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What is a Chavela Drink?
Chavela is Mexican beer cocktail with tomato juice, seasoned with hot sauce, garnished with lemon or lime and served in a glass rimmed with coarse salt or spicy chile lime salt such as Tajin.
How is Chavela Different from Michelada?
A chavela is a classic cerveza preparada (prepared beer), just like its close relative the Michelada. Both are very popular in Mexico.
However, there are several principal differences between the two light beer cocktails.
- Chavela is a bit simpler compared to Michelada - it uses fewer ingredients (for example no Worcestershire sauce).
- Chavela includes tomato juice while classic Michelada does not.
- Chavela is typically made with cerveza clara (golden, crisp lager similar to pilsner), whereas Michelada is more commonly mixed with cerveza oscura (dark, amber colored lager in the style of Munich dunkel or Vienna lager).
- Chavela beverage is sometimes spiked with a shot of tequila or served with a shot of tequila on the side.
What's In the Glass of the Traditional Version?
Authentic Chavela uses these few simple ingredients:
Lemon/lime. For a bit of the lemon or lime juice to wet the rim of the glass before dipping it in rimming salt and to use as garnish.
Coarse salt. For the wet rim of the glass. Use kosher salt, sea salt or a chile lime salt such as Tajin, or sriracha salt or chile powder salt.
Beer. The classic choice is a Mexican golden lager brewed in the style of pilsner such as Modelo - light bodied, highly effervescent and crisp.
Tomato juice. Use good quality organic tomato juice. If you'd like season it with a pinch of salt (totally optional, depends on your taste).
Hot sauce. Your favorite brand, to season the cocktail. Tabasco sauce is what we like to use.
Tequila. Completely optional. Blanco or reposado work great, no need for expensive aged tequilas.
How to Mix a Chavela
- Onto a small saucer/small plate pour some coarse salt or Tajin. Run a lime or lemon wedge around the rim of a pint glass, then dip the rim into the salt to coat.
- Place a few ice cubes into the prepared glass. Add tomato juice and a few dashes of hot sauce. Stir to combine and then fill to the top with Modelo or similar Mexican lager. Optional - add a generous splash of tequila (#6) or serve with standard 1.5 oz tequila shot on the side.
- Garnish with lemon/lime wedge.
Ways to Serve the Red Beer Cocktail
Chavela is a light, refreshing cocktail which you can enjoy on its own - tequila shot included or not. It is perfect on a hot, sunny day.
The flavor base and the effervescence of the lager make it an excellent partner to spicy Mexican food dishes as well as a viable brunch cocktail option.
Chavela also has quite the affinity for seafood - pair it with ceviche, fish tacos, crab boils. It is commonly served with a built in snack of cocktail shrimp - draped over the edge of the glass or skewered, similarly to this Clamato beer.
Other Beer Cocktails You Might Like
Mexican Chelada | Bloody Roman | Grapefruit Beer Paloma | Mexican Mule | Smoked Queso Dip | Chorizo Tacos | Chiles Toreados | Tacos Arrachera
Recipe
Chavela (Mexican Drink with Modelo)
Ingredients
- lime or lemon wedge
- coarse salt or chile lime salt like Tajin to rim glass
- ice cubes
- 3 oz tomato juice
- 12 oz Modelo or similar Mexican lager, brewed in the style of pilsner
- hot sauce to taste, about 5-6 dashes
- 1 ½ oz tequila blanco or reposado optional
Instructions
- Run a wedge of lemon/lime around the rim of a pint glass, reserve it for garnish. Pour coarse salt or Tajin onto a small plate and dip the wet rim of the glass to coat.
- Place a few ice cubes into the glass. Add the tomato juice and the hot sauce. Stir to mix. Add the Modelo lager* and (optional) shot of tequila.**
- Garnish with the lemon/lime wedge.
Amanda
You always have the best beer cocktails! I'm definitely putting this on my Super Bowl menu -- I can't think of a more perfect pregame drink.
Kelsie
I love that you say the tequila is optional. I LOVE tequila so it's never optional for me! I've never heard of a chavela so thank you for the education!
Leanne
I would definitely add the shot of tequila! 😉 Looks tasty and refreshing. While it's only Monday morning, I'm imagining sipping on this during brunch this weekend! Have a great week ahead!