The Monaco Cocktail is a refreshing French beer cocktail made with grenadine, lemonade and light beer. It’s fruity, fizzy and perfect for game day or hot summer afternoons. Think of it as a twist on a classic Shandy with just the right splash of sweet grenadine.
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About this Monaco Cocktail recipe
Popular in France, the Monaco is a citrusy and easy drink that combines beer with bright lemonade and a touch of vibrant grenadine. There’s no liquor needed for this light, fun cocktail. The result is a sweet and sour cocktail with plenty of fizz and a gorgeous blush color.
It’s a close cousin to the Shandy, which mixes beer and lemonade, but the grenadine makes it fruitier and more colorful. This is the kind of drink that feels casual enough for a backyard barbecue but festive enough for any type of party.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy to mix: This cocktail uses just three ingredients and no special equipment.
- Refreshing and fruity: The balance of citrus and pomegranate is perfect for hot days.
- Crowd-pleasing: Great for game day, cookouts or any kind of casual gathering.
Tools & glassware
All you need to make a Monaco Cocktail is a highball glass and something to stir with, like a swizzle stick. Chill your glasses ahead of time for the best experience.
A jigger or small measuring cup ensures you get the right balance of grenadine and lemonade. No cocktail shaker * needed!
favorite beer glasses
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Ingredients
👇 For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
You’ll only need three simple ingredients to make this Monaco Cocktail:
- Grenadine: Adds a fruity, sweet flavor with floral notes and a signature red hue. Homemade grenadine leaves out any artificial flavors and coloring, but store-bought works too.
- Lemonade: Fresh, tart lemonade keeps the drink light and citrusy. Homemade lemonade is best, but bottled is just fine.
- Light beer: Choose something crisp and not too bitter, like a wheat beer, white ale or lager.
Best beer
The best beer for a Monaco is light and refreshing. Wheat beers and white ales are traditional, and lagers also work well. Avoid heavily hopped, dark or malt beers, as their strong flavors can overwhelm the balance of lemonade and grenadine.
Substitutions & variations
Lemon-lime soda: Some versions use Sprite instead of lemonade for a sweeter, more carbonated drink.
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Grenadine: Real grenadine made with pomegranate juice adds the best flavor, but the bright red store-bought syrup works too.
Flavored lemonade: Try strawberry, blueberry or peach lemonade for a fun twist. Limeade also works nicely.
Instructions
Ready to make this perfect poolside treat? Here’s what you need to do!
Pour grenadine into a chilled highball glass *. Top with lemonade.
Hold the glass at an angle and pour the beer against the side of the glass.
Tips & tricks
- Chill everything: Cold ingredients keep this beverage crisp and refreshing.
- Pour beer at an angle: Tilting the glass helps reduce foam and keeps the drink ingredients balanced.
- Adjust sweetness: Start with ½ ounce grenadine and add more to taste.
Food pairings
The Monaco Cocktail pairs well with casual party fare, like:
- Salty snacks: We love this cocktail with savory bites like pretzels or chips.
- Game day food: Wings and nachos are a perfect match for this light, fun drink.
- Grilled treats: Grilled burgers and sausages are meant to be paired with beer cocktails!
FAQ
Absolutely. Mix the grenadine and lemonade in a pitcher, then top individual glasses with beer just before serving so the fizz doesn’t go flat.
It’s best made fresh, since beer loses its fizz, but you can pre-mix the lemonade and grenadine, then add beer just before serving.
Yes! Use non-alcoholic beer with lemonade and grenadine for a cocktail with no alcohol. (My favorite non-alcoholic beers come from Athletic Brewing.)
More beer cocktail recipes
If you like this Monaco Cocktail, try these too:
Monaco Cocktail
ingredients
- ½-1 ounce grenadine syrup to taste
- 4 ounces lemonade
- 4 ounces light beer
instructions
- Pour grenadine into a chilled highball glass *. Top with lemonade.
- Hold the glass at an angle and pour the beer against the side of the glass.
Save this recipe for later
We’ll email a link to you, so you can come back to it later! Plus you’ll get great new recipes each week!
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