75 Beer Cocktails: Shandies, Beergaritas, Beer Mules & More

THE COMPLETE BEER COCKTAIL PLAYBOOK

Beer cocktails can be as simple as lager and lemonade or as composed as a stout Old Fashioned. This collection brings the genuinely useful recipes into one place: 75 practical formulas organized by flavor, occasion and base spirit.

Use the table to jump to a section, then pick a drink by the beer already in your fridge. Every recipe gives you a ratio, glass, method, flavor snapshot and food pairing. Measurements make one drink unless a recipe says it is a batch.

Choose Your Beer Cocktail

Section	Recipes	Best for
Bright, Crisp & Citrus	10	Low-lift refreshers and warm-weather drinking
Brunch & Easy Sippers	8	Juice-forward, bubbly and daytime-friendly
Savory, Spicy & Tomato	10	Micheladas, chile heat and salty refreshment
Tequila, Mezcal & Margaritas	10	Beergaritas, Palomas and agave spirits
Whiskey, Bourbon & Rye	9	Warming, malty and spirit-forward
Rum, Tropical & Party Punches	9	Tiki flavors, pitchers and cookouts
Fruit, Berry & Garden	10	Fresh fruit, herbs and seasonal produce
Dark Beer, Pub Classics & Dessert	9	Layered pints, stout drinks and floats

THE HOUSE FORMULA

Build a Beer Cocktail in Five Moves

Use this as a starting framework, then let the beer decide the final balance. Delicate lagers need restraint; stout, IPA and saison can handle louder partners.

01Choose the beer6–10 oz lager, wheat beer, IPA, saison or stout

02Add acid½–1 oz lemon, lime or tart fruit juice

03Balance it0–½ oz syrup, nectar or liqueur

04Optional spirit1–1½ oz, measured—not free-poured

05Finish coldAdd beer last, stir once, garnish and serve

Bright, Crisp & Citrus

Start here when you want the beer to stay front and center. These long, bubbly drinks lean on lager, wheat beer and saison instead of heavy pours of liquor.

Brunch & Easy Sippers

Beer’s bubbles and grainy backbone keep fruit juice from tasting flat or overly sweet. Chill every ingredient first so the foam stays controlled.

Savory, Spicy & Tomato

Salt, acid and chile can make an everyday lager taste sharper and more refreshing. Add hot sauce gradually; it is much easier to turn the heat up than dial it back.

Tequila, Mezcal & Margaritas

A splash of crisp lager stretches the familiar Margarita template without burying the agave. Shake the spirit-and-citrus base first, then add beer after straining.

Whiskey, Bourbon & Rye

Whiskey loves toasted malt, caramel and roast. These are stronger drinks, so measure the spirit and treat a beer pour as an ingredient—not a chaser.

Rum, Tropical & Party Punches

Rum, ginger, pineapple and lime are natural partners for crisp lagers and aromatic wheat beers. For punches, add the beer immediately before serving.

Fruit, Berry & Garden

Fresh produce works best when it complements the beer already in the glass. Use a gentle hand with herbs so they smell fresh rather than grassy.

Dark Beer, Pub Classics & Dessert

This final group ranges from true pub standards to after-dinner drinks. For clean layers, use well-chilled beer and pour the top layer slowly over a spoon.

Beer Cocktail FAQs

What is the easiest beer cocktail?

A Shandy or Radler is the easiest place to start: combine equal parts pale lager and sparkling lemonade or grapefruit soda. There is no shaker, special glassware or hard-to-find ingredient.

Which beer is best for cocktails?

Pale lager is the most versatile because it adds bubbles and a clean malt note without dominating. Wheat beer suits citrus and fruit, IPA suits grapefruit and herbs, and stout works with coffee, chocolate and whiskey.

Do you shake beer in a cocktail shaker?

No. Shake the spirits, juice and syrup first. Strain them into the serving glass and add the beer last. Shaking carbonated beer creates excess pressure and foam.

How do I keep a beer cocktail from foaming over?

Use cold ingredients and a roomy glass, tilt the glass while pouring, and add beer slowly. Ingredients with salt, pulp or carbonation can increase foaming.

Can beer cocktails be made ahead?

Prepare the still base—spirits, juice and sweetener—ahead and refrigerate it. Add beer and any soda only when serving so the drink stays lively.

KEEP THE FLIGHT GOING

Build your next great beer night

Choose a better base beer, explore a focused Guinness flight, or move from mixing into brewing and cooking with beer.

DRINK DEEPER

Guinness BlendsExplore 19 layered pints and stout cocktails, including the Black & Green. →Types of BeerPick the right lager, wheat beer, IPA, saison or stout for the drink. →Best BeersStart the cocktail with a bottle or can worth pouring. →Cooking With BeerCarry those malt, hop and roast flavors from the glass to the plate. →

MIX & BREW IT YOURSELF

Homebrew RecipesBrew the lager, ale or stout that anchors your next cocktail. →Ale vs. LagerUnderstand how fermentation changes flavor before you start mixing. →Beer Glass GuideChoose a glass with enough room for ice, foam and garnish. →