Drink What You Desire: The Beer 75

Welcome back to Drink What You Desire, the monthly column where we explore the art and science of mixing drinks via the lens of innate human desires. Last month we indulged in summer lugubriousness. This month, in honor of Labor Day, we’re focusing on our hunger for power through an accessible, non-alcoholic cocktail.

Traditionally, Labor Day marks the end of summer—the last long weekend before the hustle and bustle of fall. Labor Day is one of my favorite holidays because it’s dedicated to the workers. 

Workers, those whose labor creates so much value in our society, wield a great deal of  power.  Unfortunately, conditions in the United States are less that favorable. 

The federal minimum wage is stuck at $7.25 per hour, we don’t have paid sick leave, and unions, though strong in certain industries, only represent a little over 10% of our workforce. LGBTQIA+ people have additional barriers to success. According to HRC, we face increasing rates of poverty relative to the general population. 

Photo: Cup of Couple via Pexels

Alcohol–a Longtime Companion

Alcohol has been one of humanity’s longtime companions, although it is not without its risks. Alcohol is addictive and has been shown to lead to a number of adverse health effects. Furthermore, many people choose to avoid alcohol for myriad reasons, from health and religion to simply not having a taste for it. 

Throughout my career, I have made a special point to uplift the category of non-alcoholic drinks that offer just as much deliciousness and satisfaction as those with. What’s more is that in recent years, there has been an explosion of credible non-alcoholic products like wine, beer, and spirits that have brought greater inclusivity to the cocktail scene. 

Photo: Elevate via Unsplash

Seeking Out an Inclusive Non-Alcoholic Libation

Focusing on including more people is vital to the work of solidarity. Plus, it’s important for everyone to pay attention to their health and overall wellbeing so they’re strong enough to fight for those among us with less power to do so. 

The French 75 is a classic cocktail that’s traditionally made with gin, lemon juice, and sparkling wine. Here, however, we use a syrup made from non-alcoholic beer and infused with lemon peel alongside lemon juice and non-alcoholic sparkling wine in order to create a super refreshing drink, perfect for a rejuvenating Labor Day celebration.  This drink is called the Beer 75.

There are plenty of credible non-alcoholic sparkling wines on the market and you should choose one that has a nice amount of acidity to balance out the sweetness from the beer syrup. 

When making the syrup, it’s best to choose a hoppy IPA-style variety as it will give the final drink a bright, bitter backbone. 

Making the syrup for a Beer 75 requires a small bit of warning, though. 

When adding granulated sugar to the beer, the beer will foam up as the carbonation dissipates, so make sure you wait for the foaming to stop before turning on the blender to avoid any inconvenient explosions. 

Beer 75: The Recipe

Makes one drink.

Combine in a shaker. Dry shake. Pour into a tall glass and top with N/A sparkling wine. Garnish with a long lemon peel (horseneck).

Combine in a blender and agitate until beer is flat. Blend on high for one minute.