It’s summer, and that means it’s prime michelada time. There’s even a holiday in the drink’s honor during the season, National Michelada Day on July 12.
The michelada is super popular and fun to make. It’s described as a bloody mary made with beer, instead of vodka.
The oldest story of the michelada goes back to the 1940s. A Mexican general, Augusto Michel, who liked his beer with spicy salsa, claimed he was the drink’s inventor.
Ever wonder why they’re called micheladas? The word “michelada” is a Spanish portmanteau that combines “chela” (slang term for beer) with “ada” for “helada,” meaning cold and “mi” for mine — my cold beer.
To create your very own micheladas, here are some local products to use. Salud!
TRIPLE-S EXPRESS
Michelada Mix
In 2007, Juan and Sasha Sotelo established a drive-thru convenience store in Brownsville, Texas called Triple-S Express.
Named after the couple’s daughter, the mom-and-pop establishment serves its unique homemade michelada mix by the cup to long lines of customers. Some of them began asking for larger sizes of the refreshing beverage mix.
So in 2010, the husband and wife team began mass producing “Brownsville’s Own” Triple-S Michelada Mix in a 32-ounce bottle. Then the Sotelos’ big break happened in 2011 when they started selling their mix to H-E-B stores in the RGV.
“We would sleep in our car at H-E-B parking lots, waiting for the receiving team to open so that we accomplish eight to 10 stores per day,” said Juan.
Fast forward to 2022, and the Sotelos are supplying meat market and liquor store chains and over 300 H-E-Bs in Texas and distribute to half of Mexico.
“Our product is genuinely good. We created a product, then a demand, and our michelada mix can rub elbows against the biggest brands out there,” said Juan.
What’s next for the duo? A new mango flavor, and you can find it at your local H-E-B store soon. All of the Sotelos’ products are available at triplesmichelada.com.
DA DIP
Chamoy Rim Paste
Through his business Da Dip, Roger Salinas sells seven flavors of chamoy paste: original, tamarindo, pickle, watermelon, mango, strawberry and, the best seller, pineapple.
“During the pandemic I started making some chamoy paste. I brainstormed and I came up with a recipe, and from there it just took off,” said Salinas. “The sales have been crazy.”
What makes his chamoy paste stand out from all the others is its unique taste and its texture, Salinas said. It’s not too thick and not too runny.
In addition to chamoy paste, Salinas sells a michelada mix he created and for those with a sweet tooth, fire candy.
“Everyone likes micheladas, and we have had so much support from the people in Port Isabel,” Salinas said. They support small business owners.”
Salinas’ chamoy rim paste is available at Da Dip, 910 Hwy. 100, Ste. 104, Port Isabel and nine other locations in the valley. Visit dadipfire.store for those locations.
5×5 BREWING CO.
Moore Field Blonde Ale
If you’re looking to add more flavor to your michelada, give 5×5 Brewing’s Moore Field Blonde a try. This 5.5% ABV blonde is light and airy with mild citrus and spice notes. Moore Field is refreshing on its own but definitely a way to kick up a michelada.
“5×5” in the business name was a term the military used through WWII to convey, “I understand you perfectly.” The predecessor to the phrase “loud and clear,” 5×5 found its way into verbal slang to mean “everything is good.” Moore Field in the beer name comes from the Moore Air Base just north of Mission, where fighter pilots trained and then went on to serve our great country.
These names are fitting since the small batch brewery, which opened in Mission in 2018, is veteran owned. When the opportunity arose for co-founders George Rice, Matthew Mazur and Sean Downey to create a brewery, they chose to bring it to their hometown. 5×5 Brewing exists to make great beer and support the local community.
“One of the basic principles that we live by at 5×5 Brewing is selfless service,” said Downey. “Any and every chance we get, we make sure to give back to both our brothers and sisters in arms as well as the community that supports us every day.”
5×5 has nine core beers on tap and offers eight seasonal beers. Moore Field Blonde Ale is available at H-E-B and local liquor stores.
Stop by 5×5’s taproom at 801 N. Bryan Road, Ste. 174. It is open Wednesday through Sunday. For hours and directions, visit 5x5brewing.com.
NIC’S OLIVES
Marinated Olives
What started as a unique gift for friends and family is now a business for Nicole Kirkconnell Clint of Brownsville.
NIC’S OLIVES is the entrepreneur’s first venture into the food market. “Best olives ever,” said one happy customer.
Along with her marinated olives, Clint sells her homemade tapenade, which goes perfectly with cream cheese spread on crackers and an ice cold michelada.
Clint says the original recipe for the marinade came from a popular cookbook, but over the years she modified it, giving it her own spin. Clint said she’s grateful for all the encouragement she has received, and she loves that people are enjoying her olives.
You can purchase Clint’s products on Instagram @nics_olives and, at the Brownsville Farmers’ Market. Stay tuned.
