September 5 is Labor Day, a time to celebrate the hard work of American workers by taking a day off and spending time with family and friends! Sure manning the grill on a 100-degree day is hard work, but it’s certainly not a workday! And we have President Grover Cleveland to thank for this lovely day. In 1894, President Cleveland declared Labor Day a federal holiday in honor of the American workers. So it’s in his honor and that we celebrate with his favorite drink.
Grover mostly drank beer, and lots of it. He and a fellow politician once took a vow to hold themselves to four beers a day. When they found this too arduous a task, they simply switched to larger beer steins.
Fortunately, we’re a bit more creative than the former President and so we present you with a couple of beer cocktails to raise in honor of all America’s hard work!
The Bull
Ingredients
2 (12 oz) bottles ginger beer
2 (12 oz) bottles pilsner or pale ale
4 oz lime juice
Lime wedge for garnish
Directions
Pour ginger beer and beer carefully into a pitcher. Add lime juice and stir gently to mix.
Pour into ice-filled glasses, and garnish each glass with a lime wedge.
Smoky Beer Sangrita
Sangrita Base Ingredients
½ teaspoon harissa
8 oz tomato juice
6 oz grapefruit juice
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 oz orange juice
1½ oz lemon juice
2 oz lime juice
For each cocktail:
Grapefruit wedge
Coarse smoked sea salt
4 ounces Sangrita Base
4 ounces India Pale Ale
For Sangrita Base:
In a pitcher, whisk together harissa, black pepper and tomato juice. Add grapefruit juice, orange juice, lemon and lime juice. Stir to combine. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
For Each Cocktail:
Wet the rim of a highball glass with grapefruit wedge, dip moistened edge in smoked sea salt.
Add ice and 4 oz of the sangrita base. Top with 4 oz of IPA. Garnish with grapefruit wedge and serve. Enjoy!
