If you read the phrase “beer cocktails” and felt a sudden need to click away and leave this page far, far behind, you’re probably not the only one. (But please don’t go!) We’ve all had our fair share of wild beer combinations in our time.
But, a far cry from those dodgy combinations you try at home, beer cocktails are actually very delicious. If it wasn’t clear, a beer cocktail uses beer as one of the main ingredients. And can be combined with many different other things to create an out-of-this-world flavour combo.
Here are our fave beer cocktails to enjoy on a weekend, bank holiday, or whenever really (responsibly ofc).
What Beers to Use for a Beer Cocktail
Pale Ales
Pale ale is a smooth drinking experience. They are a good balance of malty sweetness and hoppy bitterness. And not as fizzy as other beers. Pick out the caramel, toasted, biscuit or pine notes for your cocktail for a stellar slow-sipper.
IPAs
IPA beer and American pale ale are loaded with different flavour notes. Think citrus, herbal, pine, and even floral tastes. They work with a bunch of different flavours so the best way to make them work in a cocktail is to pick out the strongest characteristic and roll with that.
Got a really zesty IPA? Mix it with a lemony or orangey spirit. Something herbal will probably work best with a gin. Or go wild and pick out those smokey notes with a mezcal. There are literally no rules here.
Lagers
If you’re not sure what beer to use, lager is usually a safe bet. It’s fairly neutral in flavour with just the right amount of bitterness and lime zestiness that fit in really well with other flavours. And you’ve gotta love that fizzy tingle.
Alcohol-Free Beers
Just because you’re mixing up cocktails doesn’t mean they have to be heavy on the alcohol. Mocktails are just as tasty. And mean you can still drive home afterwards. And here at Beavertown we just so happen to brew up some stellar alcohol-free beer. Just switch out the high ABV ones with the alcohol-free equivalent.
What Not to Mix
Although beer goes really well with a bunch of things, there are some things to keep in mind when mixing up a cocktail.
- Think carefully about flavour combos – complement, don’t contrast. To save your taste buds and that good beer.
- Avoid anything creamy – the curdled mess they make is unpleasant to drink and clean up.
- Stout and tomato juice – absolute no-go. Unless you like drinking sludge.
Classic Beer Cocktails
You’ve already heard of shandy – AKA a Radler: a cocktail made with beer and lemonade – but here are 5 more tasty AF cocktails you’ve not heard of that use beer as a main ingredient.
1. The Lagerita
Have you ever been sipping margarita and thought to yourself “you know what this needs? Lager.”? Well you’re in luck. The Lagerita takes everything you love about both a margarita and a lager and turns them into a long, supremely sippable, drink.
You’ll need:
- A cocktail shaker full of ice
- 50ml tequila
- 20ml Cointreau
- 25ml lime juice.
- Optional: a spoonful or two of agave syrup.
- 100ml lager (bones ofc)
- Optional: salt for the glass rim
How to make: Add everything but the salt and lager to your cocktail shaker with ice and shake it up really well. Strain into a tall glass (salt the rim if you fancy). Stir together gently and enjoy. Sunshine optional, but recommended.
2. Lager Spritz
A fun twist on a summery spritz. The beer gives it more body. But it’s still light enough that you can happily drink more than one.
You’ll need:
- 35ml vermouth
- 25ml Campari
- Beer of your choice as long as it’s not too hoppy.
Add your ingredients to a tall glass of ice and mix gently to combine. Enjoy!
3. Michelada
The beer version of a Bloody Mary. Except there’s no vodka. And the tomato juice is replaced with beer. Yum.
You’ll need:
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 lime wedge
- 1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce (vegan Worcestershire sauce is great for your plant-based pals too)
- 2 dashes Tabasco sauce (or your favourite hot sauce)
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- 1 pinch celery salt
- 1 can chilled lager
Salt the rim of your glass using the lime wedge and equal parts salt and cayenne. Then, add the line juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, black pepper and celery to your glass before filling with the beer. Garnish with a lime wedge.
4. The Promenade
Bridgerton lovers might enjoy this one. It’s light, cold, and very drinkable.
You’ll need:
- 30ml rose vermouth
- 10ml lime sherbet (made from the zest of 4 limes, 150ml lime juice, and 300g caster sugar)
- 20ml vodka
- 10ml fresh lime juice
- Lager
Shake together your vermouth, sherbet, vodka and lime juice with ice. Strain and pour into a coupé glass. Top off with lager.
5. The Spaghett
Apparently named after a comedy sketch and not the Italian meal, this is like if you were to remove the prosecco and soda water of an Aperol Spritz and replace it with beer. Actually… that’s exactly what it is. The original recipe is made right in the bottle of whatever beer you’re drinking but we’ll be using a glass because we’re fancy like that.
You’ll need:
- A can of your favourite lager (Bones, ight?)
- About 25ml of Aperol
- Lime wedge
Open your can of Bones and take a good swig – it’s a taste test but also makes enough room for the Aperol to go. Pour your beer into a Beavertown tumbler glass and add your Aperol and stir a little. Garnish wih a lime wedge. And you’re done – that was easy.
Top Tips for Making Beer Cocktails
- Have fun with it – cocktail making is all about inventing new flavour combos to try. So don’t forget to have fun. The really gross ones can make a good party game.
- Compliment, not contrast – making sure you’re choosing ingredients that compliment each other, rather than contrasting and clashing will make sure you’re saving your taste buds from a bad time. But also so you’re not wasting that good alcohol.
- Don’t shake that cocktail – James Bond might like his martinis shaken, but if you shake your beer cocktail, you’ll end up with a sad, flat beverage. Don’t shake it like a polaroid picture – stir it gently to combine the flavours.
- Drink responsibly – need we say more?
So you see, beer cocktails don’t have to be gross concoctions made in your mates kitchen. Teven a little sophisticated sometimes. Who knew? If you’re not really a fan of beer, we’re not mad, just disappointed. Just kidding. Check out our guide to beers to try if you don't like beer instead. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re off to mix up a few lageritas for ourselves.
