Get ready for a fun and refreshing twist on a classic cocktail with this Blood Orange Beer Paloma! This vibrant drink combines the tangy goodness of freshly squeezed grapefruit and lime juice with smooth tequila, the unique sweetness of blood orange soda, a touch of agave, and topped off with a splash of your favorite beer (IPA works great!). Think of it like a citrusy cousin to the beergarita! I love mixing up this Beer Paloma, especially on warm afternoons like today, May 6th – it’s incredibly refreshing, easy to make, and has such a beautiful color and complex flavor. It’s perfect for patio sipping or serving at spring and summer gatherings!
Why You’ll Love This Blood Orange Beer Paloma
- Unique & Flavorful: A fun mashup of a Paloma and a beer cocktail with bright citrus and unique blood orange notes.
- Super Refreshing: Packed with fresh citrus juices and topped with bubbles (soda and beer!).
- Easy to Make: Simple shaking and topping method, easily multiplied for a pitcher.
- Beautiful Color: Blood orange soda gives this drink a gorgeous hue.
- Perfect Warm Weather Drink: Ideal for sunny days, BBQs, Cinco de Mayo, or patio happy hour.
Ingredients for Blood Orange Beer Paloma
Here’s what you’ll need to shake up this refreshing beverage. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Cocktail Base
- Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice (Juice)
- Freshly squeezed lime juice (Acid)
- Tequila (Silver/Blanco recommended) (Liquor)
- Blood orange soda (Soda) (See Variations for substitutes)
- Agave nectar (Sweetener)
- Beer (IPA recommended, or light lager) (Beer)
- Ice (Ice)
Rim & Garnish
- Lime wedge (for rimming) (Fruit) (Added based on instructions)
- Coarse salt (Margarita salt, kosher, or sea salt) (Seasoning)
- Thinly sliced grapefruit, blood orange, and/or lime (optional garnish) (Fruit)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love the specific citrus and beer combo here, but feel free to customize your Beer Paloma:
- Blood Orange Soda Substitute: If you can’t find blood orange soda, use plain club soda and add 1 ounce of fresh blood orange juice along with the grapefruit/lime juice. Alternatively, use another citrusy soda like grapefruit or orange soda (adjust agave accordingly).
- Different Beer: Use a Mexican lager, a light wheat beer, or even a sour beer instead of an IPA for different flavor profiles.
- Make it Spicy: Muddle a few slices of jalapeño in the shaker before adding ice and liquids.
- Different Citrus: Use regular orange juice if blood oranges aren’t available.
- Different Sweetener: Substitute simple syrup or honey (dissolve slightly) for the agave nectar.
- Skip the Beer: Omit the beer and add more club soda for a more traditional (though blood orange flavored) Paloma style.
How to Make a Blood Orange Beer Paloma
Making this refreshing Beer Paloma is quick and easy:
Prep the Glass
- First, I prepare my serving glass (a highball or collins glass is great). I moisten the outer rim of the glass using a fresh lime wedge.
- I place the coarse salt onto a small shallow plate.
- I gently dip the moistened rim into the salt, tilting the glass to coat the rim evenly.
- I fill the prepared glass generously with crushed ice (or regular ice cubes).
Shake the Cocktail Base
- In a cocktail shaker, I add a few fresh ice cubes.
- I add the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed lime juice, tequila, blood orange soda*, and agave nectar to the shaker. (Note: Some prefer to add soda after shaking to preserve fizz – see Tips).
- I secure the lid tightly on the shaker.
- I shake well for about 20 seconds until the shaker is nice and frosty.
Top with Beer and Serve
- I pour the shaken mixture (ice and all, or strained over fresh ice if preferred) into the prepared, salt-rimmed glass.
- Now for the beer! I gently top the drink with about 1 ounce (a splash) of the beer (IPA recommended, but use your choice).
- I give it a very gentle stir just to slightly combine the layers.
- I garnish with a thin slice of grapefruit, blood orange, and/or lime if desired.
- Serve immediately!
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Beer Paloma
Here are my secrets for making the perfect Blood Orange Beer Paloma:
- Fresh Citrus is Key: Always use freshly squeezed grapefruit and lime juice for the best, brightest flavor.
- Chill Ingredients: Start with cold juices, cold soda, cold beer, and cold tequila for the most refreshing drink.
- Shaking Technique: A good shake chills and slightly dilutes the base perfectly. Alternative: Shake everything EXCEPT the blood orange soda and beer, pour into the glass, then top with soda and beer to maximize fizz.
- Beer Choice Matters: An IPA adds hoppy bitterness that contrasts nicely with the sweet/tart citrus. A light lager will be cleaner and let the citrus shine more. Choose based on your preference!
- Don’t Overdo the Beer: Just a splash (about 1 ounce) is needed to top it off and add that beer note without overpowering the Paloma flavors.
How to Serve
This Blood Orange Beer Paloma is best served immediately while cold and bubbly! Enjoy it:
- Ice Cold: In a salt-rimmed highball or collins glass filled with crushed or cubed ice.
- On Sunny Afternoons: The ultimate refreshing drink for patio sipping or poolside lounging.
- For Parties & BBQs: Easily multiplied (see FAQs) for serving a crowd.
- With Mexican Food: Pairs wonderfully with tacos, ceviche, chips and salsa.
Garnish with fresh citrus slices!
Make Ahead and Storage
Due to the carbonation from both the soda and the beer, this cocktail is best made fresh just before serving. Pre-mixing the base (juices, tequila, agave) is possible, but add ice, shake, soda, and beer right before enjoying.
FAQs about Blood Orange Beer Paloma
- What if I can’t find blood orange soda?
- As mentioned in Variations, substitute with club soda and add 1 ounce of fresh blood orange juice to the shaker. Or, use grapefruit soda (like Jarritos or Squirt) for a more traditional Paloma base flavor, adjusting agave as needed. Regular orange soda also works.
- What kind of tequila should I use?
- A 100% agave silver (blanco) tequila is generally preferred for Palomas and margaritas as its clean flavor lets the citrus shine.
- Can I make a pitcher of this?
- Yes! Multiply the non-carbonated ingredients (juices, tequila, agave) and mix them in a pitcher without ice. Store chilled. When ready to serve, pour individual servings over ice, top with blood orange soda and a splash of beer just before serving. Don’t add carbonated ingredients or ice to the pitcher far in advance.
Enjoy this unique, vibrant, citrusy, and incredibly refreshing Blood Orange Beer Paloma! It’s a fantastic twist for tequila lovers.
Print
Beer Paloma with Blood Orange Soda
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Cocktails, Drinks
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired, American Fusion
Description
These palomas are made with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, lime juice, tequila, blood orange soda, a little agave nectar, and a splash of your favorite beer! They’re similar to a beergarita but with more of a citrusy flavor! Refreshing and perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cocktail (per serving):
- 2 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces tequila (Blanco or Reposado, 100% agave recommended)
- 1/2 ounce agave nectar (adjust to taste)
- 3 ounces blood orange soda, chilled
- 1 ounce beer (IPA suggested, or a light Mexican lager), chilled
- Ice cubes
For Serving/Rim:
- Coarse salt (margarita, kosher, or sea salt), for rimming the glass (optional)
- Lime wedge (for rimming and garnish)
- Sliced grapefruit and/or blood orange, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Glass (Optional): If desired, rim your serving glass. Pour coarse salt onto a small plate. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of the glass to moisten it. Dip the moistened rim into the salt, rotating the glass to coat evenly.
- Fill Glass with Ice: Fill the prepared glass with fresh ice cubes.
- Combine Base Ingredients: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Add the tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and agave nectar to the shaker.
- Shake: Secure the lid tightly and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds, or until the outside of the shaker is very cold.
- Strain: Strain the mixture from the shaker into the prepared, ice-filled glass.
- Top with Soda and Beer: Gently pour the chilled blood orange soda over the mixture in the glass, followed by the chilled beer.
- Stir and Garnish: Stir very gently once with a stirrer or long spoon just to combine. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit, lime, and/or blood orange, if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Shaking Soda: The original instructions mention shaking the soda in the shaker. Shaking carbonated beverages in a sealed shaker can create excess pressure and be messy/dangerous. It’s recommended to shake the non-carbonated ingredients first, strain, and then top with the chilled soda and beer as written above.
- Fresh Juice: Freshly squeezed grapefruit and lime juice provide the best flavor.
- Tequila: Use a good quality 100% agave tequila.
- Blood Orange Soda: If you can’t find blood orange soda, you can substitute another citrusy soda (like orange or grapefruit soda) and perhaps add a splash of fresh blood orange juice with the other juices in the shaker.
- Beer: An IPA adds hoppy notes as suggested, but a crisp Mexican lager (like Corona or Pacifico) is also a great choice for a lighter beer flavor.
- Sweetness: Adjust the amount of agave nectar based on your preference and the sweetness of your juices/soda.
- Pitcher Version: To make a pitcher, multiply the tequila, juices, and agave. Stir together in a pitcher and chill. Just before serving, add ice, blood orange soda, and beer to the pitcher and stir gently, or pour the base mixture into ice-filled glasses and top individually with soda and beer.