The new-found drink: Raise a toast with beer cocktails in Mumbai

Under a canopy of yellow fairy lights that throw a reflection on the white pebbles as a musician doles out soft jazz tunes the mood is set for brunch Bartender Manish Solanki has created a line of beer cocktails marrying clove and coriander notes with the orangy finish of Hoegaarden We try the first one a crispy wheat beer with lychee One sip and we are sold We stop only when we try another variation with chamomile tea The final frontier is a beer sangria with a mix of passion fruit elderflower and chopped fruitsThe Mexicans love their chilled beer in the warm weather but they also popularised the Michelada made with beer lime juice and assorted sauces and peppers inspired by the Bloody Mary Indians of course have long consumed the Germaninspired Shandy mixing lemonade with beer says SolankiA beer cocktail is a concoction that carries mixed notes of mixers other alcohol and ingredients with beer dominating the taste Last month Bandras Olive Bar amp Kitchen hosted a brunch in collaboration with Hoegaarden To match steps with the beer cocktails executive chef Rishim Sachdeva created a menu executing his favourite techniques of fermenting curing cooking at low temperatures flash cooking smoking pickling etc For the brunch we incorporated orange coriander and wheat in the menuFor a fried chicken we soaked the meat in a 2 per cent salt and orange brine the dressing had fermented coriander stalks for acidity and bitterness to cut through the sweetness from beetroot crumbs The orangecured snapper dish was served with kombu and bunito dashi to bring out the umami To this we added coriander oil to enhance its flavour profile And finally we glazed the fish with sweetsour orange butter says Sachdeva adding that his focus was on ensuring the food did not fall flat in front of the fizzy drink According to Binny Dhadwal founder of Drinq Barmen amp Academy beer cocktails havent quite found a fan following yetConsumption of any cocktail is a trend thats barely a few years old in India Its most likely beer lovers who will be the first to head to a bar and order a beer cocktailhe says To help you get ahead of the trend we went drinking across bars to bring you the best beer cocktails to add to your bucket listBourbon Beer SourThe deep pungent notes of bourbon meet the exotic kaffir lime leaf topped with wheat beer A road lesstravelled and distinctly different from any sour we have tried this one should be savoured at leisureCost Rs 550At Dishkiyaoon The Capital Block BKC Bandra Kurla Complex RoadHerbed BeerThis cocktail has the strong flavour of lager with a light taste of apple The ginger gives it a stronger effect and the cinnamon twist brings in some balanceCost Rs 275At Lighthouse Cafe Sunville Building Love Grove Flyover Siddharth Nagar WorliThanda GaramA bartender prepares Thanda Garam at Tamasha PicShadab KhanNot for the weakhearted this one has vodka tequila mint leaves triple sec and green apple If you are looking for a night to forget this one will see you through While the alcohol packs in a punch the mint and green apple make it a fruity experience we are likely to repeatCost Rs 695At Tamasha ground floor Victoria House Lower ParelWhiskey SourA bartender making Jacks Whiskey Sour at Agent Jack Andheri PicSatej ShindeWe take a stiff classic Whiskey Sour lover to try this one Local Kingfisher beer joins the purist glass and the first sip is orange whiskey and the crispy bubbly familiar comfort of beer The drink is downed and all we get is a nod Dont go looking for a classic experience here Enjoy this version when you are looking for varietyCost Rs 420At Agent Jacks Bar DE Mall Veera Desai Road Andheri WestLager PassionKetan SS Gohelprepares the Lager Passion at Brewbot Eatery and Pub Brewery PicTanvi PhondekarGolden yellow and cloudy haze this cocktail has it all mdash vodka passion fruit puree peach schnapps lime salt and paprika in a Hefeweizen craft beer Floating Head What you get is a base taste of a wheat malt profile with banana peach and accents of clove The vodka cuts the bitterness from the beer making it an aromatic drink that is easily palatableCost Rs 395At Brewbot Eatery and Pub Brewery off New Link Road Andheri WestKaapi Stout and Gin ZenWhen Navin Mittal founder of Gateway Taproom was in Prague Czech Republic three years ago mdash known for the highest per capita consumption of beer in the world and as home to Pilsner mdash he tried a cocktail featuring a light and dark beer The malty sweet taste of dark combined with the crispy bitter of the light offered the perfect balance At Gateway he offers a mean frothy Kaapi Stout spiked with the oatiness of Jim Beam bourbon For those who want a lighter sip the Gin Zen which carries the natural taste of clove and banana has a 30ml shot of hard liquorCost Gin Zen Rs 480 Kaapi Stout Rs 540At Gateway Taproom Godrej One BKC