Beer cocktails and shandies for summer
In an Indian May, a beer warms up before you finish it. A shandy helps: half the glass is something cold, sour or fizzy, so it stays refreshing and is lighter too. This list starts with the easy ones, beer and lemonade, ginger ale or orange soda. Then come the savoury ones with lime, salt and tomato juice. After that, the desi ones: jaljeera, kokum, chaas and chaat masala. Three jugs serve 4 for a crowd. Keep the beer and the glasses as cold as you can, and pour slowly.
You chose mocktails only, so the drinks with alcohol are hidden here. See the mocktail guides
The drinks
cocktailShandybeer · lemonade- cocktailGinger Shandybeer · ginger ale · lime
cocktailOrange Radlerbeer · orange soda- cocktailMango Shandybeer · mango juice · lime
- cocktailCheladabeer · lime
cocktailMicheladabeer · tomato juice · lime · Tabasco · black pepper- cocktailMirchi Micheladabeer · tomato juice · lime · chaat masala · green chilli
cocktailJaljeera Lager Coolerbeer · jaljeera powder · lime · coriander · green chilli- cocktailKokum Beer Coolerbeer · kokum syrup · lime · cumin powder · black salt
cocktailChaas Beer Coolerbeer · buttermilk (chaas) · cumin powder · black salt · mint · green chilli
cocktailChai Lager Coolerbeer · black tea · honey · cardamom · lime · ginger- cocktailBeer Spritzbeer · campari / aperol
- cocktailLunchboxbeer · orange juice · amaretto
- cocktailCranberry Orange Wheat Fizzbeer · cranberry juice · orange juice · cinnamon · mint · ginger ale
- cocktailserves 4Jaljeera Beer Punchbeer · jaljeera powder · lemon soda (Sprite/7Up) · mint · lime
cocktailserves 4Mango Mirchi Beer Punchbeer · mango juice · green chilli · lime · chaat masala- cocktailserves 4Beer Punchbeer · pineapple juice · orange juice · lime · peach schnapps
Questions
How many drinks from one 650 ml bottle?
Nearly four Shandies, at 165 ml of beer each. A Chelada takes 300 ml, so you get two. The Jaljeera Beer Punch uses one 650 ml bottle for a jug of 4, and the Mango Mirchi Beer Punch uses two.
Which beer should I use?
A light lager works for nearly all of these, and that is what most Indian shops have. The Orange Radler likes a wheat beer if you can find one. Save strong beer for drinking on its own, because it can overpower the mixer.
How far ahead can I mix it?
Measure the juice, syrup and spices ahead and keep them cold, but add the beer only when you pour. The Beer Punch says to serve within 10 minutes of adding the beer. After that it starts to go flat.