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Technically, even a lager shandy can be classed as ‘beertail’ (ie cocktails made with beer) but here are some more adventurous examples to try if you want an alternative from the humble pint.
1. ‘Blood on whose hands’ at Underdog, Shoreditch
Described by the bar’s mixology maestro as being ‘proper mint!’, this cocktail (pictured above) is a revival of the classic bloody mary specifically designed for beer lovers. It's made with a vegetarian substitute for Lea and Perrins and mixed with Underdog’s house smoked tomato sauce and Brewdog’s Hardcore IPA – a perfect match for the bloody mary’s famous spiciness. Try it at the Underdog in Shoreditch, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar hidden beneath the Brewdog on Bethnal Green Road.
2. ‘Shaky Pete’s Ginger Brew’ at Hawksmoor, Spitalfields
Essentially a posh turbo-shandy, this drink is a mixture of gin, ginger and lemon, topped up with London Pride ale. Refreshing and perky, this is the perfect accompaniment to the bar snacks and sandwiches also on offer at the Hawksmoor bar. 50p of the price also goes to charity ‘Football Gambia’ making it the perfect guilt-free beverage.
3. Beer Grylls at Oskar’s Bar at Dabbous, Fitzrovia
A heady mix of rum, banana liqueur, ginger liqueur, lime and honey, topped up with Einstök white ale creates a deceptively ordinary-looking drink. However, Oskar Kinburg’s creations are a refreshingly novel attempt to reinstate the once popular beer cocktail from taboo to staple. Find this drink in Oskar’s, a basement bar beneath Dabbous that serves both the classics and many of Oskar’s own creations.
4. Lagerita at Meat Liquor, Bond Street
A straightforward blend of tequila, lime juice, sugar and beer, it’s no wonder this cocktail was a huge hit in the summer. This drink makes the perfect accompaniment to the wonderful diner-esque food on offer at Meat Liquor, as the refreshing citrus notes cut through even the fattiest of foods.
5. The Guinness Punch at Portobello Star, Notting Hill
Even the staff aren’t entirely sure where this cocktail came from - though it is thought to be vaguely Caribbean in origin. Not for the faint-hearted, a mixture of overproof rum, vanilla liqueur, Guinness, condensed milk and brown spices are served in a battered pewter tankard for a concoction that, strangely, works. Check it out at the pub-turned-posh-drinking-den Portobello Star in Notting Hill.
By Stephanie Dye
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