Michelada: Pre-made vs. Homemade

Qué cerveza es mejor? Sheeeeeeet, Midwesterners have been downing red beer and crap beer with lime and salt for years (only way to get through $1 pitcher night), but now the Michelada has found its way into the hipster vernacular. Be cool with this. Michelada means "cheap beer now more refreshing" in Spanish and is the best thing that can happen to a Bud Light or can of PBR. Funny, this seems to be a case of reverse hipsterism. Miller made the media blitz with Chill (beer with lime and salt) nearly two years ago, and Bud Light has had Chelada (beer with lime and salt AND Clamato) on the shelf for some time.

As with any drink, the pre-made never tastes as good as the from scratch. At left is a pretty disco picture of Redwood's (514 E. Howell St.) happy hour Michelada, made with muddled fresh lime, tabasco and a can of Modelo--all in a salt-rimmed pint glass full of ice. There's just no substitute for fresh squeezed lime. It's the very raison d'etre of the margarita. Try the above with your favorite cheap beer, but start with just lime. Then see about adding salt, tomato juice or your favorite hot sauce. (I like it with the green tabasco.)