It might sound odd but beer can add awesome flavor and carbonation to mixed drinks. Beer enthusiasts may argue that beer should be pure and undiluted but I beg them to drink with an open mind. Combine a stout/porter and a lager/ale and you get the Black and Tan, a wonderful thing. Mix hard cider and lager and you get a Snakebite – also wonderful with a truly unique taste.

Instead of thinking of beer cocktails as diluted beer, think of them in the same way you’d think of a drink that calls for a splash of Champagne or ginger ale. The beer is simply adding another element to the drink.

Here’s some suggestions that just might convince you:

Shandy
Also known as a Shandygaff in the UK, this popular drink mixes equal parts beer wth either ginger ale, ginger beer, or carbonated lemonade. Some people even opt to use malt beverages like Mike’s Hard Lemonade or Smirnoff Ice. When there are multiple sources of alcohol it’s upgraded to TurboShandy status.

We sell Shandy made by Fentimans for $2.50 a bottle or you can check out this recipe from Epicurious if you want to make your own.

The Cure
Created as a "cure" for the economic recession, this fresh cocktail combines a light, value-priced beer (like Miller High Life) with a splash of juice and ginger liqueur.

Here’s how to make it:\

1 oz Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
5 oz light lager
½ oz fresh lemon juice
5 1-inch pieces peeled fresh ginger, cut into thin matchsticks

Fill 12-ounce highball glass with ice cubes. Add ginger liqueur, beer and lemon juice and stir until combined. Garnish with ginger sticks.

*Note: This one is great with Buffalo wings.

If you check them out, let me know if you like them as a much as I do. Happy experimenting.

TAGS [ BEER COCKTAILS | DRINK RECIPES | SHANDY RECIPE | THE CURE RECIPE ]