A Summer Makeover for Heavy Beers • by Stacey Rynders - Photo by Stacey Rynders
Posted On: 08/01/2005 E-mail This To A Friend!

The most common beer mixer is the Black and Tan, a 50-50, layered combination of Guinness beer floated atop Bass Ale. The Snakebite, a similar alliance, merges cider and Guinness. Both of these mixers are classic ways to lighten a hearty Guinness, but as it turns out, other, more fantastical combinations of beer with juices or other liquors are on
the rise. The two locations of Growlers Pub offer 18 beer mixer combinations. The pubs added beer mixers to their menu about five years ago, said Pepe Vantreece, operational manager of both Growlers locations.

“We ran across something with beer mixers in a bar book and incorporated it into the menu,” said Vantreece. “It took off like a rocket.”

The Growlers beer mixer menu includes the classics but also ventures into more original combinations, such as a Lunch Box II, a combination of orange juice, a honey lager and a 1-ounce shot of Amaretto. The result is reminiscent of Orangina. There is also the Lockhart Zoo, a medley of vodka, gin, tequila, cranberry juice and honey lager that tastes like fizzy fruit punch.

“We used to just offer the beer mixers in one size, but demand forced us to offer two different sizes,” Vantreece said. Customers can now order either a 14-ounce regular or a 20-ounce large at prices ranging from $3.95 to $6.95.

In general, the more classic combinations prevail as favorites. Assistant manager Jennifer Vogelgesang of the Sunset Hills location said her favorite is the Half-n-Half, which layers Harp and Guinness. Another popular combo is the Black-n-Black, which merges Guinness with blackberry brandy. Mixers such as the Lemon Drop and Bloody Russian Bastard produce a much lighter-than-expected result, as do the Bloody Mary-inspired beer mixers – but they lack the thickness and true intensity of a good Bloody Mary.

The Lemon Drop and Lunch Box II are good mixers for light beer drinkers looking for a zestier or somewhat sweeter summer drink. Be advised, however, that Growlers serves beer at a higher temperature than most establishments in order to intensify flavors. And the bartenders do not have chilled beer glasses. The temperature of the beer mixers hurts the “cocktail” aspect of some of the combinations, but the more classic ones are better as Growlers serves them.

Another favorite that’s not on the Growlers menu is a combination of a touch of orange juice and an orange slice with a Blue Moon. This favorite is circulating the home party circuit this summer. A slightly rarer mix is topping off Dos Equis with a bit of orange-flavored San Pellegrino.

While beer mixers definitely are an alternative for those looking for something lighter and fruitier during the hot summer months, beer aficionados should stay clear of the sweeter, newer combos. Classics are classics for a reason.

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