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Defeat Summer With These 13 Beer Cocktails

by Eater Staff
2 comments / new
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by Eater Staff
2 comments / new

We might still be at the end of May, but in the middle of this heat-wave, we're reminded that summer in Boston is at hand, and it's really damn hot. And as everyone knows, when the going gets hot, the tough drink beer -- or something like that. Boston bartenders have evolved beyond thinking that Irish Car Bombs a) aren't offensively named or b) are actually good drinks and have been using beer as a cocktail ingredient, especially in summer drinks, for quite some time. With that in mind, we're presenting this Eater Boston Beer Cocktails Map. We've rounded up a baker's dozen of bars where you can go right now to order a beer cocktail off their menu. Happy drinking, and as always, feel free to write in with any we missed.


-Drew Starr

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Foundry On Elm

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Foundry on Elm's Manny Gonzales offers a unique creation with his "Yellow Solstice." Ford's gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup combine with lavender-infused white vermouth and an entire roasted and muddled baby golden beet. The whole thing is topped with Anderson Valley Summer Solstice beer.

255 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 628-9999
(617) 628-9999

Also featured in:

Park

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Park's bar manager Chris Balchum was thinking about what ingredients would make up his perfect day and came up with the seemingly obvious named "Perfect Day." Belchum shakes mezcal, lemon juice, Averna, Combier Pamplemoouse, and Bittermens Hellfire bitters, pours the dark, smoky mixture over ice, and tops it with Lost Abbey Devotion, a Belgian style pale ale with a pronounced spicy hoppiness.

59 JFK St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 491-9851
(617) 491-9851

Trina's Starlite Lounge

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While a pony of High Life and a shot of Fernet might be the most common beer and liquor combination at Trina's, it's not the only one. Named after chef Suzi Maitland and the French bitter liqueur called Suze in the drink itself, the "Suz-E-Q" also features Lazzaroni amaretto, lemon, orange juice, and Harpoon IPA.

3 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 576-0006
(617) 576-0006

Also featured in:

West Bridge

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Mix iced tea and lemonade to make an Arnold Palmer. Add vodka and you've got a John Daly. At West Bridge, they sub the vodka and tea for sweet tea vodka, and top the whole thing with Weihenstephaner lager, making bar manager Josh Taylor's "Hole in One." Red Solo cup optional.

1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 899-6088
(617) 899-6088

Also featured in:

Dante

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Tom Tellier, beverage director of Dante, has placed a beer sangria on the summer cocktail list. Available by the glass ($10) or by the pitcher ($45), it is made with passion fruit rum, orange juice, limoncello, lemon juice, rose, and Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA.

40 Edwin H Land Blvd, Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 497-4200
(617) 497-4200

Also featured in:

jm Curley

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The "In Fashion" - one of jm Curley bar manager Kevin Mabry's creations - combines bourbon, Averna, sugar, and Kasteel Rouge - a Belgian beer brewed with cherries. An orange peel twisted over a lit match creates a quick flame that deposits complexly flavored semi-combusted essential oils onto the drink. At least that's what the bartenders say, even if patrons suspect it's just because fire is really cool.

21 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 338-5333
(617) 338-5333

Also featured in:

Abby Lane

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Abby Lane is rolling out their new summer cocktail menu, and, with it, the "Made in Mexico." For $14, you can sip on this cooler made with Patron Reposado tequila, jalapeño, agave, lime, and Pacifico beer.

255 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 451-2229
(617) 451-2229

Coppa

Copy Link

Coppa has a shandy (traditionally, beer mixed with lemonade) section of their cocktail menu. The "Coney Island Strong Man" (right) - made from lager, lemonade, and both yellow and green Chartreuse - is always on the menu. Also available right now is the "Merman" (left) - made with muddled lemon and mint, Pimms, sweet white vermouth, and 21st Amendment's Hell or High Watermelon ale.

253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 391-0902
(617) 391-0902

Coda

Copy Link

Coda's Shauna Hamilton presents the "Notcha Average Shandy." Notch Session Pils is made heatwave-ready with the addition of lemon juice, Angostura bitters, and a shot of Mathilde Raspberry fruit liqueur.

329 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 536-2632
(617) 536-2632

Also featured in:

The Hawthorne

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On the menu since the day The Hawthorne first opened, the "Coltivatore" features Atwater's lager, Zucca (an Italian rhubarb-based aperitif), Barenjäger (a German honey liqueur) and ginger beer (you know what that is). A handy metal straw / spoon (stroon?) is so fun to drink out of, it might as well be an adult twisty straw.

500A Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 532-9150
(617) 532-9150

Also featured in:

Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks

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Now appearing on Eastern Standard's menu, the "Chela" (not pictured) enhances the standard beer, lime, salt, and spice michelada with a shot of house infused black pepper tequila. While not currently on the menu, the pictured "Maldenado" - made with different choices for tequila and beer - is also available by request.

528 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 532-9100
(617) 532-9100

Also featured in:

Lineage

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At Coolidge Corner's Lineage, $8 buys a "Peruvian Cobbler." Made from Pisco (Peruvian grape brandy), lime juice, Benedictine, and grapefruit bitters, it is topped with Ommegang BPA, a New York State Belgian-style pale ale.

242 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 232-0065
(617) 232-0065

Also featured in:

Canary Square

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The "Dark 'N' Stormy" is a drink most learn how to make in college. Grocery store ginger beer, Gosling's dark rum, and if anyone remembered to pick one up, a wedge of dry convenience store lime. To make the "Stormy Juju," Bryce Mack of Canary Square ditches the sad lime for fresh sour mix and dumps the kid-safe ginger beer for a real beer brewed with ginger, Left Hand's Good Juju.

453 S Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130
(617) 524-2500
(617) 524-2500

Also featured in:

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Foundry On Elm

255 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144

Foundry on Elm's Manny Gonzales offers a unique creation with his "Yellow Solstice." Ford's gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup combine with lavender-infused white vermouth and an entire roasted and muddled baby golden beet. The whole thing is topped with Anderson Valley Summer Solstice beer.

255 Elm St, Somerville, MA 02144
(617) 628-9999
(617) 628-9999

Park

59 JFK St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Park's bar manager Chris Balchum was thinking about what ingredients would make up his perfect day and came up with the seemingly obvious named "Perfect Day." Belchum shakes mezcal, lemon juice, Averna, Combier Pamplemoouse, and Bittermens Hellfire bitters, pours the dark, smoky mixture over ice, and tops it with Lost Abbey Devotion, a Belgian style pale ale with a pronounced spicy hoppiness.

59 JFK St, Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 491-9851
(617) 491-9851

Trina's Starlite Lounge

3 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143

While a pony of High Life and a shot of Fernet might be the most common beer and liquor combination at Trina's, it's not the only one. Named after chef Suzi Maitland and the French bitter liqueur called Suze in the drink itself, the "Suz-E-Q" also features Lazzaroni amaretto, lemon, orange juice, and Harpoon IPA.

3 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 576-0006
(617) 576-0006

West Bridge

1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02139

Mix iced tea and lemonade to make an Arnold Palmer. Add vodka and you've got a John Daly. At West Bridge, they sub the vodka and tea for sweet tea vodka, and top the whole thing with Weihenstephaner lager, making bar manager Josh Taylor's "Hole in One." Red Solo cup optional.

1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 899-6088
(617) 899-6088

Dante

40 Edwin H Land Blvd, Cambridge, MA 02142

Tom Tellier, beverage director of Dante, has placed a beer sangria on the summer cocktail list. Available by the glass ($10) or by the pitcher ($45), it is made with passion fruit rum, orange juice, limoncello, lemon juice, rose, and Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA.

40 Edwin H Land Blvd, Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 497-4200
(617) 497-4200

jm Curley

21 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111

The "In Fashion" - one of jm Curley bar manager Kevin Mabry's creations - combines bourbon, Averna, sugar, and Kasteel Rouge - a Belgian beer brewed with cherries. An orange peel twisted over a lit match creates a quick flame that deposits complexly flavored semi-combusted essential oils onto the drink. At least that's what the bartenders say, even if patrons suspect it's just because fire is really cool.

21 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 338-5333
(617) 338-5333

Abby Lane

255 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Abby Lane is rolling out their new summer cocktail menu, and, with it, the "Made in Mexico." For $14, you can sip on this cooler made with Patron Reposado tequila, jalapeño, agave, lime, and Pacifico beer.

255 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 451-2229
(617) 451-2229

Coppa

253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

Coppa has a shandy (traditionally, beer mixed with lemonade) section of their cocktail menu. The "Coney Island Strong Man" (right) - made from lager, lemonade, and both yellow and green Chartreuse - is always on the menu. Also available right now is the "Merman" (left) - made with muddled lemon and mint, Pimms, sweet white vermouth, and 21st Amendment's Hell or High Watermelon ale.

253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 391-0902
(617) 391-0902

Coda

329 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116

Coda's Shauna Hamilton presents the "Notcha Average Shandy." Notch Session Pils is made heatwave-ready with the addition of lemon juice, Angostura bitters, and a shot of Mathilde Raspberry fruit liqueur.

329 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 536-2632
(617) 536-2632

The Hawthorne

500A Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

On the menu since the day The Hawthorne first opened, the "Coltivatore" features Atwater's lager, Zucca (an Italian rhubarb-based aperitif), Barenjäger (a German honey liqueur) and ginger beer (you know what that is). A handy metal straw / spoon (stroon?) is so fun to drink out of, it might as well be an adult twisty straw.

500A Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 532-9150
(617) 532-9150

Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks

528 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

Now appearing on Eastern Standard's menu, the "Chela" (not pictured) enhances the standard beer, lime, salt, and spice michelada with a shot of house infused black pepper tequila. While not currently on the menu, the pictured "Maldenado" - made with different choices for tequila and beer - is also available by request.

528 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 532-9100
(617) 532-9100

Lineage

242 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446

At Coolidge Corner's Lineage, $8 buys a "Peruvian Cobbler." Made from Pisco (Peruvian grape brandy), lime juice, Benedictine, and grapefruit bitters, it is topped with Ommegang BPA, a New York State Belgian-style pale ale.

242 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 232-0065
(617) 232-0065

Canary Square

453 S Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130

The "Dark 'N' Stormy" is a drink most learn how to make in college. Grocery store ginger beer, Gosling's dark rum, and if anyone remembered to pick one up, a wedge of dry convenience store lime. To make the "Stormy Juju," Bryce Mack of Canary Square ditches the sad lime for fresh sour mix and dumps the kid-safe ginger beer for a real beer brewed with ginger, Left Hand's Good Juju.

453 S Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130
(617) 524-2500
(617) 524-2500

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