Beer cocktails are ideal for all seasons, but as we approach spring I find I love them more and more! Thanks to Rogue Ales for always coming up with the best and unique beer flavors for me to experiment and make cocktails with. I wanted to find some spring inspiration, so I decided to try the Colossal Claude IPA and the Pineapple Party Punch. Both were amazing on their own, as Rogue Ales’s usually are, but when made into a cocktail they take on a whole new life!

I started with the Colossal Claude IPA and decided to make a Beer Mule out of it. The Claude is awesome on it’s own, smooth and round with just the right amount of hops and creaminess. It’s refreshing and ideal for daytime drinking as well as pairing with a nice cheddar burger or some mediterranean pasta salad. Adding the Claude to my mule was just the perfect touch, and actually smoothed out the mule cocktail a lot. I love ginger beer, but sometimes I just want more than a mule, and adding in this IPA was the perfect touch!

Colossal Claude “Not So Classic” Mule

2oz Colossal Claude IPA

1oz Vodka

1/2oz Lime Juice

TT Ginger Beer ~ 2.5oz

Method: In a mule glass, or low ball glass, over ice, combine vodka, lime juice, and beer. Stir. Top with ginger beer, and enjoy!

I also decided I wanted a bit more kick, so I made a Colossal Whiskey Buck, using very similar ingredients… and wow, was it awesome! This cocktail can be made with Whiskey or Rye Whiskey and is the same, as the mule, except with the addition of a brown spirit and gingerale. If you’re looking for an extra kick to your cocktail game, you’ll absolutely want to make a Colossal Whiskey Buck!

Colossal Whiskey Buck

2oz Colossal Claude IPA

1oz Whiskey or Rye Whiskey

1/2oz Lime Juice

2oz Gingerale

Method: In a mule glass or low ball glass, over ice, combine whiskey, lime juice, and the IPA. Stir, and top with gingerale. Enjoy!

While there are many other things I could do with the IPA, I also enjoy tasting my IPA’s so this I felt were the two best ways to still taste my IPA while also enjoying cocktails!

The Pineapple Party Punch is another amazing beer by Rogue Ales! This one is fun all year round, but with spring and summer coming up I think it’s ideal for the warmer seasons! This is a Hazy IPA also known as a Pina Colada Beer and is fruity, fun, and delicious. On it’s own it’s quite a palate pleaser, however in a cocktail it’s even more fun. I decided to add in some tropical flavors and make this into a tiki style cocktail!

Tropical Party Punch

1.5oz Pineapple Juice

1oz Vodka

2oz Pineapple Party Punch Hazy IPA

1/4oz Lime Juice

1.5oz Ginger Beer

1/4oz Hibiscus Syrup (drizzled on top)

Method: In a cocktail shaker, combine lime juice, vodka, and pineapple juice. Shake with ice until well chilled and strain into a high ball glass with ice. Top with beer and ginger beer, stir. Drizzle the hibiscus syrup on top, so it settles and makes a fun design through the glass. Garnish with dried citrus slice, or some dried pineapple!

If you’re looking to up your beer game, I absolutely recommend trying some from Rogue Ales & Spirits. They have a wide selection for all palates and even limited edition ones too. You can’t go wrong with their beers, which are also available through Drizly app, should you want to see if they’re available in your area.

Always remember, eat what you like and drink what you love. Please pair responsibly!