During my four-years in Mexico, I had the opportunity to sample various michelada variations, including those garnished with Maggi sauce and clamato.
Made traditionally with beer, lime, salt, and hot sauce, this classic Mexican drink can easily be made non-alcoholic by swapping the beer with non-alcoholic beer.
Here are the best non-alcoholic beers for micheladas to make any tía or tío proud.
Also Read: 5 Best Non-Alcoholic Mexican Beer To Try In USA
Corona Cero
Let’s first start with this quintessential Mexican beer. Corona Cero mirrors the original’s lightness, crispness, and refreshing qualities without the alcohol.
Use this as a light beer base for a non-alcoholic michelada beer substitute, and you’ll find it goes well with some tacos, too.
Read here for our full Corona Cero review.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States) and Dry Drinker (UK).
Grüvi Golden Lager
I love this non-alcoholic Golden lager because it does exactly what a lager is suppose to do: be crisp, clean, malty, and crushable.
Grüvi’s acclaimed Golden Lager has been a sensation ever since it clinched the prestigious Gold Medal for Non-Alcoholic Beer at the 2022 World Beer Cup Awards.
This barley beer blends subtle notes of honey with a touch of bitterness, resulting in a refreshing, crisp, and impeccably balanced taste.
Additionally, it’s thoughtfully crafted to be gluten-reduced, making it an excellent choice if you want to be a gluten-free michelada.
Read my full review of Grüvi Golden Lager here.
Order it online directly from Grüvi (within the United States).
Athletic Brewing Cerveza Athletica
This Mexican-inspired non-alcoholic beer by Athletic Brewing is another perfect beer option for a non-alcoholic michelada.
This non-alcoholic Light Copper lager is crafted using Vienna and Munich malts, along with the German Hersbrucker noble hop.
The result is a taste characterized by subtle notes of bread, spices, and delicate floral accents.
In our review of Cerveza Athletica, we highlighted that despite its light body, it doesn’t compromise on taste.
When added to a michelada, it creates a light and refreshing body everyone will love.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States).
Bravus Golden Light
This timeless light ale boasts a refreshing and crisp character, accentuated by subtle undertones of biscuit malt sweetness.
I found that it closely mirrors mainstream light beers like Budweiser and Coors – but way better; it’s genuinely hard to believe it’s alcohol-free.
I recommend adding this to a non-alcoholic michelada for extra hints of orange and a touch of sweet biscuit notes.
Order it directly from Bravus (within the United States).
Heineken 0.0
Crafted with the same ingredients and brewing process as the alcoholic Heineken lager, Heineken 0.0 offers a crisp and refreshing taste, making it an excellent choice for those seeking an alcohol-free beer alternative for a michelada.
Add some spicy salsa, clamato, or soy sauce to a Heineken 0.0, squeeze some lime, and you’ll have a refreshing non-alcoholic michelada to enjoy.
Read our full review of Heineken 0.0 here.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States) and Dry Drinker (UK).
Woodland Farms Brewery Witty White
Add the essence of a Belgian-style wheat beer with Maine’s Witty White, a non-alcoholic wheat beer.
Infused with coriander and orange peel, I love how it adds the subtle flavors of clove and banana, coupled with its malty flavor, to a michelada.
Traditional michelada? No. Craft michelada? Definitely.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States).
Al’s Classic Non-Alcoholic Lager
Al’s Classic is an American-style pilsner crafted with malted barley, featuring notes of bready malts and corn notes, all while maintaining a tangy, slightly bitter quality that contributes to its unique character.
If you’re looking for a non-alcoholic pilsner for your michelada, Al’s serves as an excellent non-alcoholic beer substitute.
Read our full tasting review here.
Order it online from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States).
UNTITLED ART Orange Peel Wit
Go ahead and add some citrus notes to your michelada with this non-alcoholic wheat beer from Wisconsin’s UNTITLED ART.
Brewed with the addition of sweet orange peel, coriander, and a hint of clover honey, I find that it adds a nice citrus touch to a michelada.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States).
Non-Alcoholic Michelada Recipe
This simple and easy-to-make non-alcoholic michelada recipe will help you to make non-alcoholic micheladas that taste as good as the alcoholic micheladas.
Ingredients
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 1/2 cup tomato juice
- 1/2 cup Clamato juice (tomato and clam juice blend)
- 1/2 cup non-alcoholic beer
- Ice cubes
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (adjust to your preferred level of spiciness)
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon soy sauce (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (optional)
- Salt, for rimming the glass (optional)
- Tajín seasoning or chili powder (optional, for extra spice)
Steps
To prepare a michelada, begin by squeezing the juice from a lime wedge into a glass.
Next, add tomato juice, Clamato juice, and non-alcoholic beer, adjusting the beer quantity to suit your preference.
Then, add in the hot sauce, as well as the optional Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and black pepper.
Stir thoroughly to blend the ingredients, adjusting the level of spiciness and other seasonings to your liking.
To keep the michelada cold, fill the glass with ice cubes.