Craving a little Latin American flare?
With micheladas growing in popularity across the US, along with the popularity of Mexican food, it only makes sense to adopt some Mexican flavor into your craft beer lineup. Consider salt and lime beer in your brewery offerings. Salt and lime are refreshing and add an exotic flavor to brews. It’s a tasty bandwagon. Here’s why you should jump on.
What is a Michelada?
Lime-flavored beer with salt dates back to early 19th century Mexico and Central America. It is commonly known as “cerveza con lima,” or beer with lime. As the drink grew more popular, it picked up the name “chelada” which translates to “cold beer with lime.”
Beer complemented with lime and salt mimics the flavors found in a popular Mexican cocktail, the Michelada. The refreshing drink is made with cold beer, fresh lime juice, salt, and a splash of tomato juice.
As questionable legend has it, the combo was invented in 1910 during the Mexican Revolution. General Don Augusto Michel frequently took his men to a local cantina in San Luis Potosi. To lift their spirits, General Michel would order beer with lime and add hot sauce for a spicy kick. The owner of the cantina named the spicy concoction after the generous general, combining “Michel” and chelada, or “cold one.”
Another well-known story has a gambler mixing up a hangover cure. The reality is probably a lot less interesting; nevertheless, a trend born in Mexican cantinas has made its way across the country and across the border.
All over the US, bars are adopting the michelada and making it their own by adding different ingredients, from hot sauce to pineapple. Some have gone way over the top, with drinks like Michelada con Camarones (spicy beer cocktail with shrimp). And serious enthusiasts can celebrate Mexican culture at Micheladafest in Fort Worth or participate in Lone Star’s Rio Jade Michelada Contest.
So what’s all this got to do with salt and lime beer? Lime and salt anchor the flavors of the drink and feature prominently in Mexican cooking, which means a salt and lime beer will pair well with popular Mexican dishes and serve as a cocktail base for your own creative creations.
How to Serve a Lime Chelada
Before we get into brewing tips, let’s talk about using what you have on hand. Instead of brewing a special concoction, many bars and breweries start with a light Mexican beer, like Modelo, Dos Equis, or Tecate.
Use lime juice and salt to rim your beer glass, add a wedge of fresh lime, and you’re done.
Well…not quite. The execution is easy, but there are considerations. There are lots of salts to choose from: regular table salt, sea salt, pink Himalayan salt, Sal Limón (salt with citric acid added), or Tajín (spicy lime salt). There’s also such a thing as lime beer salt.
Limes are pretty much just limes. You could choose key limes, but they aren’t really the right flavor. And you could use curly lime peels instead of wedges. Just don’t use bottled lime. Fresh is well worth the effort. You’ll need about ¼ cup per drink.
Make it a Cocktail
Your lime and salt beer doesn’t have to remain basic. Some venues go a little nuts. No idea what’s going on here, for example, but it looks enticing.
Make a signature cocktail by adding fruit juices, spices, tomato or clamato juice, or hot sauce, and garnish with fruits, peppers, and…are those pepperonis? Or just keep it simple, clean, and ice cold. Then think up fun brewery events to market and showcase your creations.
Pair with Great Baja-Inspired Bar Food
What goes great with Mexican beer, lime, and salt? Tacos, of course! You don’t have to stop at basic ground beef tacos. Try fish, shrimp, tender steak, carnitas, or al pastor (pork) for a delicious alternative to the popular dish.
Other universally popular Mexican bar foods include:
- Guacamole, salsa, queso, and bean dips
- Elote (Mexican street corn)
- Nachos
- Empanadas (meat pies)
- Quesadillas
- Flautas or taquitos
- Fajitas
Your customers will love washing down delicious food with cold, refreshing salt and lime beer.
Salt and Lime Beer Brewing Tips
Ready to go all in on a craft brew? Here are a few tips to help you make the perfect flavor.
- Use fresh lime juice or zest. While there are bottled lime juices, extracts, and artificial flavors on the market, nothing beats the taste of fresh.
- Dry hopping is a great way to brew beer with a citrus aroma. And if you want to step up your game, check out one of these 28 varieties of lime aroma hops.
- For a perfect citrus tang, add 1/4 lime juice per half a liter of beer, which equals the juice of 10 limes per 5 gallons of lager brew.
- Due to the oil in a real lime peel, zest imparts a distinct flavor. You can add zest at different times during the brewing process, either at flameout, after fermentation, or before bottling. However, if you use the zest, you’ll need to filter before bottling.
For brewing inspiration, check out these popular salt and lime beer brands:
- Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager
- Castle Danger Sea Salt & Lime Lager
- Dos Equis Lime & Salt Lager Especial
- Cape May Brewery Tan Limes
- Shiner Sea Salt & Lime
If you are looking to update your menu and bring in a fun, popular drink for your patrons, add a beer with lime and salt. They go great with Mexican foods and are growing in popularity. Your customers will thank you for these exotic, refreshing brews.
