Beer is enjoyed by millions as a standalone beverage, but what you might not realize is that the right brew can be a killer cocktail ingredient, bringing a new dimension of flavor to a whole host of recipes.
Here are just a few examples of beer-based cocktails you can rustle up yourself, or request the next time you’re out on the town.
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Refreshing Raspberry Beer Margaritas
If you’re in the mood for something special and thirst-quenching, you can’t go wrong with a raspberry beer margarita. This unique cocktail combines the tartness of fresh raspberries and lime juice, with sweet simple syrup and your favorite light or wheat beer. It’s an easy-to-make delight that will have everyone asking for seconds.
To make one delicious drink, combine ½ cup of frozen raspberries (or fresh if available), 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lime juice, 2 tablespoons of simple syrup, 4 ounces of tequila blanco and 8 ounces of chilled light or wheat beer into a blender. Blend until smooth, then pour into highball glasses filled with ice cubes to serve. Garnish each glass with extra limes slices if desired, and sip away!
If you want to punch up this recipe for a bit more of a beery flavor, consider including a dry hopped IPA as the beer of choice. As explained in Ollie’s guide on dry hopping, the popularity of this flavor profile is huge, and brings character to any beverage.
Peanut Butter Porter Float
Combining the sweetness of creamy ice cream with your favorite dark beer creates a flavor combination that will really knock your socks off, whether in the heat of the summer or the depths of winter.
To make one, simply fill a regular beer glass halfway with chilled porter beer, and then add two scoops of your favorite vanilla or strawberry ice cream. Top it off with some freshly churned peanut butter sauce, or sunflower butter for those with allergies, and garnish it all off with whipped cream, peanuts and fresh cherries if desired. Just remember to serve it swiftly so there’s less time for melting to occur.
Sweet and Sour Cider Punch
Another delicious way to cool off comes in the form of this recipe for creating a sweet and sour cider punch. It involves a unique blend of tart apple cider, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and your favorite light or dark beer, delivering refreshment that’s ideal for enjoying in the summertime.
To make one pitcher full of this tasty drink, mix together 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 cups of chilled apple cider or unfiltered hard cider if you’d like it stronger, and a quarter cup simple syrup in a large bowl until everything is well blended. Pour over 8 ounces of your favorite light or dark beer, then add 4-5 ice cubes before stirring gently and pouring out generously.
Salty ‘n’ Spicy Michelada Mix
For a beer cocktail that’s got a kick, steel yourself for this salty ‘n’ spicy michelada mix. This well known Mexican concoction is made by combining your favorite light or dark beer, freshly squeezed lime juice, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce straight from the UK.
To make one delicious drink, combine 1 ½ ounces of freshly squeezed lime juice into a glass filled with ice cubes, then add 4 ounces of your favorite light or dark beer. Next stir in ¼ teaspoon each of hot pepper sauce and Worcestershire Sauce, before garnishing it all off with an extra slice of lime. It’ll clear your sinuses and get your taste buds tingling, that’s for sure.
Wrapping Up
If you’ve got a favorite standard cocktail we’ve not covered, you can always mix it up by adding beer along with the spirits and mixers, as a bit of experimentation could create something incredible.
