The beer world and the spirits world have never been so
intertwined. You have beers that are aged in different spirit barrels, spirits
that are being aged in different beer barrels. There are even spirits being
made with the byproduct of making beer. And more popular now than ever; the
Shot and a Beer (as the side/chaser) at happy hours and bars. So it is no
surprise that when you add a little bit of a certain spirit to a beer the
combination works splendidly. The combination was introduced
to me 2 years ago when on a trip back to Louisville, Kentucky. While meeting
with my good friend Aj at the Barret Bar I ordered a Stiegl Radler, now before
you say anything yea a Radler, they are crisp, bright beers that are great
when it is hot. And at the end of the Summer it is hot in Louisville, humidity
is ridiculous! As the bartender brought the beer over she asked me “Would you
like a shot of Gin in there?” It took me a second to respond to her question. Not
because I wasn’t sure if I wanted the shot or not (of course the answer was
yes), but I was asking myself “Why haven’t I thought of that before?!”
For those of you unfamiliar with Stiegl Radler it is an
Austrian beer that is a blend of 40% Stiegl lager and 60% grapefruit soda. The slight
bitterness from the grapefruit, a little bit of fruitiness and the crispness of
the lager makes for a very vibrant and refreshing beer. Gins can be very
different; there are floral styles (lavender, rosemary, even rose petals), ones
that have bold herbal characteristics (pine, sage or fennel/anise) and then
there are citrusy styles (orange, lemon and sometimes grapefruit) and that is the style you want to use in a Radler. The addition of even more citrus
flavors can take a little bit of the bitterness from the Radler away, add other
vibrant flavors and bumps up that low ABV just a touch.
After enjoying the Beertail I would ask anyone I saw buying
or drinking Radler “Have you tried that with Gin?”. Now you could also do this
with Vodka. Since Vodka is supposed to be a neutral spirit, it would
just add to the ABV. If you use a Citrus flavored one (Hanson of Sonoma
Mandarin or Square One Bergamot), then you’re adding something to the
party. This introduction to the Radler
Beertail made me ask one question; “What else can you do this with?”
Avery El Gose (their lime and sea salt Gose), taste
delicious with a Tequila Blanco or real subtle Mezcal Blanco. With the Tequila
(something like Arette or Tapatio) you get that herbal Agave flavor that pops a
little bit more thanks to the slat from the beer. And with the lime acidity, it
tastes like a fresh Margarita. With the Mezcal (like Mezcal Vago or Fidencio);
the bold, coating smokiness and the saltiness from the beer creates a really
fun Yin and Yang concept on your palate. And of course the lime and Agave go
well together.
Abita Purple Haze is a raspberry beer that goes well with
white Rum (something like Cutwater Three Sheets or Diplomatico Blanco). The
light coco notes and vanilla flavors from the Rums play very well with
the slight raspberry tartness from the beer. And if you’re looking for a
non-caffeinated version of an Irish Coffee; Old Rasputin and an Irish Whiskey
(like Teeling small batch or West Work The Pogues) will do the trick! If you’re
looking for something a little lighter in ABV than Old Raspy, then a beer like
Mammoth Double Nut Brown or Figueroa Mountain Davy Brown Ale works like a
charm.
As someone who enjoys both spirits and beer it has been fun finding ways to combine the two. These Beertails are a fun way to make a light version of a cocktail. And with summer coming up, I can see myself stocking up on Radlers, Goses and different spirits to add to them.
