Session #27: Beyond the Black & Tan

It’s the first Friday in May, time once again for Beer Blogging Friday.  The topic for this month’s edition of The Session is Beer Cocktails – Beyond the Black and Tan.  Hosted by Joe and Jasmine over on Beer at Joe’s.

I almost didn’t go through with this one.  They dissed my favorite, the Radler*, right in the announcement post!

Plus, liquor in my beer?  Seriously?  What is this a frat party?

But, at the last minute I caved and decided to give it the old college try (pun intended).

Sticking with the theme, I didn’t actually go out and spend any money on this ‘challenge’.  All of these ‘recipes’ were devised using the few liquors (mostly for cooking) I had already in the pantry and whatever homebrew I had in the kegerator.

Also, because research is important, I spent 15 minutes reading the wikipedia entry for beer cocktails.

And I’m starting this at 10:45 PM.  On Thursday night.

So now that we know the rules of the game, feel free to play along at home and let’s get to mixing!

(All of these are a 1 oz shot of liquor in a 12 oz tumbler then filled with beer).

Witbier + Tanqueray Gin – Actually, not that awful.  The juniper and “World’s Finest Botanicals” work pretty well with the coriander, black pepper and orange in the wit.

Witbier + Cointreau – Tastes like Orange Soda.  Which could be kind of good if that’s your thing.  The sorority girls will like it at least.

Witbier + Limoncello – Not so much.  Next.

Schwarzbier + Christian Brothers VS Brandy - Aged on oak, so this could be good. And it is!  The oak is coming through, but its pretty subtle.  Might need 1.5 shots.  Would work with a stout or porter too.

Schwarbier + Jim Beam Kentucky Whiskey – The Brandy version was good, so let’s give this a whirl. Again, not bad.  Not as good as the brandy, but not awful.

Schwarzbier + Cointreau – This schwarzbier is a little chocolaty.  Chocolate + Orange should be good, but this isn’t.

Ok, now I’m out of obvious combinations – so here comes the weird stuff.  Also, I’m starting to not feel so good.

English Special Bitter + Gin – Interesting. The gin is dominant in the aroma, but it actually tastes pretty good.  Needs a clever name, like a “Dirty Bishop”,  or something.

Blonde Ale + Cointreau – Blonde Ales usually make a good base for a fruit beer.  But not in this case, the witbier version was far superior.

Witbier + White Wine - Not bad, kind of a grapey-wit.  Not quite grape soda, but not too far off from the earlier orange soda wit.

I figured this would be kind of a trainwreck, but it actually ended up being kind of fun.  I don’t really drink liquor, mainly I find the alcohol is overpowering and annoying.  But in this case the beer does a good job of taming the alcohol burn while still letting the aroma and flavor through.  I might have to try this more often…

Now all that’s left is for someone to throw up and someone else to break something.

*Extra Credit – To make a Radler, use 50% real lemon soda (SanPellegrino or the like, not Sprite/7up or lemonade) and 50% of your favorite light German lager (Spaten, Paulaner or even Warsteiner).

Tagged as: beer cocktails, The Session