Sidle up to the bar with this summer’s best cocktail, the Spaghett drink. This beer cocktail is like a casual Aperol Spritz, perfect for patio and poolside sipping.
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About this Spaghett drink recipe
Beer cocktails are underrated, if you ask me. Beer snobs (don’t worry, I still love you!) tend to turn their noses up at anything added to a great brew.
But I beg you to take a second look. Beer makes an excellent ingredient for cocktails. Much like soda or champagne, the combination of beer adds fizz and effervescence. It also brings the flavor: bitter, hoppy, malty, sour, acidic, floral — and more.
Try it in a beermosa or a beerita, two beer versions of the classic mimosa and margarita. And definitely try it in the Spaghett drink, which is newer to the cocktail scene. Despite its funny name, it’s a tasty, summery sipper that has all of the flavor of an Aperol Spritz but none of the elegance — it’s served in a simple beer bottle.
Well, specifically in a Miller High Life bottle, I should add. The “champagne of beers” replaces the prosecco that normally stars in the spritz, and the result is a refreshing, bittersweet and bubbly drink.
Go ahead and add it into your cocktail rotation. It might just be the drink of the summer.
More beer cocktail recipes: Black Velvet • Guinness Floats • Michelada
Why you’ll love this recipe
You’ll love this easy cocktail recipe, for a few key reasons:
- The Spaghett easy to mix up — you don’t need a cocktail shaker! It’s made right in the beer bottle.
- It tastes like a spin on an Aperol Spritz, but with the crisp, easy-drinking qualities of a light beer. It’s the perfect refreshment for the summer heat.
- With just three main ingredients, it’s quick and inexpensive to make.
- You can take this cocktail on the go to serve at picnics, by the pool or enjoy right on the beach. Just pack all the ingredients in a cooler.
What is the Spaghett drink?
The Spaghett drink is a cocktail made of Aperol, Miller High Life and a little lemon juice. Also called the Spagett, it’s similar to an Aperol Spritz, which is made with prosecco, while the Spaghett uses beer.
It works because Miller High Life’s slogan is “the champagne of beers.” The beer replaces the prosecco for a crisp, crushable and cheaper version that still has lots of bubbles.
It is very similar to the classic radler or the shandy, two types of beer cocktails that are mixed with lemon soda and lemonade, respectively. These are all panaché cocktails.
History
In 2016, bartender Reed Cahill of Wet City Brewery created the drink for their menu. He named it for the marinara-loving character in the “Tim and Eric Awesome Show” on Adult Swim.
I first read about this beer spritz cocktail in Bon Appetit a few years ago. The author first tried it at Wet City Brewery in Baltimore, Maryland. and as soon as I heard about it, I had to try it too.
Tools & glassware
You don’t need a lot of fancy tools to make the Spaghett drink.
- A bottle opener is key to getting the bottle open, of course!
- A jigger helps for measuring out the Aperol and the lime juice.
- And a sharp knife is key for slicing the lemon wedge garnish.
No specific glassware is required for this whimsical drink, as the drink is enjoyed right out of the Miller High Life bottle, a lot like the Corona Sunrise. However, you can absolutely pour it into a pint glass and serve it that way, like you would beer shandies.
Ingredients
You only need three ingredients for the Spaghett cocktail. Here’s what to snag on your next errands run:
- Miller High Life beer: As the brand’s tagline is “the champagne of beers,” this well-loved, classic American beer works beautifully in this version of the spritz prosecco cocktail. You can definitely use other types of beer, though. Go for a light pilsner or lager. Ideally, use a beer that comes in a glass bottle versus a can, so you can appreciate its rutilant hue.
- Aperol: Aperol is a famously bright red apéritif, a type of spirit meant to be enjoyed before a meal to whet the appetite. Aperol is different from Campari, another apéritif that is commonly used in cocktails like the Negroni. However, Aperol can be substituted with complex Campari and other bitter spirits — this is a spritz after all, and spritzes are flexible!
- Lemon juice: The zing of some lemon juice really makes this cocktail. As always, fresh lemon juice is the best for cocktails, but I understand the need for bottled concentrate. I always have it on hand for times I’m out of lemons!
Optionally, you can add some orange bitters. The original doesn’t call for it, but I like adding this extra layer of bitter citrus flavor. The Aperol does make this into a somewhat sweet drink with bitter undertones, so adding some extra bitterness makes it more palatable for me.
Garnishes
The Spaghett drink is a casual drink, so garnishes aren’t totally necessary. However, a wedge of lemon jammed into the neck is how it is usually served — think a Corona with lime.
Best beer
The beer used in the Spaghett drink is usually Miller High Life. It’s an American-style lager with a light, crisp, easy-drinking flavor.
You can definitely try this drink with another type of craft beer, though. Use a light lager or pilsner-style beer.
Ideally, go for bottles over cans to appreciate the vibrant orange of Aperol.
Substitutions & variations
You can try this drink with other types of beer if you like. It’d be good with a Corona for a Mexican-style version with lime juice. Whatever you choose, use a light lager or pilsner that comes in a glass bottle for the best flavor and to get that orangey color.
Another thing to try is swapping the Aperol for another bitter spirit like Campari or Suze. A Lillet spritz is always delicious too. Switching these up will definitely change the flavor profiles of the drink, but it is always fun to experiment.
You definitely need some kind of punchy unifier, but you could also use another kind of fresh juice. Try it with lime juice, orange juice or grapefruit juice to make your Spaghett. Get creative!
Instructions
Making the Spaghett recipe is so easy! Here’s how to do it:
First, crack open your beer bottle. Take a sip of the beer, drinking it down to the label, about the bottom of the neck. You can also pour a little into another glass (ideal if you are serving it to others, so you aren’t drinking from all their beers!)
Then add one ounce of Aperol and half an ounce of lemon juice. Watch as the colors swirl together — my favorite part. Add the bitters, if using.
Finally, squeeze a lemon wedge into the neck. Before taking a sip, push the lemon wedge down through the neck of the bottle. Serve ice cold!
Tips & tricks
Here’s how to make the best possible Spaghett drink:
- Keep those beers in the fridge or cooler so they are ice-cold.
- Measure out the Aperol and the lemon juice; don’t just eyeball it. This ensures your drink is properly balanced.
- Use fresh lemon juice for a sweeter flavor with less of a bite.
- Go for Miller High Life for the most classic version of this drink, then branch out from there.
Food pairings
Try your beer-based Aperol Spritz with some savory, salty Italian snacks, like bruschetta or Tuscan white bean dip. Some blue-cheese stuffed olives won’t hurt either.
It’s delicious to sip with your favorite bar snacks, like cheesy pizza rolls, spicy chicken wings or some warm pretzels with pretzel cheese dip.
It’s also great with anything acidic, like marinated cheese for an appetizer or lemon bars for dessert.
When to serve them
These cocktails would be so great on so many occasions! It’s a great casual, summertime drink that you can enjoy any time you’d have a beer.
- Summer holidays like Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day
- By the pool or beach
- Backyard barbecues and cookouts
- Bachelor/bachelorette parties
- Weekends on the patio
- Tailgates and game day parties
FAQ
Bartender Reed Cahill of Wet City Brewing in Baltimore, Md. created the drink and named it for Spagett, the marinara-loving character in the “Tim and Eric Awesome Show” on Adult Swim.
With just three ingredients — Aperol, Miller High Life and lemon juice — the Spaghett drink has layers of flavor: Sweet bitterness from the Aperol, crushable crispness from the beer and a slight tartness from the lemon. Altogether it’s a light, not overly-sweet drink with bitter and fruity notes.
More spritz recipes
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Spaghett Drink
ingredients
- 12 ounces pilsner beer or lager, such as Miller High Life, cold
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- 1½ ounce Aperol
- 1 dash orange bitters
- lemon wedge for garnish
instructions
- Drink or pour out the beer to the top of the label, until the bottle is about ¾-full.
- Add Aperol, lemon juice and orange bitters to the beer bottle.
- Squeeze a lemon wedge into the neck bottle for serving. To drink, drop the lemon wedge into the bottle. Serve ice-cold.
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