A chelada only requires three ingredients, and because it’s made using lager, it’s light, crisp and a perfect cocktail to sip on when the weather is warm. It’s believed the chelada came to be in the 1960s and is often used to alleviate the discomforts of a hangover. Chela is slang for “beer” in Mexico, while helado means ice.
A chelada is made by simply combining lime juice, salt and beer, and then served with a favorite rim. Traditionally, the Mexican beer for a chelada is a cerveza clara—light, bright, crisp, pilsner-like lager such as Modelo or Tecate, not a dark lager. The beer must also be chilled, and the colder, the better. About 1 1/2 limes per drink is typical, but the fruit should be as fresh as possible and chilled before juiced for the best flavor. Like a margarita, a salt rim is essential to the overall flavor and the key to a good chelada. Using salt on the rim helps to bring out the sour flavors of the lime-infused beer. Traditionally plain rimming salt is used, however, contemporary versions are sometimes prepared with Tajín, a popular Mexican brand of chile lime seasoning.
The chelada is a great drink to enjoy with Mexican food, grilled meats, or any dish with a bit of spiciness to it. The drink is a favorite with fish or shrimp tacos, guacamole, chips and salsa or queso, snacks such as aguachile and sopes, and other popular Mexican appetizers.
People often confuse the chelada beer with the darker, chili-spiked Mexican beer cocktail, the michelada. While the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, the difference between the two is in the seasoning preparation. A michelada is essentially a Bloody Mary but made with beer instead of vodka. It’s spicy and has ingredients like clamato or tomato juice, hot sauce, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce with a rimmed glass. Additionally, michelada is typically mixed using amber beer in the style of Vienna lager.
A chelada is a very light, refreshing, and low-alcohol cocktail that is perfect to enjoy on a hot summer day. Crisp, citrusy and exceptionally easy to make, a chelada can be enjoyed anytime, whether it’s cocktails on the patio, a laid back brunch, or a dinner of shrimp tacos.
