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Beer Cocktails, Part III: Paloma Roadies

Summer is summiting its peak, thermometers are flirting with triple digits. Despite the heat, the atmosphere is brimming with energy. Beautiful blues adorn the skies over shimmering waters and lush, green landscapes. Every Minnesotan knows why we put up with the inclement, capriciously cold winter months: Summer-summer-summertime! Times like these call for easy-to-make, quenching cocktails for afternoons on the porch, boat, or wherever the heat takes you.

This Beer Cocktails installment brings together beverages that hail from different sides of the world: Mexico and Germany.

The Paloma is an authentic, beloved Mexican cocktail that effortlessly combines sweet, sour, bitter, and salty elements. While its provenance is unproven, its deliciousness is undisputed. Tequila is the captain of this ship, and grapefruit soda its first mate. Fresh grapefruit juice, lime, and simple syrup (or agave syrup) all man the decks. But this ship isn’t navigating that route, let’s find a new course. Enter: the Radler.

The Radler, or Radlermass as it’s traditionally named, is a Bavarian beverage whose origin is attributed to a Munich innkeeper named Franz Kugler. It translates directly to “cyclist’s liter” because of its invention during the cycling boom of the 1920s. Radler = cyclists. Mass = liter. Franz’s establishment was frequented by many bicyclists in this era who desired refreshing, low-alcohol beverages during their journey. He came up with a 50/50 mix of beer and clear lemonade. It turned out to be a roaring success, and the rest is history. Radlers can be made with many different sodas: lemon, grapefruit, and ginger being the most popular. Because we’re making a Paloma, we’re choosing the Grapefruit Radler. Say goodbye to your soda!

Now let’s get to work.

Tools:

  • Cocktail Shaker
  • Hand Juicer
  • Knife/Cutting Board
  • Highball Glasses

Ingredients (Per Serving):

 

Steps:

  1. Cut that grapefruit in half with your favorite knife, juice it with your favorite hand juicer.
  2. Strain grapefruit juice into a small measuring cup to separate the solids.
  3. Now cut one of those limes in half, squeeze one of those halves into your cocktail shaker.
  4. Throw that same half of lime into cocktail shaker like you mean it.
  5. Pour 2oz of your fresh grapefruit juice into the shaker.
  6. Pour 1oz of simple syrup into your shaker.
  7. Pour 2oz of Reposado Tequila into the shaker, maybe a bit more if you’re feeling spicy.
  8. Toss a small handful of ice into the shaker.
  9. Shake! Shake! Shake! (20-30 sec)
  10. Put a handful of ice in your highball glass.
  11. Pour that delicious mixture over ice in the highball glass.
  12. Top it up with Great Divide’s Roadie Grapefruit Radler.
  13. Garnish with a lime wheel.
  14. Pat yourself on the back and enjoy your not-so-hard work.
  15. Repeat!