7 Beer Cocktails You Can Make in Minutes

It’s widely expected that pouring a beer over ice and serving it to someone will at the very least get you the side-eye and at worst, a beer dumped over your head. But add a dash of hot sauce and a squeeze of lime to that ice-filled glass? Now we’re talking. That’s no mere beer — that’s a cocktail. And for me, a spritzy, subtly bitter beer cocktail signifies that summer’s here. You could make one with your hazy, super-hoppy imperial IPA, but ... nah. Go simple. The Champagne of Beers, for example, Miller High Life, is a perfect beer-cocktail base. (Though admittedly, any good pilsner or lager will do.) While classic beer cocktails like a Michelada or a shandy can handle more potent brews, at its modest 4.6% ABV, beers like Miller lend themselves to refreshing, simple, unexpected cocktail pairings—think of them as a lighter and slightly more bitter alternative to Cava or prosecco.

One good option: Give beer the aperitivo spritz treatment. Beer holds up to sweet liqueurs and juices, adding a bready savoriness, gentle bitterness, and that all-important fizz. And that’s just one possibility. With a few ingredients, a good low-ABV bottle can yield something surprisingly special, like these seven beer cocktails for easy summer sipping.