6 Epic Beer Cocktails to Make this Summer

The coming warmer weather has reinvigorated creative thinking, and the beer guru’s at The South African Breweries have come up with a host of delicious new beer cocktails.

Beer is no longer just a ‘braai and rugby-time’ staple and South Africa is currently experiencing an on-trend beer movement, galvanised by the craft beer industry and its explosion of different beer styles.

“Today people have a deeper appreciation for beer,” said Denis da Silva, SAB Trade Brewer at Newlands Brewery in Cape Town.

Beer is showcased through a multitude of taste experiences from beer and food pairings, cooking with beer and beer cocktails.

With the help of Owen O’Reilly, mixologist and director at SIP Exclusive, six new beer cocktails have been created with four of the new innovative products from the SAB stable – Castle Milk Stout Chocolate Infused, Carling Blue Label, Castle Lite Lime and Flying Fish Apple.

“The brief was simple – conceptualise delicious cocktails that are easy for consumers to make at home,” said da Silva.

According to O’Reilly, this was the first time he has created beer cocktails but says he can see it being a big hit.

“I eagerly accepted the ‘challenge’ of creating new beer cocktails for SAB – which I found really easy to do,” he said.  “The body of the beer makes it a perfect platform to add other flavours to, which compliments the complex flavours of the beer.”

“Beer also adds a great texture and mouthfeel to cocktails.”

For those who would like to try them at home, see the recipes below.

Blue Fashioned

Glass: Large tumbler

Ingredients: 

• 20 ml sugar syrup
• 1 orange rind
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• Carling Blue Label, chilled

Method:

• Add sugar, orange and bitters to glass
• Fill tumbler with ice
• Top up with beer
• Stir for 5 seconds
• Garnish and serve

Garnish: Large orange zest twisted to express oils over drink

Carling Blue Label Jam Jar

Glass: Jam Jar or  large high ball

Ingredients: 

• 25ml fresh lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. apricot jam
• 25ml scotch whiskey (for best results)
• Carling Blue Label, chilled

Method:

• Mix first three ingredients (everything but the beer) together with ice, seal lid and shake well.
• Remove lid and top with beer
• Garnish and serve

Garnish: Dried apricot and lemon wedge

Chocolate Stout Coffee

Glass: Flared Pilsner

Ingredients:

• 25ml Irish whiskey (for best results)
• 50ml cold strong filter coffee
• 25ml vanilla syrup
• 1 egg white
• Half glass, Castle Milk Stout Chocolate, chilled

Method:

• Mix first 4 ingredients (everything but the beer) together in a separate shaker/jar, add lots of ice and shake well
• Pour chilled beer into glassware (halfway with no ice) and then strain the mixed ingredients on top.
• Top up the glass with leftover beer.
• Garnish and serve

Garnish: Grated dark chocolate

Chocolate Malt Julip

Glass: V shaped pint glass 375ml – 475ml

Ingredients: 

• 25ml vanilla syrup
• 1 orange wedge
• 8-10 mint leaves
• Crushed ice
• Castle Milk Stout Chocolate, chilled

Method:

• Mix first three ingredients (everything but the beer) together in glassware and muddle.
• Add crushed ice.
• Top up with beer.
• Churn lightly and cap with more crushed ice.
• Garnish and serve

Garnish: Large mint sprig and orange twist

Flying Fish Apple Pie

Glass: Large beer glass

Ingredients: 

• 25ml fresh lemon juice
• 50ml cloudy apple juice
• 15ml cinnamon syrup
• 25ml brandy
• Flying Fish Green Apple, chilled

Method:

• Mix all the ingredients together with ice, stir well
• Garnish and serve

Garnish: Apple fan (cinnamon dusted optional for additional effect) and straw

Castle Lite Flower

Glass: Stemmed beer glass

Ingredients: 

• 1 lime wedge squeezed
• 25ml gin
• 25ml elderflower cordial
• Castle Lite Lime

Method:

• Mix first three ingredients (everything but the beer) together in glassware
• Fill with ice
• Top with beer and stir.
• Garnish and serve

Garnish: Edible flower or mint sprig

More stuff to keep you busy:

Jack Black Brewing Co Opens Tasting Room and Brewery in Cape Town!

Tap Beer on a Flight? That’s Now a Thing!

Epic! Craft Restaurant Now Offers Freak Hot Chocolates

Pizza Hut Opens First Store in Cape Town!