Add some pizzazz to your beer this summer

There is not much that is more refreshing on a hot summer day than a cold beer. Unless, that is, it is a cold beer cocktail. These jazzed-up beer cocktails are sure to add some variety and pizzazz to your icy cold one.

Love your refreshing pale ales or light lagers in the summer? You’re not alone. But when you’re looking for something with a bit more pizzazz and punch, don’t cast the beer aside. There are lots of fun things we can do with beer besides just drink it straight. Beer can add flavor and fizz to these refreshing summer cocktails.

Poolside michelada

Yields 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 8 ounces light Mexican beer
• 1/4 cup tomato juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vinegar-based hot sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• Black pepper for garnish
• Lime wedge for garnish

Directions:

1. Place the salt on a small plate. Run the cut lime wedge along the rim of the glass and dip the rim of the glass in salt. Fill the glass with ice.
2. In a larger container or pitcher, combine the beer, tomato juice, lime juice, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce and stir to combine. Pour the mixture over the ice. Garnish with a pinch of freshly ground black pepper and a lime wedge.

Block party beerita

Yields 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce tequila
• 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
• 6 ounces chilled light beer

Directions:

1. Fill a glass with ice and pour in the tequila and the lime juice.
2. Fill the remainder of the glass with the chilled beer and gently stir.

Lakeside lemon ginger shandy

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 cups water, divided
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 1 (3-inch) piece fresh ginger root, peeled
• Chilled light beer

Directions:

1. Bring the sugar and one cup of water to a boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Turn off the heat and grate in the ginger root. Allow to the ginger simple syrup to cool completely and then strain it through a mesh colander to remove the ginger pieces. Discard the ginger solids.
2. Combine the ginger simple syrup with the lemon juice and the remaining two cups of water. Pour one-quarter cup of the ginger lemonade into each of the chilled beer glasses and fill the remainder of the glasses with the chilled beer.

Fireside bourbon beer

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce bourbon
• 1-1/2 ounces orange juice
• 2 dashes bitters
• Chilled light beer

Directions:

1. Combine the bourbon, orange juice and bitters in a glass with ice. Fill the remainder of the glass with beer and stir gently to combine.

More summer cocktail recipes

3 Apricot cocktail recipes
Summer layered drinks recipes
Refreshing Memorial Day cocktail recipes