A shandy beergarita is a light and fruity take on a margarita! This beer margarita is simple to make and can easily be flavored by using whatever shandy you like!
Here in Nashville, I think it's safe to say that it's solidly springtime. Birds are chirping (loudly, and early early), baseball games are on our TV, and I've resumed my search for that bottle of self-tanner I just know is hiding somewhere in the bathroom cabinets.
Springtime also means that patio happy hours will once again commence, and what better way to celebrate than by whipping up a beer margarita. They're SO simple to make and can easily be flavored by using your favorite flavor of shandy.
Why shandy is a good choice
Shandies are a lovely beer and juice or soda combo that just screams warm weather.
They're light, fruity, and when they're ice cold? Holy summer beer trifecta. Just let me slather on some SPF and point me in the direction of the nearest lawn chair.
These beergaritas, or beer margaritas, use shandy as a base. I usually pick up a variety pack of shandy flavors, which meant we had the option of using lemon, grapefruit, orange, or ginger shandy in our drinks.
Basically we had our own shandy beergarita bar where everyone picked their favorite flavor. Highly recommend! Talk about easy barkeeping.
Easy steps
These shandy beergaritas are pretty speedy to make, so don't worry about peeling yourself away from the baseball game for too long, or missing your turn in Cornhole.
The shandy flavor of your choosing is poured over ice, with tequila, triple sec, and lime juice stirred in. That's it! I bet so-and-so is still up at bat, undoing and redoing his batting gloves over and over between pitches. You didn't miss anything.
As an extra festive citrusy/salty touch, I mixed together salt and lime zest to use to rim the glasses. You can certainly omit, or use sugar even if you're jonesing for a little sweetness.
And I can't possibly share a carbonated mixed drink with you without mentioning to you this: carbonated drinks and cocktail shakers DO NOT mix.
All of that carbonation pressurizes the shaker big time, and odds are the lid will fly off and you'll be left cleaning sticky drink contents and an inch of dust from the tops of your kitchen cabinets. So please, stir and don't shake these shandy beergaritas. Doing a kitchen deep clean totally squashes that celebratory/it's spring YAY vibe.
P.S. check out this maraschino snakebite for another beer-centered mixed drink recipe. Also refreshing!
Recipe notes
- Think beyond just standard shandy. Different fruit flavors can easily diversify your cocktail offerings at a party. I really like grapefruit.
- Please stir and don't shake (there's carbonation).
Shandy Beergarita
Ingredients
- 4.5 oz shandy beer (your preferred flavor)
- 1.5 oz silver tequila
- 0.5 oz triple sec
- Juice of half a lime
- Ice
- Salt and lime zest for rimming glass (optional)
Instructions
- If rimming the glass, mix together salt and lime zest on a small plate. Wet the outside rim of the glass with water and press moistened edge into the salt/lime zest mixture. Add ice to glass.
- Over ice, pour shandy, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Stir to combine.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
Food Safety and Nutrition Disclaimer
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
Yum! These sound awesome! I love shandies and I love margaritas... such a great idea to combine them! Cinco de Mayo is my dog's bday so we always celebrate, LOL!
Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates says
We used to have a cocktail like this at the restaurant I used to work at. They were SO good. Yours looks even better! 😉
Pinned!
Alyssa says
Thanks Mariah! 🙂
Danielle says
I'm so happy that the Spring weather is here too. This drink looks seriously amazing and totally refreshing. I'm glad it's almost the weekend, I feel like I need one of these right about now!
Alyssa says
After this week, I hear ya! Thanks Danielle!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
YES! I'm all about Cinco de Mayo!!!! ...I may or may not get WAY too excited about it 🙂 I'm always looking for great drinks to enjoy while downing bowls of chips and guac at record speed!
Alyssa says
Haha I love being festive! Chips + guac are one of my downfalls, but that doesn't stop me from inhaling the whole bowl. Thanks Chris!
Annie @Maebells says
Yay yay yay for Spring!!! I am so glad it finally feels nice! I was SO over winter! And I am loving these drinks, they are calling my name!
Alyssa says
The weather (minus the rain) has been great! Thanks Annie, hope you're having a great weekend! 🙂
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I forgot about shandy! I worked at a British Pub, and all these british people would come in and order shandy like it was no ones business. This beergarita sounds delicious!
Alyssa says
Yesss Brian spent time in England and he kept talking about shandy being everywhere. It's one of those drinks I don't think too much about until the weather starts to heat up and I start craving cold + fruity things.
Sues says
Good tip about the carbonation 🙂 This drink is a little piece of summer heaven!!
Alyssa says
Haha oh I speak from experience! 🙂 Thanks Sues!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
It definitely feels like spring here, too! I'm not used to hearing the birds chirp at 4am! These beergaritas sound so refreshing, Alyssa! Just what I need to relax with this weekend. Love the flavors!
Alyssa says
Thanks Gayle! Those birds sure are...early birds. 😉