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The Good Cheer: A Porter Beer Cocktail for the Holidays

It’s no secret that I like beer. I mean, to quote the immortal Lloyd Christmas, I like it a lot.

And though the typical overscheduled holiday crush has made me want to guzzle a bottle or two each night, there’s a more elegant and spirited way to bring beevos into the Christmas season.

I’d argue it’s even more holiday-riffic than the always-jolly beer advent calendar. I’m taking beer cocktails.

porter beer cocktail
Photo: Casey Barber

Everyone mentions micheladas and shandies as the two stalwarts of the beer cocktail set, but beer has been making its way into mixed drinks courtesy of forward-thinking mixologists over the past year or two.

It’s not just light lagers that play well with strong booze and liqueurs, either.

Everything from floral IPAs to fruity lambics to rich porters and stouts are getting in the game as the trend gains steam.

porter beer cocktails
Photo: Casey Barber

In this vein, I’m filling my glass with The Good Cheer, a porter beer cocktail that plays off the idea of spiked after-dinner coffee.

Only you shouldn’t wait for the dessert course to serve this drink.

Even better, this cocktail has only three ingredients: beer, amaretto, and Cherry Heering–a natural cherry liqueur that’s more mellow than maraschino, more refined than Robitussin.

It’s the brand I keep in my liquor cabinet for classic tiki drinks, but if you happen to have Luxardo, Kirschwasser, or another cherry liqueur around, feel free to substitute what you already own instead of running out to buy a new bottle.

I mean, how much cherry-flavored booze can one person plow through at a time? (Wait… don’t answer that question.)

porter beer cocktails
Photo: Casey Barber

Bringing the big guns and dominant flavor to the drink is the beer. I chose a porter for this cocktail because it’s lighter in mouthfeel than a stout, and generally has a lower ABV too.

Choose your favorite porter to mix with the amaretto and cherry. The pairing goes well with regular porters, as well as those infused with chocolate, vanilla, or coffee.

Since this beer style is known for its malty, roasty notes, I like making my porter beer cocktail with a coffee porter to give the drink a little more of a bitter, roasted backbone.

porter beer cocktail

But if you prefer your porters on the sweeter side, by all means, do that. The amaretto and cherry will play that up too.

Whatever you choose, the effect will be intense but completely refreshing (and, since it’s beer, with the added bonus of fizz!).

With its nutty, sticky hints of amaretto and cherry, The Good Cheer is filling me with… well, you know… this month. And that’s not just the porter talking.

porter beer cocktails

The Good Cheer: A Holiday Porter Beer Cocktail

Yield: 2 drinks
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

This holiday, stir up a porter beer cocktail with festive flavors of amaretto and cherry. It's a combination that will give you good cheer!

Ingredients

  • 2 fluid ounces (4 tablespoons) amaretto, divided
  • 2 fluid ounces (4 tablespoons) Cherry Heering, divided
  • 1 12-ounce bottle porter beer

Instructions

  1. Fill 2 highball glasses with ice.
  2. Pour 1 fluid ounce (2 tablespoons) amaretto and Cherry Heering into each glass.
  3. Gently pour the beer to divide between the glasses.
  4. Stir gently and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 98Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 8mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

The nutritional information above is computer-generated and only an estimate.

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