Beer Cocktail Roundup

What do you know, the Seahawks have finally made it back to the Superbowl. While I can't pretend to feign an interest in football, all the buzz has done wonders for my social metrics at my day job. It also feeds into my unbridled love of all things Seattle. 

Time to let loose my affinity for beer cocktails! And bean dip. All seven layers of it.

Beer is a beautiful component in many a cocktail. Similar to bubbles such as prosecco, the beer add a festive effervescence to the glass. The hops bring really great citrus and bitter notes. Below I have compiled three of my favorite cocktails featuring beer. Try one - or all - of them out game day. Go Hawks!

Campari & IPA Sprtizer

1 ounce Campari

3 ounces IPA beer (quarter bottle)

lemon slice to garnish

Fill glass with ice. Pour Campari over ice, then slowly top off with beer. Twist lemon slice over the glass, rub around the rim, and drop into the glass to serve. Try swapping grapefruit for the lemon for more complex flavor.

Vaquero
1 ounce tequila
2-6 jalapeno slices
4 small sprigs cilantro
1/2 ounce Amaro Ciociaro
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
1 ounce IPA
lime section to garnish

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the tequila with 1-3 slices jalapeno peppers and 2 sprigs cilantro. Add the Amaro Ciociaro and lime juice, and shake. Serve over ice in a highball glass. Layer in remaining jalapeno and cilantro with ice. Top with IPA.

Beer Margaritas
1 1/2 ounces tequila

Barspoon Licor 43
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

lime wedge to garnish

Shake all ingredients (excluding garnish) over ice. Serve over ice in a double old-fashioned glass. Garnish with a lime wedge. Or check out this recipe for quick and dirty pitcher of beer margarita.

Beer Margaritas

In honor of the beginning of the end (of summer that is), I have been perfecting my beer margarita recipe. Tequila is the ultimate salute to summertime fun, and happy hour margaritas are the quintessential drink. The kicker for this recipe is the homemade lime tonic. 

Lime Tonic for Beer Margaritas
2 cups water
2 cups sugar
3 cups freshly squeezed lime juice (8-12 limes)
peel of 4 limes, dried
freshly squeezed juice of 2 lemons
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
1 teaspoon pink peppercorns
3-5 dried Centennial hops

Combine water and sugar over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved completely. Turn down heat and add remaining ingredients. Simmer for 20-30 minutes. Strain into an air tight container and let cool. Keep refrigerated. Use for Beer Margaritas, though also delightful with bourbon and ginger beer.

Beer Margaritas
750 ml (more commonly, a fifth) 100% agave tequila
1 recipe lime tonic
freshly squeezed juice of 1-2 limes
2 bottles of beer (I love Fremont Summer Ale)

Mix all ingredients together in a large pitcher. To serve, pour over ice. Garnish with a squeeze of lime. Enjoy with a crowd of good friends with nowhere important to be later. 

Even better, whip up a batch and bottle for a rainy day. Bottles, caps and a bottle capper can be found at any homebrew store. I recommend Bob's Homebrew Supply if you are in the Seattle area. Using a funnel, evenly distribute the contents of the pitcher between eight bottles. Be sure to sanitize the bottles first - margaritas have enough sugar to attract trouble if you don't. Cap, label and tuck away in the fridge. I wish I could tell you how long you can expect your beer margaritas to last, but they have never stuck around long enough to know! Split one bottle between three glasses and serve over ice. Garnish with a squeeze of lime.

I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend! Cheers.