Happy National Beer lovers day! My husband and I have a long-standing love for a delicious craft beer. In our past life pre-kids, we would often check out the local breweries with friends or for a date night on the weekends! Those were the days of patio evenings with the sounds of live music wafting in the air and a handful of wooden tokens to exchange for a yummy brew. Since having kids we don’t necessarily hit up the local craft brewery scene as much but we still enjoy a brew or two at home. We also have a love for delicious craft cocktails and what better way to celebrate National Beer Lovers day on September 7th than by combining two of our favorites and making some beer cocktails! 

Beer cocktails are so versatile. Have a michelada at brunch, a sweet summer shandy in the afternoon, or a bourbon and honey with dinner (maybe not all in the same day!). And what could be more traditional than the beer-garita? Beer cocktails are also an excellent way to convince your non-beer loving friends to go for a ride on the hoppier side. I was told at a cooking class years ago that the easiest way to convince a self-proclaimed beer hater to love the world of buzzy brews is to make them a mimosa with a Saison and they will be changed for life.

Here are my three absolute favorite beer cocktails that you can use to celebrate this wonderful holiday (or really any day):

1. Michelada (Serious Eats)

I first discovered micheladas when I traveled to Mexico for my sister’s wedding. They are the perfect brunchy beverage to sip on if you had one too many margaritas at the swim-up bar the night before. For the chile-lime salt try out Trader Joe’s Chile Lime Seasoning Blend. Garnish this spicy, tart, fresh, beer-infused cousin to the bloody mary with a wedge of lime, sprig of cilantro, or slices of jalapeno.

2. Vitamin C Brew (Bon Appetit) 

This delicious concoction is like a shandy meets a cocktail meets a hot afternoon while you watch your kids splash in the baby pool. It’s refreshing and bright with an edge. You can easily swap the lager for a Saison and garnish with an array of fresh seasonal citrus. 

3. Radler Paloma (Liquor.com)

Palomas have become our summer 2020 drink. More tart than a margarita, more flexible with the sugar content, just a little something different to sip on and this Radler Paloma combines my new favorite summer drink with a radler beer. Radler beers are similar to a shandy – they combine citrus and beer to create something light, refreshing, and bright. Perfect for these hot, late summer, almost fall days.

Because I just couldn’t limit myself to three cocktails I’m going to throw a couple more links in closing because they are just too good not to share! Above I shared three beer cocktails that are perfect for the heat streak we’ve been seeing in Texas lately and although we are back in school it is far from autumn temps around Dallas. Once the temperatures do cool off I think this pumpkin beer cocktail and this black cauldron seem like the coziest way to welcome fall. 

Cheers to National Beer Day! I would love to know what you choose to pour in your glass on September 7th!