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Once you discover beer cocktails, you’ll find yourself captivated by their potential. Beer’s diverse flavors, textures, and aromas offer a unique depth to various drinks, making it a perfect match for cocktail creation beyond the standard brew. London-based beer writer Melissa Cole shares her insights and tips on crafting refreshing beer cocktails, particularly suited for summer enjoyment.

Having written about beer cocktails in her book The Little Book of Craft Beer, Cole emphasizes the importance of understanding the characteristics of the beer you’re working with. It’s crucial to identify its flavor profile, alcohol content, and aromas before crafting your cocktail. For instance, hoppy IPAs or sweet wheat beers can significantly impact the final drink. Cole notes that using beers with American hops can infuse your cocktails with delightful citrus undertones.

Another interesting aspect she highlights is using the beer’s carbonation to enhance your drink. For example, high-carbonation beers like Belgian saisons add body and complexity, serving as a fantastic substitute for soda water in cocktails.

Cole also encourages experimenting with non-alcoholic beers to create mocktails, opening up even more creative possibilities. She mentions using non-alcoholic stout for fun and flavorful floats.

Here are a couple of recipes from Cole’s book to try out:

A Quick Session
Inspired by the classic Greyhound cocktail, this refreshing drink showcases the grapefruit flavors typical of pale ales and IPAs. It’s designed for batching, making it perfect for gatherings.

2 parts vodka (chilled)
3 parts well-chilled grapefruit juice
2 parts well-chilled session IPA or American pale ale

Mix the vodka and grapefruit juice, pour into a highball glass, and top with the beer. For an extra twist, rim the glass with salt for a salty dog variation.

A Rube Icon
This punch-like cocktail uses tart sour beer combined with lychee liqueur for a tropical flavor profile. It’s elegant when served in a martini glass.