CL’s Summer Guide comes out Thursday, and with the wealth of knowledge being dropped, I thought I’d contribute a cocktail for the occasion.
Summer (read: fruity) cocktails have a tendency to be on the sweet side. It’s not that I don’t like them, because I do, but I’ve created the Summer Sunshine Beertail that’s balanced enough for folks to enjoy several on any given afternoon.
The grapefruit vodka and orange bitters are there to balance out the pineapple juice's sweetness. (If you still have some of those homemade bitters, I bet those would be good here.) I topped the drink with Big Top Brewing Company’s Trapeze Monk to further cut the sugar and add some local flair.
I adjust this week’s beverage based on the goal for the day. For an all-day drinking extravaganza, I’ll go four ounces of pineapple to maintain a little sobriety; if I got a late start, I’ll do three ounces to make the cocktail a little more potent. You can substitute Trapeze Monk for your favorite, or most available, Belgian-style witbier. Cigar City Brewing's Florida Cracker, Wittekerke or even Shock Top will work.
Summer Sunshine Beertail
Makes 1
3 ounces grapefruit vodka (I used Deep Eddy)
3-4 ounces pineapple juice
4 dashes orange bitters
1 Belgian wheat beer (I used Big Top’s Trapeze Monk)
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add vodka, pineapple juice and orange bitters, then shake. Pour into a Mason jar filled with ice and top with beer. Garnish with an umbrella or citrus peel.
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This article appears in May 19-26, 2016.