Oktoberfest 2021: Purists may scoff but Mumbai mixologists say beer works great in cocktails

Oktoberfest is being celebrated across the city but pandemic caution may be keeping many away from that chilled beer outdoors with friends and family. We asked city experts to shake and stir up recipes of refreshing beer cocktails for your at-home enjoyment instead

While Oktoberfest is celebrated annually during this time with beer, give a twist to the chilled drink by turning it into a cocktail. Photo: Trèsind Mumbai/The St Regis Mumbai

Oktoberfest, the month-long festival of beer, is being celebrated all over Germany. Several microbreweries and pubs across Mumbai have joined the bandwagon too, serving up classics and special seasonal brews. Going to Germany or scrambling for a table in local establishments is difficult in the current climate, so it may be a good time to celebrate at home with food, drink, friends and family.

Why opt for a regular beer when you have the opportunity to experiment? Feel like a mixologist by giving a twist to the chilled drink — make delicious cocktails using plain old beer. This may be a little unorthodox for beer loyalists but Oktoberfest should encourage even purists to let their hair down and try something new.

ECO LageRita by Elephant and Co., Kalyani Nagar, Pune

Elephant and Co. gives a twist to the classic margarita. The founder Karan Khilnani says the pub combines a deliciously crisp in-house lager to make a LageRita. This may just be the choice for those who can’t decide between a chilled beer and a cocktail.

Ingredients:

Patron silver tequila - 45 ml

Fresh lime juice - 20 ml

Triple sec - 25 ml

ECO Brewing Company Icy Mamba Lager (can be replaced with another light crisp lager) - 120 ml.

Method:

1. Combine the tequila, lime and triple sec and shake well with ice. 2. Strain into an ice-filled glass. 3. Fill up the glass with the lager. 3. Serve with a dehydrated orange or an orange slice as a garnish.

Elephant and Co. gives a twist to the classic margarita

by combining it with a lager. Photo: Elephant and Co.

Dressed Michelada by Monika Enterprises, Andheri West

Mixologist Dushyant Tanwar, the cocktail expert at Monika Enterprises, a city-based liquor business, has tried his hands at a variety of cocktails including a margarita and michelada. While margaritas are a crowd favourite, we suggest the michelada, which is a lesser known Mexican cocktail that uses beer and tequila and can be an interesting choice for those who are bored of the classic cocktails.

While beer with margaritas are popular, city-based mixologist Dushyant Tanwar experiments with the Mexican beer cocktail Michelada. Photo: Monika Enterprises

Ingredients:

Jose Cuervo Especial Silver tequila - 60 ml

Cholula hot sauce - 15 ml

Lime juice - 22.5 ml

Orange liqueur - 30 ml

Lager beer - 45 ml

Lime wedge

Method:

1. In a shaker, combine the tequila, lime, Cholula, and orange liqueur.

2. Shake the mixture well.

2. Strain into a pint glass filled with ice and top with lager and garnish with a lime wedge.