Beer cocktails suit the moment and with summer’s arrival, that moment is now!

Meet the Grapefruit Hop Sunset, a bright, bittersweet, and dangerously refreshing cocktail that bridges the gap between craft beer geek and poolside lounger.

Although there’s a full spectrum  of IPA’s that will add interesting tones to this summertime sipper, we went with Sierra Nevada’s bestselling Hazy Little Thing IPA, a 6.7% ABV Hazy India Pale Ale with fruit-forward base, a modest bitterness, and smooth finish, that finishes this beer cocktail nicely.

Let’s do this!

Grapefruit Hop Sunset IPA Spritzer

Ingredients

• 2 oz Gin (or Tequila Blanco, depending on your vibe)
• 2 oz Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
• 0.75 oz Fresh lime juice
• 0.5 oz Simple syrup (or honey syrup for a richer note)
• 4 to 6 oz craft IPA (We went with)
• Garnish: Fresh mint sprig and a grapefruit half-wheel

 Directions

Chill the glass and prep: Crucial for hot summer days. Fill a highball or tulip glass with ice to let it chill while you mix the rest of the drink.

Shake the base: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine your gin (or tequila), fresh grapefruit juice, lime juice, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously for about 10 to 15 seconds until well-chilled.

Strain over fresh ice: Strain the shaken citrus and spirit mixture into your chilled glass filled with fresh ice cubes to keep things crisp and clean.

Top with the craft IPA: Slowly top off the glass with 4 to 6 ounces of your chilled craft IPA. Give it a very gentle, single stir from the bottom up to integrate the flavors without losing the foam head. Pour gently to preserve the carbonation.

Garnish and serve: Slap the mint sprig gently against your hand to release the essential oils, tuck it into the side along with a grapefruit wheel, and serve immediately.

Pro-Tip: Avoid heavy, malt-bomb double IPAs here—they’ll weigh the drink down. Stick to a crisp West Coast IPA for a bitter, refreshing bite, or a hazy New England IPA for a softer, juicier profile.

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Want more beer cocktails?

We’ve got ‘em…

BEER COCKTAILS – WILD LITTLE THING FROZEN DAIQUIRI

SUMMER BEER COCKTAILS THAT DON’T SUCK

BEER COCKTAILS – SIERRA NEVADA’S HAZY LITTLE BRAMBLE

MORE SUMMER BEER COCKTAILS THAT DON’T SUCK

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(Header image generated by Gemini AI)