Traditionally, Thirsty Thursday is all about cocktails at our favorite restaurants and bars in the Valley. To kickoff the NFL season, though, we’re going to add a little beer to the mix.
Beer cocktails are increasingly making space on drink menus. It’s a great mixer, thanks to its carbonation, as well as its complicated flavor profiles that offer nearly infinite possibilities as far as mixing goes.
Here are some of our favorite ways to experience the best of both spirit worlds (with a few shout outs to our staff’s favorite teams):
The Angry Bird (Cardinals)
This punch ends up a bit pink when all is said and done, but it isn’t something a little food coloring can’t remedy! To make this drink, add about a cup of frozen raspberries, four bottles of raspberry beer (we like Leinenkugel’s Summer Berry Wheat), but there are plenty of raspberry ales out there, about two cups of frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate and a half cup of vodka. Mix these ingredients together and serve over ice. Add slices of lemon if you want!
The Chief (Kansas City Chiefs)
Since it’s so dang hot out there, you may want to wash your BBQ down with a watermelon and wheat beer smoothie. Here’s the Ziplist recipe.
The Black and Yellow (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Have some leftover white wine or champagne? Pour yourself half a flute of either drink, then top it off with Guinness (or another heavy stout). Enjoy with a Philly Cheese Steak — or Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow.” (It never gets old during football season, c’mon!) — You can also try this with cream soda, if you’re not a wine person!
The Buckin’ Bronco (Denver Broncos)
(Disclaimer: This one is lifted from a 1980s Tom Cruise movie called “Cocktail.”) This drink will kick your opponents in the cup. Pour about a cup and a half of tomato juice, a bottle of lager, a splash of lemon juice and a raw egg with a few hits of hot sauce into a class. Stir and chug.
Tailgaters’ Delight: The Gridiron Punch
Throw your biggest jug into your truck bed and head to that tailgate party with this recipe in tow. You’ll be the favorite guys and gals in the lot. This beer, juice and soda mix is refreshing and perfect for big groups of guzzlers. Recipe here.
Beergarita (For the neutral out there)
This is exactly what it sounds like — a margarita with beer. You usually see photos of this drink as a large margarita goblet with an overturned Corona sitting shotgun. If you don’t have a fancy goblet, just mix about a cup and half of limeade, tequila and lager in a blender (with ice, if you prefer. Though you can serve this on the rocks, too.). Salt the rim of your glass with lime juice as a base.
