Looking to offer beer cocktails in your restaurant or bar? This could help increase your patrons loyalty with something new. Beer cocktails are a delightful fusion of beer with various other ingredients, resulting in a refreshing and innovative drink. These cocktails can range from simple blends to more complex concoctions, each offering a unique taste experience. Here’s a comprehensive look at the different types of beer cocktails, their ingredients, and how they’re made:
1. Shandy
Ingredients: Beer and lemonade (or ginger ale)
Description: A classic and refreshing drink, the shandy is popular during the summer months. Traditionally, it’s made with equal parts beer and lemonade, but variations can include ginger ale or citrus soda.
Recipe:
- Pour half a glass of your favorite beer.
- Top up with lemonade or ginger ale.
- Garnish with a lemon slice if desired.
2. Black and Tan
Ingredients: Pale ale and stout (typically Guinness)
Description: This layered beer cocktail is both visually appealing and flavorful. The stout, being heavier, floats on top of the pale ale, creating a two-toned effect.
Recipe:
- Fill a glass halfway with pale ale.
- Slowly pour the stout over the back of a spoon to create a layered effect.
3. Michelada
Ingredients: Beer, lime juice, assorted sauces (often hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce), spices, and tomato juice (optional)
Description: A popular Mexican beer cocktail, the Michelada is savory, spicy, and tangy. It’s a fantastic choice for those who enjoy bold flavors.
Recipe:
- Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a glass and dip in salt.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Add lime juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato juice (if using).
- Top up with beer and stir gently.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
4. Radler
Ingredients: Beer and citrus soda or lemonade
Description: Similar to a shandy, a Radler is a refreshing blend of beer and a citrus-flavored beverage. Originating in Germany, it’s perfect for hot weather.
Recipe:
- Mix equal parts beer and citrus soda (like lemon-lime soda) or lemonade.
- Serve cold, garnished with a lemon slice.
5. Beer Margarita (Beergarita)
Ingredients: Beer, tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup
Description: Combining the best of both worlds, the Beer Margarita offers the tartness of a margarita with the refreshing fizz of beer.
Recipe:
- Mix tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup in a pitcher.
- Add beer and stir gently.
- Serve over ice in a salt-rimmed glass, garnished with a lime wedge.
6. Boilermaker
Ingredients: Beer and a shot of whiskey
Description: This straightforward cocktail is a favorite in bars. It consists of a shot of whiskey dropped into a pint of beer.
Recipe:
- Pour a shot of whiskey.
- Drop the shot into a pint of beer or sip the whiskey and chase with beer.
7. Snakebite
Ingredients: Beer (usually lager) and hard cider
Description: A British favorite, the Snakebite is a crisp and refreshing mix of lager and hard cider.
Recipe:
- Mix equal parts lager and hard cider in a glass.
- Stir gently and serve cold.
8. Michelada con Clamato
Ingredients: Beer, Clamato juice, lime juice, assorted sauces, and spices
Description: A variation of the Michelada, this cocktail includes Clamato juice (a blend of clam and tomato juice) for a unique twist.
Recipe:
- Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a glass and dip in salt.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Add lime juice, Clamato juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and spices.
- Top up with beer and stir gently.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
9. Red Eye
Ingredients: Beer and tomato juice
Description: Often touted as a hangover cure, the Red Eye is simple and straightforward.
Recipe:
- Pour beer into a glass.
- Add an equal amount of tomato juice.
- Stir gently and serve.
10. Black Velvet
Ingredients: Stout (typically Guinness) and champagne
Description: This elegant cocktail combines the rich, dark flavors of stout with the crisp, bubbly texture of champagne.
Recipe:
- Fill a glass halfway with stout.
- Slowly pour champagne over the back of a spoon to create a layered effect.
11. Radler Grapefruit
Ingredients: Beer and grapefruit soda or juice
Description: A variation of the traditional Radler, this cocktail uses grapefruit soda or juice for a tangy twist.
Recipe:
- Mix equal parts beer and grapefruit soda or juice.
- Serve cold, garnished with a grapefruit slice.
12. Ginger Beer Shandy
Ingredients: Beer and ginger beer
Description: Combining beer with ginger beer, this cocktail has a spicy kick and is exceptionally refreshing.
Recipe:
- Mix equal parts beer and ginger beer.
- Serve cold, garnished with a lime wedge.
13. Bee’s Knees Shandy
Ingredients: Beer, gin, honey, and lemon juice
Description: A sophisticated take on the shandy, this cocktail adds gin, honey, and lemon juice for a complex flavor profile.
Recipe:
- Mix gin, honey, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice.
- Pour into a glass and top with beer.
- Stir gently and serve cold.
14. Beer Mojito
Ingredients: Beer, rum, mint leaves, lime juice, and simple syrup
Description: A twist on the classic mojito, this cocktail incorporates beer for a refreshing and fizzy drink.
Recipe:
- Muddle mint leaves and lime juice in a glass.
- Add rum and simple syrup.
- Top with beer and stir gently.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
15. Summer Shandy
Ingredients: Wheat beer, lemonade, and fresh fruit (optional)
Description: Perfect for summer, this variation of the shandy uses wheat beer and lemonade, often with added fresh fruit for extra flavor.
Recipe:
- Mix wheat beer and lemonade in equal parts.
- Add slices of fresh fruit like strawberries or oranges.
- Serve cold.
16. Beer Sangria
Ingredients: Beer, citrus soda, orange juice, fresh fruit, and brandy (optional)
Description: Combining the elements of traditional sangria with beer, this cocktail is fruity, fizzy, and fun.
Recipe:
- Mix beer, citrus soda, and orange juice in a pitcher.
- Add sliced fresh fruit and a splash of brandy if desired.
- Stir and serve cold.
17. Hoppy Collins
Ingredients: IPA beer, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda water
Description: A hoppy twist on the Tom Collins, this cocktail uses IPA beer for a distinctive, bitter edge.
Recipe:
- Mix gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice.
- Pour into a glass and top with IPA beer.
- Add a splash of soda water.
- Stir gently and garnish with a lemon slice.
18. Beer Bloody Mary
Ingredients: Beer, vodka, tomato juice, assorted sauces and spices, and garnishes
Description: A beer-infused take on the Bloody Mary, this cocktail is savory, spicy, and perfect for brunch.
Recipe:
- Mix vodka, tomato juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and spices in a shaker.
- Pour into a glass and top with beer.
- Stir gently and garnish with celery, olives, and a lime wedge.
19. Dark and Stormy Beer
Ingredients: Beer, dark rum, ginger beer, and lime juice
Description: A twist on the classic Dark and Stormy, this version incorporates beer for added complexity.
Recipe:
- Mix dark rum and lime juice in a glass.
- Top with beer and ginger beer.
- Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.
20. Beer Mule
Ingredients: Beer, vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer
Description: Inspired by the Moscow Mule, this cocktail substitutes beer for a refreshing and spicy drink.
Recipe:
- Mix vodka and lime juice in a glass.
- Top with beer and ginger beer.
- Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.
Conclusion
Beer cocktails offer a delightful way to enjoy the versatility of beer beyond just drinking it straight. From simple mixes like the shandy and black and tan to more complex concoctions like the Beer Margarita and Beer Mojito, there’s a beer cocktail for every palate and occasion. Whether you’re looking for something refreshing on a hot day or a bold and savory drink to accompany a meal, these beer cocktails provide a wide range of flavors and experiences. Experimenting with different beers and ingredients can lead to discovering new favorites, making beer cocktails a fun and creative aspect of mixology.
