Keep Your Fizz This Summer With Beer Cocktails

It’s always summer in sunny Singapore, and what better drink to keep the heat away than a bottle of refreshing beer? Well, not if you’ve been drinking the same lager over and over and over again, with a whole carton stocked up during the nation’s call to stay home. If that sounds like you, why not learn to mix your own beer-tails (that is, beer cocktails)? With an infinite number of permutations for even one lager, we promise you’ll never get bored. 

Best part is, you don’t even need fancy craft beer! Commercial beer does fantastically as well, so truly anyone can make their own beer-tails. But before you start, you might want to keep in mind some considerations.

How to Mix Beer

Sure, you can throw a bunch of beers and beverages together, shake it (warning: big mistake!), and call it a day. But if you want to create a respectable, drinkable, possibly even delicious beer-tail, here are some tips for you. 

Body

Depending on beer style, adding beer typically gives your beer-tail a fuller body. For a thicker, creamier mouthfeel, consider adding an oatmeal stout, wheat beer, or even hazy IPA. 

Carbonation

Due to its carbonation, adding beer to cocktails not only creates some brightness and liveliness, it may also boost some of the drink’s other flavours and aromas. 

Flavours

It goes without saying that when constructing your own beer-tail, do consider the balance in flavour and aroma. Which beverages should play a lead or balancing role? Should it be hop-forward, or should the bitterness take a back seat, and let the sweetness come through? 

Blending beers on opposite ends of the spectrum – such as a sour-sweet raspberry ale with a chocolatey porter – may also create something completely unexpected and interesting. Who knows, perhaps you’ll find the next peanut butter and jelly of beer-tails.

Astringency and Acidity 

If you have a beer that’s dry and astringent (such as the Asahi Super Dry), consider pairing it with sweet and sour flavours, such as a tart grapefruit juice, or even a yuzu gose.

Garnish

Don’t forget to garnish! A salt rim, cinnamon stick, sprig of thyme or even a simple slice of fresh lemon can perfectly round out your beer-tail. Not to mention, it makes it look more appetizing. 

Visual Presentation 

For an upgraded drinking experience, why not enjoy your beer-tail in an appropriate glass – a round glass for spiked beer punch, or a champagne flute for something light, sweet, and bubbly, like mead or cider. 

You might even want to consider creating a layered drink, as opposed to stirring it altogether before serving. Let’s be honest, nobody’s going to want to drink brown muck, delicious as it may be.

Total Alcohol by Volume (ABV) 

When mixing beer with other beers or alcohols, do be cognizant of the total alcohol by volume of the resulting beer-tail. Are you planning to make a relaxing nightcap, or a deceptively sweet beverage designed to get your head spinning? 

Now that we’ve got these considerations out of the way, let’s get mixing. 

Beer And… Something Fruity!

Fruity drinks are always a go. They’re sweet, bright, and refreshing, but sometimes, you just want a little more oomph – some extra carbonation, a hint of complexity… which is where beer comes in.

If you have wheat beers in your arsenal – say, a Hoegaarden – why not add it to a pitcher of blended watermelon juice? The simple wheat beer not only creates a fuller body, it introduces some floral notes to the aromatic watermelon, and provides just enough zing to enhance what is called the Summer Hoedown. 

If you’re not much of a sweet tooth, why not add a hoppy, juicy IPA to a bowl of mango slushie? Simply blend pieces of cut mango with ice, and add it to Little Creatures IPA or Bira91 Pomelo IPA. Not only does the rugged, hoppy IPA balance out the traditionally sweet mango, both beers have tropical citrus flavours ranging from passionfruit and grapefruit to pomelo, which melds perfectly with mango. (Psst. If you want it even stronger, try adding a shot of vodka!) 

Beer And… Something Fizzy!

You might not always have fresh fruit at home, but you’re likely to have carbonated soft drinks. 

To create a Classic Shandy, add lager – such as Corona beer, or, if you’re more adventurous, the Red Dot Chrysanthemum Rum Lager – to the spicy-sweet Fever Tree Ginger Beer. Alternatively, you may also substitute the ginger beer with a simple 7UP or Sprite. 

You might also like to use cider instead of ginger beer, creating what is called a Snakebite (we’re guessing because of how stealthily inebriating it is). For an extra dry, extra crisp flavour to your lager, try the Crossroads Orchard Road Apple Cider or Somerset Pear Cider.

When adding beer to other fizzy drinks, we think it’s a good idea to pour the beer first and let it settle, before going in with the carbonated drink. And do it slowly!

Beer And… Something Boozy! 

Beer not boozy enough for you? Need something stronger? Don’t worry, we get it. 

Why not combine drinks from opposite sides of the spectrum with a Black Velvet? On one side, we have the full-bodied, creamy, smoky stout – the classic Guinness Draught – and, on the other, a dry and lively champagne. If you don’t have champagne, any sparkling wine will do. Simply pour the drinks into a champagne flute with a 1:1 ratio. It’s as exotic and delicious as it sounds. 

If you have wheat beer and love whiskey, you’re in for a treat. Combine a shot of Wild Turkey Rye Whiskey with some Blue Moon Belgian White, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and pop of ginger for a beer-tail that’s equal parts sweet, spicy, and citrusy, with a smoky kick. It’s not a summer holiday without Here comes the Sun.

Beer And… Something Funky!  

How ‘bout something even cooler? 

Place a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a glass, and pour a shot of espresso, chocolate liqueur and O’Hara Irish Stout over it to create a Stout Affogato! 

If you don’t have chocolate liqueur or coffee at hand, the stout will do just fine with the ice cream. Especially if it has notes of roasty coffee and creamy chocolate. This is as adult as desserts get.  

Pour, Stir, And Enjoy! 

We’ve introduced an array of possible beer-tails (and even one luscious dessert) – now it’s time you create your own. While we haven’t seen anyone mix beer and wine and lived to tell the tale, perhaps you’ll be the first to make it work. Meanwhile, enjoy a range of beers, ciders, liqueurs, and other mixers today with our free alcohol delivery services (for all orders $99 and above). Choose us as your preferred beer delivery service today!