Review: Tecate Michelada
The Michelada is one of those drinks with a million variations (The New York Times has a lengthy discussion about it here), but the essence of it is beer and spice — and often tomato juice.
Tecate has now released a pre-mixed Michelada, the first of its kind in the U.S. This one is of the non-tomato juice variety. It is a relatively simple blend of Tecate beer, natural lime flavor, and spices.
Sounds like a winning plan, and you’re pretty much getting what you expect here. The lime flavor is understated and not overly chemical, the spices adding a gentle saltiness and very mild heat to the beverage. This is hardly a “big” concoction, and those who like their Micheladas spiced up (or packed with any real flavor) will probably prefer to make them from scratch.
Basically, there’s not a lot to this drink, but there’s not a lot to a can of Tecate, either, is there? Fairly harmless in the way most Mexican beer, Michelada or not, tends to be.
3.5% abv.
B- / about $2 per 16 oz. can / tecate.com
Tecate Michelada
$2
That actually doesn’t sound too bad. I actually like the Budweiser (tomato-based) Cheladas, so this would be another decent option for when the mood strikes.
I like Budweiser’s Chelada. I like regular Tecate. I absolutely hate Tecate’s Michelada. It tastes tinny and boring, I tried to like it, it was better with salt but still a no. I poured it out. I had high hopes. Waste of money.
Tecate’s Michelada is a winner for me. It is usually customary to drink your Tecate beer with lime and salt sprinkled on top of the mouth of the can. This is how my father and uncles always drank this and only this particular brand of beer in Mexico. The Tecate Michelada is not diluted with Tomato juice. It has the lime and a bit of saltiness and a bit of spice. You taste the beer with a suttle hint of lime, salt and spice. It enhances the beer and takes nothing away from it. The bud chelada is intolerable after half a can. I can drink multiple Tecate Michelada’s without tiring of the taste. It is complete already including a bit of lime and saltiness. Awesome product.