Beer Cocktails

South Africa’s beer culture has undoubtedly evolved in recent years. With the advent of craft brewing and food pairings, the versatility of beer is continually being tested.

Stout, with a rich chocolate brownie, a coriander infused lager and winter-warming ales are just some examples of beer breaking boundaries that a few years ago would have been difficult to imagine. 

Many new and old beer lovers might now be wondering what iscoming next, and beer cocktails, of course, istrending. And we’re not talking about the hangover-inducing concoctions of yesteryear.

Instead, beautifully crafted combinations of fresh fruit, herbs, spices, juices and syrups combined with beer to produce flavour sensations, perfectly suited for lazy weekend afternoons.

South African Breweries (SAB) and LiquidChefs Mobile Bar Services recently joined forces to create a sumptuous selection of light beer cocktails that are low in alcohol content and perfectly suited to a mellow start to any weekend.  

According to Frieda Dehrmann, SABMiller’s top beer taster, beer cocktails are already being served in many upmarket London restaurants. “We’re excited to have started experimenting with our own versions of beer cocktails back home.” Says Frieda. “ In my mind this is the next step in the evolution of beer, following closely on the heels of the craft beer movement that has taken South Africa by storm over the last few years.”

SAB’s Master Brewer, Kate Jones worked with LiquidChefs to develop the cocktails, and she conceded that she was initially sceptical about combining beer with anything but a good meal. “Being a brewer, the idea of mixing beer was almost sacrilegious, but when we sat down with LiquidChefs and started playing around, it quickly became apparent that the versatility of beer means that it combines well with different flavours, much as it does with different kinds of food.”

Craig Shapiro, owner of LiquidChefs, adds: “We wanted to create something light and low in alcohol content which is why we steered away from spirits and chose instead to focus on ingredients such as fresh fruit, herbs and spices.

Some of the combinations are a little unexpected, but the result is a beer revolution. And best of all is that the ingredients are all widely available, which means that these cocktails are easily recreated at home.”

Here are few tips to experience your own flavour combination: 

• A stout will work well with any kind of sweet fruit and toffee flavoured syrups. Try making a Milk Stout float with toffee ice-cream.
• Sweeter beers, such as Carling Black Label, are nicely balanced with savoury herbs and spices such as basil, rosemary and thyme.
• Beers with a straightforward malt character and distinctive bitterness pair well with lighter fruity flavours. You could try mixing Grolsch with Brutal Fruit Apple Ginger, for example.

Happy stirring, shaking and mixing!

Recipes 

Castle deLite 

Ingredients:        

1. 1 Bottle Castle Lite
2. 25 ml Honey
3. 25 ml Elderflower Syrup
4. 12.5 ml Brutal Fruit Lavacious Lemon
5. Grenadine or Pomegranate Syrup
6. 1 Egg White
7. Garnish: Piece of lemon zest      

Method

1. Make foam by placing honey, Elderflower Syrup and Brutal Fruit Lavacious Lemon and a dash of grenadine or pomegranate syrup into a shaker or bowl with 1 egg white.
2. Whisk or shake the ingredients together to aerate.
3. Pour Castle Lite into wine glass.
4. Spoon or pour over the foam onto the Castle Lite.
5. Garnish with a piece of lemon zest.
6. Serve in a wine glass.           

Milk Stout Medley

Ingredients:     

1. 8 Raspberries
2. 12,5ml Vanilla Syrup
3. 1 Bottle Castle Milk Stout
4. 1 Bottle Brutal Fruit Cranberry
5. Garnish: Ground nutmeg             

Method

1. Place raspberries and vanilla syrup into a glass.
2. Using a muddler/pestle press the raspberries and syrup together.
3. Add cubed ice and Brutal Fruit Cranberry to the glass and stir slowly to infuse the flavours into the liquid.
4. Pour Castle Milk Stout into Brandy snifter.
5. Strain raspberries, syrup and Brutal Fruit into brandy snifter filled with the beer.
6. Garnish with a dusting of Nutmeg on top.      
7. Serve in a brandy snifter.      

Miller Summer Storm

Ingredients:

1. 12 Mint Leaves
2. 25ml Honey
3. 50ml Pineapple Juice
4. Dash of lemon
5. 1 Bottle Miller Genuine Draft
6. Garnish: Mint sprig

Method

1. Place mint leaves and honey into a mixing glass or cocktail shaker.
2. Press mint and honey using a muddler/pestle.
3. Add cubed ice, pineapple juice and dash of lemon juice to glass and stir to infuse flavours together.
4. Pour Miller Genuine Draft into stemmed glass and strain the infused liquid over the beer.
5. Garnish with a mint sprig.               
6. Serve in a Stemmed pilsner glass. 

Black Label Fusion

Ingredients:

1. 2 Basil Leaves
2. 2 Slices Ginger
3. 1 Sprig Thyme
4. Salt
5. Pepper
6. Dash of Sugar Syrup
7. 100ml Redd’s Dry
8. Dash of Bitters
9. 1 Bottle Carling Black Label
10. Garnish: Thyme sprig   

Method

1. Place the ginger into a glass and bash slightly with muddler/Pestle.
2. Add basil leaves, thyme, salt and pepper to the glass.
3. Add sugar syrup to the herbs and press using a muddler/pestle.
4. Add cubed ice and Redd’s, then stir to infuse the flavours.
5. Pour Carling Black Label into a Hurricane glass and pour herb infusion on top.
6. Garnish with a thyme sprig and top off with a dash of bitters.
7. Serve in a Hurricane glass.