100 + degree weather in Reno this week! Trying to beat the heat and relax on the deck after a long shift behind the bar, this came to mind…
Indian Summer
1.5 oz Tru Organic Gin
.75 oz Fruitlab Hibiscus Organic Liqueur
.75 oz Simple Syrup
.5 oz Pink Grapefruit
.25 oz Lemon
Shake and strain into a tall glass on the rocks
Top with Lagunitas IPA
Garnish with Grapefruit Zest
Refreshing, zesty and goes down so quick on a hot night. Give it a try…
Snow White inspired, this refreshing cocktail is the perfect libation before you head to the movies this summer. It is light with a subtle complexity that fuels your summer fever. Drink them on the patio. Careful though, they are not for the faint of heart. Continue Reading
Spring is upon us with a plethora of sunshine and warmth, demanding a new focus on more refreshing and bright beer cocktails. One of my favorite warm weather sippers has always been the gin fizz — bright, citrusy and effervescent. My rule of thumb with beer cocktails is: any drink that calls for soda water, tonic or juice can easily be substituted with beer. Case and point: The Gin Fizz.
This cocktail is loosely based on the Silver Gin Fizz, which calls for gin, citrus, sugar, egg whites and soda water. Inspired by Bison Brewing’s Honey Basil Ale, I chose to shake “spanked” basil with honey, fresh lemon juice, lime juice, egg whites and one of my all time favorite gins — St. George Spirit’s Botanivore — and top the concoction with beer.
The result is a tart, fizzy cocktail with hints of caramel sweetness, notes of clover honey, and a whisper of basil. Absolutely perfect for this time of year!
I was recently challenged to make a Belgian Wit inspired beer cocktail for an upcoming event with Maui Brewing Company. When I think of pale malt beers that boast fruity, floral and slightly spicy esters — I always gravitate towards Gin. The botanical nature of gin is an excellent match for the lighter Belgian ales, such as wits and saisons.
The recipe inspiration came from the classic “Silver Fizz” — a gin based cocktail with lemon juice, sugar, egg whites and soda water. In an effort to add more flavor, I substituted the sugar with Elderflower syrup and the soda water with Maui Brewing’s La Perouse Belgian Wit-style Ale.
In order to incorporate more botanicals into the mix, I went with one of my favorite gins, St. George Spirits Botanivore. The result is a bright and refreshing, moderately tart and slight floral beer cocktail perfect for the hot spring and summer months. Continue Reading
Photo Credit: Mike Condie
One thing that truly differentiates beer and spirits from wine, apart from the obvious, is that both allow for the addition of non-traditional ingredients. Although there are style guidelines and “rules” for both beer and spirits, innovators in both industries tend to bend them, if not completely break them.
As with most artisan creations, cocktail recipes are often inspired by one specific ingredient, whether it be a particular brand of spirit of a specific beer. A Sazerac would not be a Sazerac without, yep you guessed it, Sazerac.
The Mad Botanist was inspired by Bison Brewing’s “Saison de Wench” — a Belgian-farmhouse style ale brewed with botanicals (rose, hibiscus, lemongrass & pink peppercorn), and St. George’s “Botanivore Gin” — an artisan spirit distilled with 19 different botanicals.
I have found that one of the best ways of incorporating beer into cocktails is to use it in place of champagne or soda water. By utilizing beer in this way, you open up a simple cocktail to all sorts of variations. If you were to add a nice Belgian ale, you would be gaining some sweet malt and yeast flavors to your cocktail, but if you used an uber hopped IPA instead, you would add a fantastic bitter/citrus dimension to your drink.
The thing to keep in mind when using beer is balance. Some beers, especially Belgians can be fairly sweet, so make sure that you are adjusting your cocktail accordingly. This next drink pairs one of my favorite spirits with one of my favorite styles of beer.
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— n
1. a state or condition of confusion, movement, or agitation; disorder
2. signature beer cocktail of The Beer Wench
Essentially, a signature [insert choice word] anything is a piece of work or object that readily identifies its creator or owner — think signature artwork, signature pieces of clothing, and signature drinks.
From the moment I started experimenting with beer mixology, I became obsessed and preoccupied with designing what I wanted to ultimately become, my signature beer cocktail.
