For beer enthusiasts, it’s hard to imagine your favorite brew tasting any any better.

But mixologist in hip bars across the country are bringing the idea of the beer cocktail into the forefront. From the Classic Shandy and Michelada to the more adventurous Beeraquirilla and Flaming Dr. Pepper, we hope these recipes can brew up some great times enjoyed with family and friends.

Both the American Heritage Dictionary and UK legislation have defined the “shandy,” short for shandygaff, as a mixture of beer and ginger beer, ginger ale or lemonade. This drink gives all the pleasures of beer with the refreshment of lemonade — a tangy, tasty drink. This old English tradition dates back to the 17th century. Although the origin is not clearly known, some believe that is was named after a local English pub where the beer was not of the best quality and was flavored with a sweet lemon mixture.

Fill a pilsner or beer mug with lager and top with ginger ale, ginger beer or lemonade. If you are a bit more adventurous, try a shandy with limeade. Don’t be afraid to add ice to this drink. You can't do that with your beer.

12 oz beer
juice of 1 lemon
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 dash soy sauce
1 dash Tabasco® sauce
1 pinch black pepper
salt

Mix ingredients in a tall high glass with lots of ice. Add beer, mix and serve.

1 part tequila
3 parts beer (Mexican beer is preferred)
A dash of lime juice

Gently stir the ingredients in the glass

1 bottle Corona® Extra lager
1 shot light rum

Pour the Corona into an 18 oz beer glass pour the rum into the beer.

5 oz Bud Light® lager
1 handful ice
1/2 oz 1800® Tequila
1/2 oz light rum
3 oz strawberry daiquiri mix
3 oz margarita mix

Pour into a blender in this order: ice - beer - tequila - rum - daiquiri mix - margarita mix. Blend until frothy, then pour.

3 oz orange juice
12 oz Guinness® stout
1/2 oz Amareda liqueur

Start with orange juice in the bottom of a pint glass, layer Guinness stout on top of the OJ, float amareda on top, chug the whole thing.

3/4 shot amaretto almond liqueur
1/4 oz 151 proof rum
1/2 glass beer

1. Fill a shot glass about 3/4 full with amaretto and top it off with enough 151 proof rum to be able to burn.
2. Place the shot glass in another glass and fill the outer glass with beer (right up to the level of the shot glass).
3. Ignite the amaretto/151 and let it burn for a while. Blow it out and slam it. Tastes just like Dr. Pepper.

5 oz chilled stout
5 oz chilled Champagne

Pour stout into a champagne flute. Add champagne carefully so it does not mix with stout and serve.

Makes 6 servings
1 (6-pack) light beer
1 can frozen limeade
1 lime, sliced in half

Pour beer into a large pitcher. Add still-frozen limeade and stir to combine. (Stirring with a metal utensil can reduce foam.) Allow foam to settle. Squeeze half a lime into pitcher. Finely slice the other lime half and place into pitcher, for garnish. Pour into chilled glasses and serve cold.

Please Drink Responsibly

Please Drink Responsibly.