It is especially easy to turn a beer into a refreshing, boozy, summer cocktail.  When I picked up the Patio Tart Cherry Ale, made by Medicine Hat Brewing Company, I loved the beer on its own, but thought immediately it would be perfect in a cocktail – and that is how the Cherry Lime Beer-Aid came to be! It is like a lime-aid with vodka and beer! Super simple to make, especially if you already have some simple syrup handy, which I did.  But before I get into the quick nitty-gritty of the cherry lime beer-aid, let me tell you a bit about the brewery and beer. 

The Brewery

This brewery is over 100 years old!! Well, kind of!  They opened their doors in 1912, serving a lager, ale, and a stout.  Then, because of the Temperance Movement (a social movement against the consumption of alcoholic beverages), they were forced to shut down.  Over a century later they reopened and now serve exciting craft beers across Alberta!  Find out more about the Medicine Hat Brewing Company on their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  This brewery is on our list of breweries to visit – on a southern Alberta road trip hopefully in the near future! 

The Beer

The Patio Tart Cherry comes in at 4.5%, pouring a clear pinkish-yellow colour.  It has a thin line of white bubbly head.  It smells tart and like cherries with some grainy, breadiness.  The taste is grainy with some sweet and tart fruitiness.  A light amount of earthy hops lingers at the end.  The mouthfeel is bubbly carbonated and light bodied. Overall, this beer was a hot summer patio beer win for me! And in a cocktail, it was extra special. 

The Recipe