Craft Beer Cocktails: Juicy Little Summer Crush
Craft Beer Cocktails: Juicy Little Summer Crush
Beer cocktails suit the moment and with summer’s arrival, that moment is now!
And although this summer-ready beer cocktail might work well with a variety of hazy IPA’s we went with Sierra Nevada Juicy Little Thing IPA, a widely available 6.5% ABV India Pale Ale with fruity guava, mango and grapefruit notes that linger.
The beer’s citrus and tropical fruit character makes it a natural cocktail base without burying what makes the IPA interesting.
Let’s do this!
Sierra Nevada Juicy Little Thing IPA Summer Crush
Ingredients
6 oz Sierra Nevada Juicy Little Thing IPA
1½ oz blanco tequila
1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
½ oz fresh lime juice
½ oz agave nectar
2 thin jalapeño slices, optional
Grapefruit or lime wedge for garnish
Ice
Directions
Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and agave nectar, then stir well. If you want a little heat, lightly muddle one jalapeño slice in the glass before adding the ice.
Slowly top with Juicy Little Thing IPA and give the cocktail one gentle stir. Garnish with a grapefruit or lime wedge and, if you’re going spicy, float the second jalapeño slice on top.
The result is bright, juicy and dangerously refreshing. Grapefruit and lime sharpen the IPA’s citrus character, while tequila adds a little backbone and agave softens the hop bitterness without turning the drink overly sweet. The optional jalapeño gives it just enough heat to make things interesting.
ACB tip: Keep the beer and glass seriously cold. Juicy Little Thing is 6.5% ABV, so with the tequila this is a deceptively potent summer cocktail. One of these by the pool is refreshing. Three of them and things get headier, so you’ve been warned.
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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
About the Author: American Craft Beer
