As a devoted fan of craft beer and cocktails, I regularly find myself torn when ordering at a bar. Do I try the White IPA new on tap or the cocktail special featuring new house-made bitters? During these moments of privileged consternation, I remind myself that the answer can be both. Here are some of my favorite beer cocktails that you can make at home or order from your favorite purveyor of adult beverages:
The ManmosaThis is a stronger, less headache-inducing option for those who love the taste of a mimosa. It’s a refreshing hangover cure for those Sunday mornings that seem insurmountable.
Ingredients12 oz. Belgian-style white ale
1.5 oz. orange-flavored vodka
2 oz. fresh-squeezed orange juice
MethodPour beer into a 16-ounce glass, making sure there is at least a half inch of head. Pour the orange vodka into the beer, then softly pour the fresh squeezed orange juice to ensure there’s no overflow of suds. Garnish with an orange slice.
Michelada MariaFor those that like their drinks savory, this fusion of a michelada and a bloody maria is a perfect cocktail any time of day.
Ingredients1 oz. white tequila
2 oz. V8 juice
Coarse sea salt or kosher salt (for glass rim)
¼ oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice
½ oz. fresh-squeezed orange juice
2 oz. Mexican light lager
1-3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
1-3 dashes of hot sauce (I prefer Adobe Milling Jalapeño Hot Sauce)
Ice
MethodCombine tequila, V8, lime juice and orange juice in a shaker. Add ice and shake for a five seconds. Wet the rim of your glass with a lime wedge and roll the rim in salt. Fill a serving glass with ice. Pour the beer over the ice making sure not to hit any of the salt or the beer will get too foamy. Let the head die down a bit then gently strain the contents of the mixing glass into the beer. Add hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce to taste. Stir gently.
SteamrollerThis cocktail uses the first beer style that was indigenous to the United States: the California Common (aka Steam Beer™). Also incorporating rye whiskey, this is a perfect beer cocktail for the colder months.
Ingredients12 oz. California Common beer (Use Steamworks’ Steam Engine Lager because I’m biased.)
1 oz. Rye whiskey
1 oz. St-Germain elderflower liqueur
½ oz. Heering cherry liqueur
1 oz. fresh-squeezed lemon juice
Lemon twist
Ice
MethodCombine whiskey, liqueurs, and lemon juice in a mixing glass filled halfway with ice. Shake for about 10 seconds. Put the lemon twist in the bottom of a pint glass. Strain the mixture into the pint glass, then pour in the beer.
IPA ManhattanThis cocktail originated at the Pine Box Rock Shop in Brooklyn, New York, and tastes much smoother than you’d suspect considering its ingredients.
Ingredients2 oz. Bulleit Rye Bourbon
1 oz. Sweet vermouth
1 oz. Imperial IPA
1 Brandy-soaked cherry
Ice
MethodFill a martini glass with ice and let it chill. Combine bourbon and vermouth in a mixing glass filled halfway with ice and shake for 10 seconds. Strain into your chilled martini glass, top with Imperial IPA, and add brandy-soaked cherry.
Sean Moriarty has been drinking craft beer since before he was legally allowed to. He managed and bartended at Steamworks Brewing Co. from 2007-2017 and currently manages their digital marketing.
