Fall Pumpkin Beer Cocktail: Easy Pumpkin Michelada Recipe

I left my Mexico vacation with a delicious souvenir. A love of beer cocktails.

So when Estrella Jalisco sent me a recipe for a spicy Pumpkin Michelada, I knew I had to give it a try! This pumpkin beer cocktail is the perfect fall cocktail idea, especially for people who aren’t looking for something overly sweet.

This is such a refreshing easy cocktail to make at home!

Image contains estrella jalisco beer can used to make a pumpkin michelada next to a cocktail. — This easy Michelada is the perfect pumpkin beer cocktail for fall.

Estrella Jalisco provided beer and the recipe for this post. I modified the recipe slightly.

This post was originally published on October 18, 2019 and has now been updated with better step-by-step instructions so you can make this pumpkin beer cocktail perfectly every time.

Contents hide

1 Why This Recipe Works

2 Ingredient Notes

3 How to Make a Pumpkin Michelada

4 Tips and Tricks

5 Frequently Asked Questions

6 Related Recipes

7 Pumpkin Beer Cocktail [Easy Michelada Recipe with Pumpkin]

I never thought of myself as a pumpkin lover. But if you browse my site, I actually have tons of yummy pumpkin dessert and cocktail recipes.

I like to make things that are unique and not the typical things that are served in fall.

A party table with text next to it to get email sign ups for a Thanksgiving Planner.

Why This Recipe Works

A Pumpkin Michelada is an unexpected drink to serve for all your fall parties.

While it has pumpkin and some of our favorite fall spices, the cayenne pepper and beer make this totally unique.

Here in California, fall tends to be on the warmer side. So a refreshing pumpkin beer cocktail is a great idea. And that little bit of heat hits the back of your throat and makes this extra special.

I never used to be a fan of spice, but I’m really learning to love it. Especially in cocktails! (Try my Spicy Mexican Mule too!)

It’s easy to make this drink in a cocktail pitcher or large glass and it is finished perfectly with a tajin rim.

While this recipe makes one drink, it’s easy to make more if you just change the serving size in the recipe card.

Whether you’ve baked a Fireball Pumpkin Pie with canned pumpkin and have some leftover, or just want to make a tasty pumpkin cocktail, this is a quick and easy drink to make all season long.

You can also make a Pumpkin Spice Margarita or a Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule with canned pumpkin. Or check out 15 Cocktails Perfect for Fall.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for an easy pumpkin michelada.

Canned Pumpkin might seem like an odd choice for a cocktail but stick with me. This works. Besides, who wants to take the time to make their own pumpkin puree? Not me!

Lemon adds a little bit of a citrus kick which pairs well with the Tajin on the rim. Fresh citrus is always a good idea in a cocktail.

Agave syrup is perfect if you’re looking for a sweetener that isn’t quite as sweet as granulated sugar.

Ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne red pepper add warmth and just a touch of fall flavor.

As a nod to those Mexican cocktails I fell in love with while in Loreto, I used Estrella Jalisco .

I’m not a fan of salt on margarita rims, but I am a huge supporter of Tajin on a fall beer cocktail!

The original recipe called for Chili de Arbol which I didn’t have. I substituted cayenne pepper and I think it worked perfectly.

Estrella jalisco beer on the counter with ingredients for fall beer cocktail.

I love to use Estrella Jalisco in beer cocktails because it’s super refreshing and has a pretty pale golden color. It’s also super light and doesn’t have a strong aftertaste so it works really well with other flavors.

How to Make a Pumpkin Michelada

In a bar pitcher add pumpkin, lemon juice and agave.

Adding a little spice to a michelada with pumpkin.

Add cinnamon, ginger and cayenne.

Mix well.

Woman making beer and pumpkin michelada.

Top with beer.

Mix again with a bar spoon.

Adding Tajin to the rim of a glass for a Pumpkin Michelada.

Rim a glass with a lemon wedge and Tajin. (See step-by-step instructions for how to rim a glass).

Pouring a Pumpkin Michelada with Estrella Jalisco into a glass with Tajin rim.

Pour Pumpkin Michelada over ice in the prepared glass.

This fall beer cocktail is super simple to make and will be an unexpected pumpkin recipe to serve at Friendsgiving or any other party your throwing in the next few months.

Easy and delicious pumpkin michelada being held by a woman.

Tips and Tricks

This pumpkin michelada is sort of a choose your own adventure situation. There are several ways to personalize it to make sure it suits your tastes perfectly.

Add more cayenne to kick up the spice even more.
Use just a little beer so the pumpkin flavor takes center stage.
Use more beer (I used about ¾ of a can) to dilute the pumpkin flavor since I wanted it to be a little subtle.
Add a little tequila to really get the party started.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from a regular Michelada?

A regular Michelada is basically a Bloody Mary with beer. They often have Clamato and sometimes tequila. I’m not a fan. I just can’t get behind a tomato-based cocktail. I do love a Chelada, however, which is another version but doesn’t have tomato. A Michelada with Pumpkin swaps out the tomato base and uses pumpkin instead. That’s something I can support.

What beer goes best with a Michelada?

I like a light beer without much aftertaste, but you can use your favorite Mexican beer.

What’s the difference between a Chelada and a Michelada?

A Michelada is a tomato juice-based cocktail with a spiced rim and a few other ingredients. A Chelada is basically beer, lime, and salt. Either is a refreshing choice.