| Beer Cocktails |
 If you haven't heard of a beer cocktail before, you're not alone.
Beer cocktails are growing in popularity, but are still breaking new
ground when it comes to mixed drinks.
Here are some of the more popular beer cocktails, as well as recipes to create your own beer cocktails at home!
What is a Beer Cocktail? Traditionally, a cocktail is two or more different alcoholic beverages combined to reach the next level ... a concoction that is both more flavorful and packs a bigger punch than a stand-alone beverage. Beer has generally been left out of the party when it comes to mixing cocktails. Recently, however, bartenders all over the world are catching on to the idea of mixing beers together to produce something that is not only quite tasty, but offers beer connoisseurs something a little more special. Cocktails mixed with staples like vodka, tequila and gin have become standard fare and are losing their excitement. By adding beer cocktails to the menu, bars worldwide have opened up a whole new door in the world of mixed drinks. Recipes: Making a Beer Cocktail When you're dealing with beer, you're also dealing with foam, so there's no shaking when you're creating a beer cocktail. The key to a great beer cocktail is in the layering. Here are recipes for some of the more popular beer cocktails. Black & Tan You've probably already heard of a Black & Tan, sometimes called a Half & Half. This is a classic layered beer cocktail which is easily the most popular and best-looking beer cocktail. Bartenders in the United States generally layer the Black & Tan by "floating" a darker-colored beer on top of a lighter-colored beer. You can easily make your own Black & Tan cocktail at home. Start with a light-colored ale or lager. Many breweries use their own house beers as a base. Other popular choices are Bass ale and Harp lager. Fill the glass half-way with the light-colored beer, using a quality spout or tap for good flow control. As you decrease the flow of the lighter-colored beer, slowly pour a dark beer, such as Guinness stout, into the top of the glass over the back of a spoon. Kegworks offers a really great decorative black and tan spoon for this part of the process. Note: It's much easier to layer the Black & Tan if the stout is pushed by nitrogen. As the stout settles into the lighter beer, the two beers will eventually mix. In other parts of the world, the two beers are poured at the same time so that they are mixed from the start. For a special occasion, create a Black Velvet by using Champagne as your base, in place of the ale or lager, and layering a stout on top. Shandy The Shandy is a classic, tangy old-fashioned beer cocktail which is a sort of "beer spritzer." This refreshing beer cocktail dates back to 17th century England, where it is reported a British pub owner mixed his less-than-quality brew with lemonade to give the taste a boost. The cocktail was originally known as the "Shandygaff," but the name has been shortened in popular useage. In Germany, this cocktail is known as a "Radler." To make a Shandy, simply fill a pint beer glass, pilsner glass or beer mug to the half-way point with your favorite beer. Then, fill the glass to the top with ginger ale, 7-Up, lemonade or even limeade. (Some beer lovers take it to the next level by using ginger beer for this step.) Lighter beer generally works best for this beer cocktail. For dark beer lovers, try the "Guinness Shandy" -- Guinness Stout mixed with lemonade. Liqueur-Spiked Beer Cocktails An easy way to create a delicious beer cocktail is to add a shot of flavored liqueur to your favorite ale, lager or stout. Try black currant liqueur in your favorite lager. Add a shot of melon liqueur to your favorite ale or lager to create a South Wind, or add a shot of coffee liqueur to create a Caribbean Night. Try a shot of raspberry liqueur with a dark beer for something reminiscent of a raspberry chocolate truffle. You are only limited by your imagination, so get busy and create a delicious, signature beer cocktail of your own! |