Transform your favorite brew into a Beer Cocktail.  This Boilermaker recipe combines beer, whiskey and lemon that’s sure to be a game-day fan favorite!

While you’re at it, whip up a batch of Beergaritas and my favorite Beer Cheese Dip. Bottoms up!

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boilermaker beer cocktail with a lemon twist in a frosty glass

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Boilermaker Beer Cocktail

Some days you really need a drink, and other days you need your drink to come served with a side of another drink. We all know those days, right? Well, it’s days like those were the boilermaker beer cocktail comes in right when you need it.

Grab yourself a cold beer and a shot of whiskey, and get ready for a recipe that packs a punch that will send you all the way to the weekend. 

Whether you’re hosting a game day party, or you’re just looking to bring some life to your weekend at home, the refreshing boilermaker cocktail is just what you need to liven things up a bit!

boilermaker beer cocktails with lemon twists

What Is A Boiler Maker Beer Cocktail?

Your classic boilermaker beer cocktail is served as a tall cold glass of beer, and a shot of whiskey on the side, ready to be plopped in, and drank immediately, or drank as a chaser after you finish the beer. 

Luckily, there are a few more sophisticated versions of the boilermaker out there now that makes you feel a little less like you’re back in your college days slamming beers and shots, on dollar burger night at the local bar. 

For this recipe, we will be taking the boilermaker concept and giving it a little extra pizzaz with some simple syrup, lemon juice, and a lemon twist to garnish. 

how to make a lemon twist garnish

How To Make The Best Boiler Maker Cocktail

(full printable recipe at the end of this post)

While this recipe might be a little more complicated than just dumping a whole shot of whiskey into your beer, it’s still an extremely easy drink recipe you can throw together in minutes. 

To start, you’ll pour the beer of your choice into a chilled glass and set aside. Then, in a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, combine whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup; shake vigorously until combined. Lastly, strain the whiskey mixture into the beer, garnish with a lemon twist and enjoy!

How Do I Make A Lemon Twist?

While you could just use a vegetable peeler to remove a large section of peel and then cut into strips, a channel knife will make this process neater and more efficient. A channel knife cuts a single ribbon of peel- perfect for making a lemon twist garnish.

To give your lemon ribbon a “twist”, simply wrap it around a handle, straw or even your finger for a few minutes.  Remove and you should have a pretty lemon twist to garnish your favorite cocktails

Two boilermaker beer cocktails

Tips For Making A Perfect Boilermaker Cocktail

Pick your favorite beer: There’s not one single beer you have to use to make this recipe work, but there are a few you’ll want to stay away from. You’ll want something with some substance, so stay away from light beer, but don’t go with something too thick and heavy, like an expensive craft beer. Stick with a classic lager, like Budweiser, Miller, Heineken, or whatever your go-to brand is.

Choose the right whiskey: Just like the beer, you want to pick something mid-range that’s not too expensive, save the expensive stuff to drink on its own. Brands like Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, Bulleit, and Maker’s Mark are all solid choices. 

Chill the beer glass: To freeze the glass there are a few options. If you think of it a few hours in advance, then simply place your beer glasses in the freezer for about a half-hour or the refrigerator for about 4 hours, and remove just before serving. 

If you forget to put the glasses in the freezer, no worries, use the quick chill method, and fill each glass with cubed or crushed ice, letting the ice sit in the glass as you mix up the cocktail. After a few minutes, dump the ice and fill the glass with your cocktail mixture. 

beer cocktail with a lemon twist next to a bowl of nuts

Can I Make A Boilermaker Beer Cocktail As A Large Batch Cocktail?

This recipe works best when made one at a time instead of in a large batch format, especially since some of the ingredients need to be shaken to combine. 

Luckily it’s a simple enough recipe that throwing together a handfull won’t take much time at all! 

Is There A Non-Alcoholic Version of A Boilermaker?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a non-alcoholic version of the classic boilermaker cocktail. While you could buy non-alcoholic beer for the base, there’s not really anything that will be the same as the shot of whiskey that goes in the original recipe. 

If you’re looking for a kid-friendly cocktail to make for your next party, try out this Red Raspberry Iced Tea, or Apple Pomegranate Spritzers

Do I Have To Use Whiskey?

Technically speaking, you don’t have to use whiskey, it just won’t be a boilermaker beer cocktail anymore. I’ve never tried this with any other alcohol, so If you try a new combination, and love it be sure to let me know in the comments below. 

boilermaker beer cocktail with a lemon twist

Check Out More Amazing Game Day Food!

Pepperoni Pizza Slider – always the hit of the party! Pull-apart dinner rolls are layered with sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni topped with a buttery garlic Parmesan crust. It’s hard to go wrong with this one and you can use your favorite pizza toppings if you like!

Crock Pot Chex Mix – The hands-off recipe with just a few ingredients relies on a slow cooker to get a big batch of this tasty snack mix ready for any crowd.

White Chili Bean Queso Dip – White chili beans are the secret ingredient to this quick and easy queso dip recipe. Just 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to make, and is ridiculously delicious!

Spicy Ranch Goldfish Snack Mix – Crunchy, savory and a cinch to make. It’s perfect for a party, football watching, movie night, or any night!

Cherry Vanilla Coca Cola Poke Cake – Coca-Cola mixed with cherry gelatin makes this rich vanilla cake full of flavor in every bite for a cake that is ready to be devoured at any party! 

LIKE THIS BOILERMAKER BEER COCKTAIL? PIN IT!pinterest-image

boilermaker beer cocktail photo collage

Tools Used To Make This Boilermaker Beer Cocktail Recipe

Cocktail Shaker 

This cocktail shaker will not only look great on your bar cart, but it also helps you make amazing bar quality cocktails!

Beer Glasses

A set of good beer glasses can turn any Saturday night at home, and turn it around to make you feel like you’re throwing back a few cold ones at your favorite bar. 

Citrus Zester

I love my zester for easily and quickly zesting any fruit I might need to make a recipe. Plus the no-slip grip is perfect to hold onto without killing your hand.  

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boilermaker beer cocktail with a lemon twist in a frosty glass

Boilermaker Beer Cocktail

Yield: 1 cocktial
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes

Transform your favorite brew into a Beer Cocktail.  This Boilermaker recipe combines beer, whiskey, and lemon that's sure to be a game-day fan favorite!

Ingredients

  • 12-ounce beer of choice
  • 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon simple syrup
  • lemon ring, to garnish

Instructions

  1. Pour beer into a chilled glass.
  2. In a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, combine whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup; shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds until combined.
  3. Strain the whiskey mixture into the beer and garnish with a lemon twist.

Notes

recipe from Simply Schnucks Magazine

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 319Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 17mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 3g

Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used.

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boilermaker beer cocktail in a frosty glass