A Chelada is a simple Mexican beer cocktail made with fresh lime juice, coarse salt, and a Mexican lager poured over a salted rim. It's a refreshingly tart drink that takes less than two minutes to prepare.
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Run a lime wedge along the rim of a glass to wet it and dip the rim into a shallow dish filled with salt.
Squeeze the lime juice directly into the glass. Use a citrus squeezer for best results.
Add a pinch of salt and stir.
Pour the beer and be careful to stop in time before it makes contact with any salt on the inside rim of the glass (it will fizz up excessively and may overflow). Stir and garnish with a slice of lime if desired.
citrus squeezer · shallow dish for salt rimming
Use a light, golden Mexican pilsner-style lager such as Modelo. A 12 oz bottle is standard.
Salt on the inside rim of the glass reacts with the beer and causes excessive carbonation. Pour carefully and stop before the beer contacts the rim salt to avoid overflow.
Fresh lime juice is recommended for the best tart flavor. Squeeze directly into the glass using a citrus squeezer, or use 2 oz freshly squeezed juice.
Ice is optional. If using it, only add a few cubes to avoid diluting the drink.
Yes, you can skip the rim and add a pinch of salt directly to the glass with the lime juice for a simpler preparation.
