The first signs of spring always gets your intrepid liquor reporter all twitterpated with the seasonal norms of exposed flesh, libidinous ladies, and outdoor boozing.
Nowhere was this more evident than during Cinco de Mayo, known as May 5th to you anglos, while your intrepid liquor reporter hit several Mexican-themed cantinas in Calgary to celebrate a Mexican military victory against the invading French forces of Napoleon back in 1862.
Surprisingly, the Tequila was less omnipresent at this Cinco de Mayo celebration, as the cantina specials were all for beer cocktails.
For those not familiar with beer cocktails, it’s basically a pint of beer mixed with a distilled spirit like rum or vodka. Beer cocktails have long been popular in Mexican restaurants, and are starting to become more common in Alberta.
Closely related to the beer cocktail is the shandy, which is a beer mixed with lemonade, ginger ale, or apple juice. Even the big brewers are getting in on the shandy action for summer, with Ontario-based Rickard’s blending their lager with lemonade for the somewhat unimaginatively named Rickard’s Shandy.
Mexico’s most famous beer cocktail is the Michelada. Start by pouring a frosty Corona over ice cubes into a 20 ounce pint glass that has been rimmed with salt, then pour in an ounce of lime juice, two ounces of tomato juice, then season with Worchestershire and Tabasco sauce to taste.
In some ways, the Michelada is similar to the Caesar, but using beer instead of Clamato juice. It has become popular enough that some of the big brewers are bottling premixed Micheladas, Miller Chill and Bud Light Chelada being two popular examples.
Related to the Michelada is the simpler Chelada, which is a simple 3/2 mix of beer and lime juice, perfect for those hot Mexican beach resorts.
Lest you think that beer cocktails are a recent invention by those crafty beer marketeers, they have actually been around for centuries.
One of the oldest examples is Berliner Weisse, first popularized in Germany in the 16th century. Weighing in around 3% ABV, it is a sour wheat beer mixed with raspberry syrup. It was insanely popular up until the 19th century, when 700 different German breweries were producing it. Today, there are only 2 German breweries left making Berliner Weisse, as well as a few in the USA.
Regal gentleman that I am, one of my favourite beer cocktails is the Black Velvet, made with a half-and-half mixture of dark stout beer and sparkling wine, served in a tall champagne flute.
This particular beer cocktail was created in London in 1861, as an homage to the black armbands worn by mourners of the recently deceased Prince Albert.
The favourite beer cocktail of my cute little redheaded drinking companion from Langdon was appropriately named the Redheaded Stepchild. Start with a pint of light beer, then quickly drink two ounces. Now pour in an ounce of whisky and an ounce of red grenadine syrup. This is similar to a boilermaker, but the added grenadine syrup gives it a sweet kick.
For those who don’t like bitter beers, add an ounce of Midori melon liquer to a pint of wheat beer for a delicious summer refresher. The Japan-based Midori had a surge in popularity after hiring reality TV star Kim Kardashian as their brand spokes-model, so depending on your feelings about reality TV, this may or may not be the drink for you.
For something with more kick, try the Beergarita, the blessed union of beer and margaritas. Pour a bottle of Corona into a margarita glass, add two ounces Tequila, three ounces of frozen lime concentrate, and stir over lime wedges. The frozen lime will melt quickly in the alcohol, and you will be left with a party in a glass! These are widely available at most Mexican restaurants in Alberta, and even more so as you head south to sunnier climes.
If you feel like making a beer cocktail punch for your garden party, I find this one to particularly classy. Pour a six-pack of Tecate into a large punchbowl, two ounces of Grand Marnier, four ounces of Tequila, and a can each of frozen concentrated orange and lime juices. This should be sufficient for 6-8 people, so adjust your recipe up or down as required.
With all these ideas, you are sure to find something that wets your whistle. Now get out there and enjoy celebrate the end of winter with a beer cocktail!
