Despite the relatively recent rise of the Spaghett (Aperol and lemon juice poured into a Miller High Life) and its fellow not-quite-spritzes, beer cocktails have a long history. The “shandy,” a two-part mix of beer with lemonade or ginger ale, was first mentioned in print in the late 19th century, and glühbier has long been a staple of European holiday drinking. Modern bartenders have not shied away from the category, either, often turning stouts, sours and IPAs into syrups to add layered dimension to a variety of cocktails. By now, the canon of beer cocktails has grown to include plenty of craveable, simple, built-in-the-glass drinks alongside a crop of beer cocktails that go beyond the typical two-part formula. To showcase the many sides of the beer cocktail, we rounded up some of our favorites, from an Americano topped with pilsner to the olive brine–spiked Midwestern bar staple, the Beertini.
Glueh Kriek
A glühbier recipe that works with sours, stouts, ales and more.
The Spaghetti Incident in the Jungle
A Guns N' Roses-inspired Jungle Bird riff featuring stout syrup.
Singchelada
The Michelada goes Thai.
Das Radler
A blood orange rendition of the radler topped with sparkling blood orange soda.
White Bull
A sage shandy inspired by the Blood and Sand.
Hop Skip Jump
Bitter Cynar and Punt e Mes complement the hoppy aromas of American Pale Ale.
Campari Radler
A Campari-laced riff on the traditional German beer and citrus drink.
Hotel San José’s Michelada
This meaty michelada is built on the bones of a traditional south-of-the-border recipe.
Hungry Hungry Hipster
A riff on the “bro-mosa,” an ironic mix of Miller High Life and orange juice.
Americano Perfecto
Pilsner replaces the usual soda water.
Picon Bière
France's version of a shandy based on the now-obscure bitter orange liqueur, Amer Picon.
Arrowhead Limited
A "mezcal Negroni" topped with IPA for an equally smoky, bitter and refreshing long drink.
Margaladaoma
A cross between a Margarita, a Paloma and a Michelada.