MUCH ado ABOUT micheladas

BY: Luis Arjona

Have you ever been met with a Bloody Mary with maybe one celery stick and an over-cooked piece of bacon? Natural selection and evolution occur as a part of life, and I subscribe to the belief that the Michelada is coming for Bloody Mary’s neck. This beverage does not disappoint and could feed a table of four.

In all seriousness, though, the lore of Micheladas includes disputed origins. Perhaps they were created by Mexican General Don Augosto Michel, who in the 1910s would serve his soldiers beer with lime and hot sauce to revitalize his forces. Another tale involves a man named Michel Ésper at Club Deportivo Potosino in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, during the 1960s. Ésper would ask for a beer with lime, salt, and ice, his refortifying beverage of choice. The drink’s recipe would gain new sauces and seasoning as time progressed. In these stories the name’s etymology would be “Michel’s ‘chelada’” or “Michel’s cold beer.” However, the translation can be further broken down to “mi chela helada,” for “my cold beer.” Either way, the lore and pragmatic analysis arrive at the same conclusion: a delicious cold brew with all the trappings, please.

This staple has grown beyond a drink and into more of an entrée. We aren’t upset by this evolution, but it is crucial information for those uninitiated. Being a cultural staple locally, Micheladas take on various forms, and depending on how you take your drink, a local institution will provide you with your fix. Most notable is Burger Beach Hideaway for its loaded Michelada, comparable to a clown car (in a good way) with the number of embellishments packed in. The Michelada culture in South Texas is prominent, so if you want to elevate your Bloody Mary (unbiased take), then pay homage to either Michael Ésper or General Don Augosto Michel and treat yourself to a staple of the Coastal Bend.

Order Up

WHERE TO GET A FULLY-LOADED MICHELADA

BURGER BEACH HIDEAWAY

6109 MCARDLE

SMOKEY ROOSTER

6122 KOSTORYZ

ACAPULCO

1133 AIRLINE

THE BARN DRIVE THRU 46301 S ALAMEDA

BIRRIERIA Y MARISCOS EL GENERALL

6802 WEBER

HOUSE OF ROCK

511 STARR

BREWSTER STREET SOUTHSIDE

5550 HOLLY