Week 38 in The year of Drinking Adventurously. Chavelas and Micheladas.
I love beer, I love Bloody Marys, so this week’s adventure makes me happy. At first this may seem like a weird combination but it’s really no weirder than some of the other things people do to beer. Hello, pumpkin anyone?
Both of these cocktails hail from Mexico and are slotted into this week because of Mexican Independence Day on September 16th. The chavela is a more involved version of this cocktail: served in a large bowl-like glass rimmed with salt and picante spices, filled two-thirds of the way with a tomato based liquid. This could be tomato juice, V8 or Clamato on the rocks, mixed with hot sauce and garnished with shrimp. The bottle of beer comes on the side, ready to be emptied in after resting for a bit. Not being a fan of shrimp, this was out for me.
The michelada, on the other hand, is basically a Bloody Mary – just swap out the vodka for beer. To make things interesting, I went all “foodie” for this one, making my own tomato juice in the handy, dandy Vitamix blender. I added Worcestershire sauce, Cholula hot sauce, lime juice, sea salt and freshly cracked pepper. The volume was about half of what would eventually comprise the cocktail. The beer half is my own home-brewed lager on tap in the kegerator. So good!
As cocktail culture has become a ‘thing’ all sorts of new concoctions are gaining popularity. Still waiting to see this on a cocktail menu in my neighborhood, though. Until then, I will continue to make it at home. So if you like a Bloody Mary, I encourage you to give this one a go. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Make sure to see if Lula liked her cervezas y mas, this week!
And one more thing, since we’re talking about Mexico and its recent commemoration of independence… My friend Roger Moore, professor and poet, traveler and story teller, has spent time in the Mexican State of Oaxaca getting to know the people and their history. One of my favorite poems- Inquisitor – is part of The Sun and Moon collection, now available on Amazon. Please do pay a Roger a visit and enjoy his wonderful poetry!
Home brewed beer with bloody Mary? That sounds like a must try! So when can I come over for the cocktail? 😉
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Just say the word! You are always welcome! 😀
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I will hold you to that 😀
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Sounds pretty good, but I’m just not a Bloody Mary fan. I’d give it a go. I read Lula’s earlier. Yay, bourbon! 😃
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I know! Why couldn’t we revisit bourbon this week? I’m totally down with that! 😀
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Amen! 😃
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I don’t know if I can do this one, Meg! lol I did try the sour beer, though. I think that I stick with Corona light. 😀 Requests? How about absinthe?
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Oh, most definitely – it’s strong, however. But really a wonderful flavor. Try it the French way, with a sugar cube and a drizzle of water. ⚜
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Can I use splenda and ice?
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Oh Rob! Ice, yes, but without the cube of sugar, you miss out on the little ritual. At least once you must try it that way!
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Ok, but just this once! lol
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You must tell me what you think!
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I will. I got a bottle called “Absenthe”. I’m not sure if it’s a good brand or not, but it came with a free spoon, so that sold me. 😀
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So you have the proper equipment and everything. Perfect!
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I don’t know about the proper equipment, but I do have a spoon. 😉
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Rob, I’m pretty sure you have the proper equipment, even with the sunglasses… 😎
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Boom! lol Don’t forget my bass! 😉
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Right! The Rickenbacker!
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You remembered!
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I composed a limerick about it! How could I forget? That and your Fender, rhymes with back ended!
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As I recall, there’s one more limerick that remains unpublished. 😉
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Oh yeah… I must give that some thought!
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Indeed you must. 🙂
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Sounds yummy! It does sound like a must try. 😊
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I hope you like it!
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Will have to try it 😋
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What’s on tap at McNerney’s house these days?
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Sam Adams and Sweetwater 420
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What is the Sweetwater 420?
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Georgia brewery – IPA
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Oh nice!!! Support your local brewery!
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😋
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I’ve never had a Bloody Mary but I love all the components. Sounds good!
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You’d like it – it’s spicy! 😉
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I need to try one! How’d you make the tomato juice? Is it just tomatoes?
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Yep. Three ripe tomatoes, washed and quartered. If you’re going to just drink the tomato juice, I’d add just a pinch of salt. But since it was going into the cocktail with other spices, I didn’t bother.
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Cool, thanks!
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Yum! More things to try!
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This is really a good drink. And the nice thing? Because its made with beer, its actually lighter on the alcohol side than a Bloody Mary with vodka. But it tastes almost exactly the same!
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That’s awesome! Gonna have to try it!
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I love a good Bloody Mary!!! A Bloody Mary with beer is not too far of a stretch in our household. My Canadian husband just loves beer with clamato juice. Ask a Canadian and you’ll soon find out that the Clamato in Canada is “way” better than the kind in the US. Canadians also make Shirley Temples with orange juice but I digress. xo
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That’s funny! Isn’t it interesting that both our neighbors to the north and south add a tomato based liquid to their beer? 😀
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Well done and from scratch! You definitely rocked it this week. Cheers!!
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Thank you! I am happy to discover the michelada, less alcohol than a Bloody Mary but almost exactly the same flavor.
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I like spicy things and I love beer it’s just the idea of the tomatoes I mean I even leave them on a full English! I know I know, sacrilege!
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Well if you don’t like tomatoes, then this is not the cocktail for you! Perhaps a chili pepper beer, instead?https://drmegsorick.com/2016/02/16/feeling-a-little-chili/
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Thank you for the recommendation I would have never have thought about putting chilli and beer together. I will try to give it a whirl this weekend, I’ll let you know how I get on 🙂
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Excellent! I look forward to it! 😃
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I don’t like beer and I don’t like Bloody Mary…but I enjoyed your enthusiasm about all things booze related 😛 haha
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Haha! Thanks! This was one of those weeks where you’d either love it or hate it. 😉
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Micheladas are awesome! In Northern Mexico we make them very differently, typically not with the tomato/clamato juice.
I made a quick recipe video for a local beer site and it turned out pretty cool. Check it out here: http://www.charlottebeer.com/2012/06/22/how-to-make-a-michelada/
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That looks great! Thanks for sharing!
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I have a micro brewery just down the road from me. Could get drunk just on the smell of hops sometimes. I know what day it is by what I can smell as I walk past!
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Ooh! That’s a lovely neighbor to have. We have one nearby but not close enough to smell!
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