Beer Me!

Summer is officially here (even in Reno) and that means BEER! There is nothing quite as refreshing as a cold one on a hot day. I've got something to put some pep in your tired old beer's step. Beer Cocktails, they are all the rage right now. We can skip the usual Bee Sting, Turbo Corona and Car Bomb-- the powers at be are shaking up something much more extraordinary for your enjoyment. Try these on for size...

The Bee's Knees
1 oz Silver Tequila
.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.75 oz Honey Simple Syrup
Shake, strain into a Pilsner Glass top with your favorite light beer. Corona works well, but I like it will Pilsner Urquell. Garnish with a Lemon Zest

Gingers Kick Back
1 oz  Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur
.75 oz Ginger Simple Syrup
.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1 oz Ginger Beer
Pour this one straight into a Pilsner Glass, no shaking necessary and top with an Irish Red Ale.
*This one is for my good friend Andy: Facebook received criticism after a 'Kick a Ginger' group, which aimed to establish a "National Kick a Ginger Day" on November 20, acquired almost 5,000 members... Bartenders defend those of Irish decent as they are generally big drinkers, thus fueling our livelyhood

Walk the Dog
1 oz Rye Whiskey
.75 oz Amaretto
.75 oz Honey Roasted Peanut Simple Syrup
Shake, strain into a Cocktail Glass top with Newcastle. it would be worth the effort. Dash with Orange Bitters and Garnish with a Flamed Orange Zest
*In England "Walking the Dog" was a generally used excuse to swing by the local pub for a pint.

I'm still working on developing more of these type of cocktails. It's a fairly untapped genre (at lease in my parts) so I am concocting more of these hybrid libations and trying to develop the very best. There are many simple blends involving beer and champagne or beer and a sweet liqueur, but I have found that most of these lack complexity or worse, lack drinkablitiy. I plan to drink my way to the bottom of this issue in pursuit of the ideal Beer Cocktail.