5 Cocktail Recipes Using Beer or Hard Cider

With so many beer and cider flavors on the market it is easy to get creative and impress your guests with some cocktail recipes using beer, ciders, wines and liquor that transform these ingredients to a brand new level. It’s like making one drink that will satisfy everyone from the beer lover to the cocktail lover.

There are some go-to items to grab at the grocery store when you plan on entertaining guests that will be handy for any recipe creation whether you are using beer, cider or hard liquor. So, make sure you grab fresh berries, citrus fruits and some bottles of Sparkling Ice!

Summer Shandy

INGREDIENTS

• 3 oz light beer (like a pale ale)
• 6 oz Sparkling Ice Peach Nectarine
• Strawberry, for garnish 

DIRECTIONS

In an ice filled glass, combine light beer and Sparkling Ice Peach Nectarine. Garnish with a strawberry slice and serve. 

Sunshine Boilermaker

INGREDIENTS

• 1 can of pale lager
• 1.5 oz of bourbon
• Sparkling Ice Lemon Lime
• Lemon (garnish) 

DIRECTIONS

In a pint glass, pour beer at an angle to eliminate head. Add 1.5 oz of bourbon. Top with Sparkling Ice Lemon Lime. Garnish with lemon wedge. 

Gold Apple Cider Martini

• Ingredients 
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon Anise simple syrup
• 1½ oz. vodka
• 5 oz. Strongbow Gold Apple Hard Cider 

• For Anise Simple Syrup:
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup water
• 2 whole stars of anise

Directions 
To make the Anise Simple Syrup:
Put all ingredients in a small pot & cook until sugar dissolves. Set aside until cool. Cocktail: In a shaker filled with ice, mix the martini ingredients and stir until chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a floating star anise on top.

Pear Secco Rum Blush

Ingredients

• 1 1/2-ounce pear juice
• 3/4-ounce dark rum
• 1-tablespoon cherry grenadine
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• (1) 8 oz. cold can of Strongbow Pear Secco CiderPear slice and cherry for garnish (optional)

Directions 
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Serve in a tumbler over ice with a slice of pear and a cherry.

Original Dry Spritz

Ingredients

• 4 oz. Strongbow Original Dry Hard Cider
• 1.5 oz. Elderflower liquer
• 2 oz. club soda
• 1 lemon slice

Directions 
Build all ingredients sequentially in a large wine goblet, topping with Strongbow. Add ice and garnish with a lemon.

The reason why I am featuring Strongbow Ciders is that they are a personal favorite of mine. The Strongbow 100 calorie slim cans are also a 2019 Product of the Year award winner. I was sent some samples for this feature so I have tasted and recommend the brand.

Comment: I was sent product for this authentic feature. All opinions are my own