When I started my foray into drinking alcohol, I didn’t have a taste for beer. I tried everything to like it, from chewing fruity gum, drinking lighter beers, etc. It wasn’t until I was on a beach in Destin that I just decided to go for it (chugging it, that is) and that’s where I gained a respect for the beverage. I still enjoy a ice-cold Coors Light, but when I’m in the mood for something fancier, I like to pull these beer cocktails out from my back pocket. They are perfect for the non-beer beer drinkers.
1. Spiced Apple Cider Cocktail
Ingredients:
1 bottle Angry Orchard
1 oz Salted Caramel Vodka
½ oz Fireball Whiskey
Directions:
So this isn’t technically beer (we’re working with a cider here) but it’s an amazing drink. I discovered this last fall, and although it has fall flavors it’s still perfect for any time of year. Is it just me or does seasonal stuff get old? It’s around this time I’m itching for spiced anything.
First, fill a highball glass with ice. Pour over the cider, and top with salted caramel vodka and fireball whiskey. Give it a good stir, and sip slowly (this one will sneak up on you if you let it!
2. Greyhound Beer Cocktail
Ingredients:
1 bottle of Blue Moon (or other wheat beer)
1 oz Ruby Red Absolut
1 oz Grapefruit juice
Directions:
I’m a huge grapefruit fan. I love a good Greyhound cocktail, but I find it kicks it up notch when you add grapefruit to an already fruity wheat beer. Stick the bottle of Blue Moon in the freezer while you mix the grapefruit vodka and juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour beer into a frosty glass and mix in your grapefruit concoction.
3. Half and Half Beer Cocktail
Ingredients:
1 bottle Summer Brew (I personally love Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 oz Sweet Tea vodka
Directions:
One of my favorite drinks in the summer is a Arnold Palmer. I usually mix unsweet tea with a bit of lemonade for a tasty summer drink. With this cocktail, you get the essence of an Arnold Palmer. In a frosted mug, pour ice cold summer brew and mix with sweet tea vodka and lemon juice. Garnish with a lemon for an extra kick.
4. Pineapple Limeade Beer Cocktail
Ingredients:
1 bottle of beer
2 oz pineapple juice
1 oz lime vodka
lemons and limes for garnish
Directions:
Pick pineapple juice and lime vodka with a few squeezes of lemon and lime. Mix
with ice cold beer and garnish with lemons and limes. A tropical treat!
5. Watermelon Crawl
Ingredients:
1 bottle of Wheat Beer
1 cup of cubed watermelon
1 oz citron vodka
Directions:
Drink, don’t drive, do the watermelon crawl. That’s the lyric I think of when I think of this drink. Start by sticking your beer in the freezer while you prep your other ingredients. Blend up the watermelon in a blender or magic bullet, and then press through a fine mesh strainer. Mix in a cocktail shaker with vodka and add to a frosted glass. Pour beer over mixture and stir slowly. Garnish with lemon slice and enjoy!
If beer really isn’t your thing, but you love lemonade try these recipes! If you can master any of the above it’s time to step-up your game with these adults-only popsicles.
Image Source: BigStock
