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Beergarita, beerita: call it what you will! This beer margarita recipe is a refreshing twist on the classic, blending tangy lime and tequila with the crispness of your favorite beer. It’s easy to make, perfect for parties, and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
Why not add a little lager to your margarita? Yes, a beer margarita is a fun spin on the classic margarita, also known as a beergarita or a beerita. Turns out, hops pair perfectly with the tart lime and orange perfume of a margarita.
Why we love this recipe: Many beer margarita recipes call for frozen limeade concentrate. But that’s not what a great cocktail is made of, is it? This beer margarita recipe has no limeade: just pure lime juice against the citrus and bitter notes of a beer. It became an instant favorite around here!
🍺 Want more beer cocktails? Try the Michelada or Chelada!
What’s in a beer margarita?
As the name suggests, a beer margarita is simply a margarita served with beer. The margarita itself is a classic alcoholic drink on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. The beerita adds beer to the mix, along with a little simple syrup:
- Tequila
- Cointreau (orange liqueur)
- Lime juice
- Beer
- Simple syrup
As mentioned above: most beer margarita recipes call for frozen limeade concentrate. For our take, we wanted to stick with the classic margarita: so we simply used our margarita recipe, plus beer and a hint of simple syrup. The flavor is so pure, tangy, and nuanced from the beer: it was an instant hit at our house!
The type of beer for a beergarita
To make a great beer margarita, you can’t use just any old beer! There are a few options we recommend:
- Use a lager for a classic flavor, like Corona since it’s a Mexican beer. Or,
- Step it up Craft IPA! This is what we did for ours, and it really took it over the top. Choose a hoppy IPA with citrus notes.
- Avoid strong or hoppy beers that might overpower the margarita flavors.
How to make a beer margarita
To mix up your own beer margarita, there’s not much to it! You don’t even need to use a cocktail shaker with this one, which makes it even easier. Here’s what to do:
- Rim the glass with salt. Salt enhances the sweet and sour flavors in the drink, and gives you that classic margarita flavor.
- Stir together in the serving glass. Take the tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, and Cointreau, and stir it together in a glass.
- Add ice and pour in the chilled beer. The beer adds just the right bubbly carbonation to this classic drink.
Ideas for the salt rim
For this beer margarita, we skipped the salt rim for a little variation. (Hey, we have 25 other margarita recipes and they all have a salt rim!) It’s not needed for the flavor. But if you love that classic margarita salty zing, feel free to add it prior to mixing up your beergarita.
The best salt for a salt rim? Use kosher salt or flaky sea salt, since they have the best coarse texture. If you want to make it look even more festive, try a batch of our margarita salt. The green and orange colors of lime and orange zest look beautiful against the glass.
How to serve a beer margarita
The beergarita is really perfect for anytime you’d serve a regular margarita! It’s great with Mexican-style food of all kinds: serve with shrimp tacos, guacamole, salsa, and grilled corn for a stellar meal.
More margarita recipes
We’ve got all sorts of variations on the margarita outside of this beerita! Pick from one of these fun and fruity margarita recipes.
Frequently asked questions
This unique cocktail combines the classic margarita flavors of tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur with the crispness and fizz of your favorite beer.
Surprisingly, no! The tartness of the margarita complements the bitterness of the beer, creating a refreshingly balanced drink.
Light beers like lagers, pilsners, or wheat beers work best. Avoid strong or hoppy beers that might overpower the margarita flavors.
Building the drink (layering ingredients) is the preferred method. Shaking it can create too much foam.
Not at all! We suggest using a glass mug, pint glass, or mason jar for a more casual feel.
Beer Margarita
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
Description
Beergarita, beerita: call it what you will! Here’s the best beer margarita recipe: fresh and all natural with real lime and tequila.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces* tequila blanco or reposado*
- 1 ounce Cointreau
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 4 ounces chilled beer (lager for classic taste, hoppy IPA with citrus notes for something more interesting)
- Ice, to serve
- Garnish: lime wheel
- Optional: kosher salt for salt rim
Instructions
- Optional: Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of flaky sea salt (or for a festive look, use our Margarita Salt).
- Add tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and simple syrup to the serving glass and stir to combine.
- Add ice and pour beer over top. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Notes
*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons.
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Let us know if you have any questions!
This recipe looks delicious and refreshing! I can’t wait to try it out with my friends this summer. Thanks for sharing!
I need to make a big batch beerita can you help me with measurements?
For 8 servings, mix:
1 1/2 cups tequila blanco or reposado*
1 cup Cointreau
1 cup fresh lime juice
When serving, do a scant 1/2 cup of the mix and a half cup of beer.