavors from tomato juice, chili powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Light in both flavor and alcohol content, this cocktail with beer is perfect for your Super Bowl festivities or happy hour!

Cali-Chelada from a Birdseye View

What is a Michelada?

A michelada is often referred to as a “Mexican Bloody Mary.” Its base has tomato juice, spices, a little hot sauce, and savory seasonings. However, instead of vodka (like in a Bloody Mary), beer is the spirit of choice for a michelada. It’s refreshing and low in alcohol content, making it perfect for brunch—and some even say that it can cure hangovers!

Cali-Chelada in salt rimmed glass

Using beer in cocktails is easy and makes for unique delicious adult beverages that are perfect for entertaining.

Step-by-step this is how you make California-inspired Micheladas:

Beer-based cocktails like the Michelada are amongst the easiest cocktails on the planet to whip up. Simply gather your ingredients, decide if a salt rim is for you, pour, garnish, and enjoy! What’s easier than that?

Ingredients: Salt, lime, tomato and Chile cocktail, beer, Worcestershire sauce

Ingredients needed to make our California-inspired Michelada

  • Can of spicy tomato juice
  • Bottle of any California lager
  • Worcestershire Sauce
  • Lime
  • Salt for rim (optional)
  • Various veggies. I used black and green olives stuffed with blue cheese, grape tomatoes, celery, and grilled asparagus.

Once you’ve gathered all of the ingredients to make this beer-based cocktail the hard part is done! Now you simply pour, garnish, and sip.

Now that the cocktail is made it is time to discuss how to garnish your drink. Like a Bloody Mary, our California-inspired Michelada is loaded with fresh and grilled vegetables for a cocktail that has a delicious snack component!

Get as inventive as you like with your garnishes. Literally, anything goes! Here are a few of our favorite garnishes for this beer-based cocktail.

Asparagus fresh off the grill with woody stems removed.

How to Grill Asparagus Like a Pro!

Forget losing precious asparagus spears down the grill grate or charring those tender tips to oblivion! Our fail-proof method will teach you how to grill asparagus to perfection every single time without ever losing a spear! 

Click here to see how we grill asparagus!

California Ripe Olives are the perfect garnish for cocktails!

Threaded on skewers straight from the can or stuffed with a variety of delicious fillings like garlic, blue cheese, onion, or almonds, California Ripe Olives are an excellent choice for garnishing this cocktail.

Birdseye View of Cali-Chelada

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Cali-Chelada Cocktail

California-inspired Michelada cocktail

Susan Philips
The traditional Mexican Chelada gets a California-inspired spin with micro veggie kebabs and grilled asparagus!
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 drink
Calories 104 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Can of tomato juice with chiles
  • 1 bottle of California lager
  • 2 splashes Worcestershire Sauce
  • Lime wedge for rim
  • Salt for rim optional
  • Various veggies for the Chelada Bar: I used black and green olives stuffed with blue cheese grape tomatoes, celery, and grilled asparagus.

Instructions
 

  • Rub lime wedge around the rim of glass so the salt will adhere. Then press the rim of the glass into the salt if using to create a salt rim.
  • Add ice to the glass and pour the spicy tomato juice over the ice. Add a few splashes of Worcestershire sauce.
  • Pour in the beer until it reaches the top of the glass, just below the salt rim.
  • Garnish the drink with skewers of fresh and/or grilled veggies, celery sticks, and grilled asparagus spears

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 2gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 63mgPotassium: 459mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 768IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg
Keyword beer, cocktails, tomato juice
Tried this recipe?Mention @cagrownofficial or tag #CAGROWN!

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