Why Tomato Juice Belongs In Your Next Beer

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Tomato juice is versatile and niche at the same time. As a cooking ingredient, it can be part of dishes like soups, sauces, and stews. Some people may prefer a  glass of the savory drink to sweeter fruit juices. At the same time, it's probably most associated with the classic bloody mary. However, there's another cocktail that tastily combines tomato juice with beer.

The drink has different names like bloody or red beer and red eye, and is particularly popular in parts of the Midwest like Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota. It's not as strong as the vodka-based bloody Mary, and the beer contributes more flavor than the neutral spirit. Its carbonation also makes the drink bubbly and more refreshing. It's usually made with lighter lagers that lack stronger elements like a more hoppy or bitter profile that could overpower the tomato juice. Instead, the lager's crisp and lightly malty flavor balances its partner's savory, acidic character.

The basic cocktail has a ratio of around 3 or 4 parts of beer to 1 part tomato juice, although you can try different amounts. Put the non-alcoholic component in the glass first, and then simply pour in the brew. It can also be served over ice and/or in a chilled glass. You could make your own juice instead of using a canned or jarred version for the freshest result. Process tomatoes in a juicer and then strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth.

The drink combination is often boosted with seasonings and spices. Case in point: the michelada, which is one of the best cocktails to make with beer. It originated in Mexico, and its name translates to "my cold beer." It usually includes Worcestershire and hot sauces, lime juice, and Maggi sauce, an umami-rich liquid seasoning similar to soy sauce (which can be used as a substitute). It's commonly served in a glass rimmed with salt or Tajin Clásico, which is a powdered blend of chili peppers, lime, and sea salt, and garnished with a lime slice. It's naturally made with Mexican brews like Corona, Tecate, or Modelo, and Clamato is sometimes swapped in for the tomato juice.

Different red beer versions may contain some of the same individual ingredients that are in micheladas. For instance, people like it spicy in Texas and may use hot sauce as well as jalapeño slices or chili powder for the glass rim. The cocktail can also include some additions you'll find in a bloody mary, like lemon juice, celery salt, a celery stalk garnish, or speared pimento-stuffed olives and some of the olive jar liquid. For both these gussied-up drinks and micheladas, mix the non-garnish spices and seasonings with the tomato juice first and pour in a glass before adding the beer. Using bloody Mary mix is also an option, instead of doctoring it yourself.