Toronto Craft Beer Bonanza 2014: Taming of the Brew
As temperatures rise, look to beer cocktails for light, low-alcohol refreshment
Beer cocktails used to mean whiskey-and-lager boilermakers. But bartenders these days are concocting amazing drinks with sweet juices, syrups, spirits and suds. Veronica Saye of South Riverdale’s County Cocktail has three favourites ideal for long, lazy afternoons.
1½ oz. Dillon’s Unfiltered
Gin 22
1½ oz. lemon grass–infused
simple syrup*
¾ oz. fresh lemon juice
Bellwoods Brewery Farmhouse Classic
Shake all ingredients except beer with ice. Double strain into a tulip glass filled with ice. Top with Bellwoods and garnish with a cucumber wheel.
1½ oz. El Dorado 5 Year Old rum
1½ oz. pineapple juice
1 oz. raspberry-infused
simple syrup*
½ oz. fresh lime juice
Spearhead Hawaiian Style Pale Ale
Shake all ingredients except beer with ice and double strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with Spearhead and garnish with a mint sprig.
1½ oz. Wild Turkey 81 bourbon
1 oz. rosemary-infused
simple syrup*
¾ oz. fresh lemon juice
6 slices fresh peach
Side Launch Wheat
Muddle the peach and rosemary syrup in a shaker. Add the bourbon and lemon juice, shake with ice and double strain into a pilsner glass filled with ice. Top with Side Launch and garnish with rosemary.
*To make infused simple syrup, bring one part sugar and one part water to a boil, then add flavouring (lemon grass, raspberries, rosemary). Simmer for five minutes and strain.
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By Emily Landau, Robin Levinson and Reanna Sartoretto
[caption id="attachment_279812" align="aligncenter" width="656"] (Images: Cocktails by Vicky Lam; Saye by Luis Mora)[/caption]
Beer cocktails used to mean whiskey-and-lager boilermakers. But bartenders these days are concocting amazing drinks with sweet juices, syrups, spirits and suds. Veronica Saye of South Riverdale’s County Cocktail has three favourites ideal for long, lazy afternoons.
Saison's Greetings
1½ oz. Dillon’s Unfiltered
Gin 22
1½ oz. lemon grass–infused
simple syrup*
¾ oz. fresh lemon juice
Bellwoods Brewery Farmhouse Classic
Shake all ingredients except beer with ice. Double strain into a tulip glass filled with ice. Top with Bellwoods and garnish with a cucumber wheel.
The Island of Lanai
1½ oz. El Dorado 5 Year Old rum
1½ oz. pineapple juice
1 oz. raspberry-infused
simple syrup*
½ oz. fresh lime juice
Spearhead Hawaiian Style Pale Ale
Shake all ingredients except beer with ice and double strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with Spearhead and garnish with a mint sprig.
Peachy Keen
1½ oz. Wild Turkey 81 bourbon
1 oz. rosemary-infused
simple syrup*
¾ oz. fresh lemon juice
6 slices fresh peach
Side Launch Wheat
Muddle the peach and rosemary syrup in a shaker. Add the bourbon and lemon juice, shake with ice and double strain into a pilsner glass filled with ice. Top with Side Launch and garnish with rosemary.
*To make infused simple syrup, bring one part sugar and one part water to a boil, then add flavouring (lemon grass, raspberries, rosemary). Simmer for five minutes and strain.){kind=link}