The Red Beer: A Unique Blend Of Tomato And Beer

A combination of beer and tomato juice is known by many names, including Red Beer, Red Eye, Red Rooster, and Bloody Beer. The drink is often compared to the Bloody Mary cocktail, but it is distinct from it. The drink is popular in the Midwest and Texas in the United States, and it also has a well-known variation in Mexico, where it is called a Michelada.

Michelada

Ingredients

• Tomato juice (or Clamato juice)
• Worcestershire sauce
• Hot sauce (like Tabasco, Tapatio, or Cholula)
• Tajin seasoning (or chili powder)
• Lime juice
• Soy sauce
• Beer

Preparation

Salt the rim: Run a lime wedge around the rim of a beer glass and dip it in salt and Tajin. Fill the glass halfway with ice cubes.

Add seasonings: Add tomato or Clamato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and hot sauce.

Add beer: Top with your favourite Mexican beer. Stir, taste, and adjust seasonings if needed.

Variations

Some recipes don't use tomato juice and opt for only hot sauce and other seasonings.

Some variations include:

• Spicy tomato juice or a spicy bloody mary mix
• Mango Michelada: muddle some fresh mango into the cocktail, or pour in some mango juice
• Using teriyaki sauce instead of Worcestershire sauce
• Using fish sauce or Maggi sauce instead of soy sauce

Red Beer

To make a traditional red beer, simply top a beer with tomato juice and add a pinch of salt to taste. It is typically made with light lager beer, and additional ingredients like hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lime juice, and other seasonings can be added for extra flavour.

For a spicier version, a "Kicked Up Red Beer" can be made by rimming the glass with a Bloody Mary dry spice mix and garnishing with spicy pickled green beans.

Red Eye

Also known as a Bloody Beer, Red Beer, or Red Rooster, a Red Eye is a simple, refreshing drink made by mixing beer and tomato juice. Although it is similar to a Bloody Mary, it does not contain vodka.

History

The Red Eye is not a new invention but rather an old-timer's drink, with its makeup varying slightly across North America. It is particularly popular in the Midwest (Kansas and Nebraska) and Texas, where it is typically made with Bloody Mary mix. In Calgary and Saskatchewan, a Red Eye is made with Clamato and sometimes a raw egg.

Recipe

The key to this easygoing drink is to use cheap beer. Light-in-flavour lagers and pilsners are perfect, but heavy-hitting IPAs should be avoided as the hops do not taste good with tomato juice.

To make a Red Eye, simply add 2 ounces of tomato juice to a beer mug and top off with 12 ounces of lager beer. Add salt and more tomato juice to taste, if desired, and stir.

Variations

The Red Eye is often compared to the Mexican Michelada, which is made by mixing beer with tomato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce in a salt-rimmed glass.

To make a Michelada, rub the rim of a glass with a lime wedge and dip it in salt and Tajin seasoning. Fill the glass halfway with ice cubes and add tomato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and hot sauce. Top with your favourite Mexican beer and stir.

Red Rooster

The drink is a combination of beer and tomato juice. It's often served at brunch, and it's touted as a hangover cure. It's also a great drink for hot weather.

The key to this easygoing drink is to use cheap beer. No pricey craft brews or artisanal syrups here; stick with your favourite cheap lager or pilsner. Light-in-flavour beers work best, so stay away from heavy-hitting IPAs as the hops don't taste so good with the tomato juice.

To make a Red Rooster, simply pour your chosen beer into a pint glass and add tomato juice. The drink will mix itself! You can also add a pinch of salt, or spice it up with some hot sauce, a grind of pepper, or a dash of celery salt.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can add a raw egg, like they do in Calgary and Saskatchewan, or follow the Mexican variation, the Michelada, and add Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, and lime to your Red Rooster.

Tomato Beer

History

Recipe

The key to this easy-going drink is to use cheap beer. Light-in-flavour lagers and pilsners are perfect, but heavy-hitting IPAs should be avoided as the hops do not taste good with tomato juice.

To make a Tomato Beer, simply pour your chosen beer into a pint glass and add tomato juice. The drink will mix itself. It is also common to add a pinch of salt, and sometimes a dash of hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or lime juice.

Serving Suggestions

Frequently asked questions