Why This Works
A michelada is proof that beer was never the only thing making a beer drink good. The lime, salt, and chili do the heavy lifting, so a crisp non-alcoholic lager slots in with almost nothing lost.
Salt is the secret. It amplifies the lime and tames the hop bitterness, which is why the rim matters as much as what goes in the glass. Build the salt on the rim, not into the beer.
Pour the beer last and slowly. Non-alcoholic lagers can foam hard, and you want to protect the carbonation that gives the drink its lift.
The Alcohol-Free Swap
Reach for a clean, crisp non-alcoholic lager or pilsner. Craft NA lagers have enough body and hop character to stand up to the lime and spice.