Despite my promise to return one week later with a drink to accompany Great-aunt Helen’s Chicken Wings, it’s now been two weeks since reporting in. I’ll play the Mom Card and say it’s been another bunch of crazy weeks with field trips and lessons and practices and whatnot. That said, my goal is to post weekly and I ask that you hold me to that. Keep me honest!
Honestly, then, I can tell you that our chicken wings
seemed best paired with beer. No expert on brews, I’m hazy on which style would go best. Though something lighter – as opposed to the oatmeal stouts I favor – would do well.
But this is Cocktail U and suggesting you crack open a cold one doesn’t cut it. The term beertails (which brings to mind a picture totally different from what they are) came to mind. Boilermakers and Black and Tan are old-school examples of this cocktail category, but there are also all sorts of new-fangled beertails. Exhibit A: This category has its own Pinterest page.
So a beertail, then, is what we need with our wings.
A one-cent (plus shipping) Amazon purchase of 10,000 Drinks is often my go-to when I’m looking for cocktail inspiration. Its chapter titled Beer Drinks lists a recipe for a beertail made of equal parts hard cider and beer. Poured into a beer glass. Done. Why its called a British Snakebite, I’ve no idea but I liked the idea of using hard cider especially with apple season in full swing here in the Midwest.
I had a lone bottle of hard cider on the shelf and mixed it with a lager-style bottle I found in our basement.
And the drink was a winner.
Strong, yes, but also crisp and refreshing and I’m betting it would go well with our wings. Those wings long gone, I’ll have to imagine the pairing, but even on its own this drink is a good find and even better an easy fix. Next time you have both hard cider and beer on hand, you could do much worse than combine them.
If you do, let me know what you’d like to call this drink. British Snakebite doesn’t say a thing to me (even if it does have a bit of a sting) and I’d like to christen it by another name. Please send your suggestions in the comments below.
While you do that, I’ll get going on Helen’s recipe box again. Will meet you back here next week for the unveil. Thank you for being here.
food for fun 
Apple Crisp
Hard Harvest Moon
Brapple
Hard Times
Blogger Lager 🙂
Braeburn Brew
BraeBrew
Granny Smith
I should’ve known you would be the one to come through on this, Mary! Fantastic names and it means the world to me that you stopped by. Thank you much.
For a modern twist… I’ll have a Bobbin’4Apples
As someone who has enjoyed beer her entire life but ABHORS snakes, I agree we must change the name. Even the popular cider, Angry Orchard, has negative connotations. I can see the trees in “The Wizard of Oz” throwing apples at me. Why not Happy Orchard? Off Our Heads With Joy Orchard? Johnny Appleseed makes more sense. I have not seen this one.
I did read that Snakebite is banned in many English pubs, as it intoxicates people quickly (read: young people like it). I guess it’s like the Boone’s Strawberry Hill or Mad Dog of the British crowd LOL. But I think in moderation, it sounds nice and crisp and perfect for autumn, no?
In 2016, surely you could call it a “hybrid,” this pairing. Having the ale and the cider is like having the ranch AND the blue cheese for the celery that accompanies the wings. Perhaps that wasn’t de rigueur when Aunt Helen was cooking wings. But it’s a swell pairing. I suggest Tart Barley, although that also sounds like a Kia salesman.
Why surely it is a hybrid, Kerbey. I hadn’t thought of it in those terms. Like it! Two types of dipping sauce for wings AND two types of booze in my glass. Happy day it would be 🙂
I didn’t do any research on the snakebite origin, so thank you for following up on that. Of course it’s the name of something that quickly intoxicates.
But we must talk about your claim of enjoying beer your “entire life.” You do mean “entire adult life,” yes? Thought so.
Ah, Angry Orchard. Whyever? Those bada$$ hard cider drinkers. (of which I am one so joke’s on me)
Ah, yes. Let’s say ever since 1990. Although I haven’t had any beer in over a month! Before that, it was strictly Sleepytime Tea and Hansen’s Natural Soda. 😉
Sounds like a good mix. If it has alcohol in in! Those wings though… Yum. Posting weekly is kind of a full time job…
Amen to that, sistah 🙂 Though it’s keeping up with other bloggers that I miss most. Reading, commenting, responding to comments. Hoping to look you up soon. Hope all is well on your end.
it sounds good, i hope to try this soon. i’d go with ‘hoppy appleseed’ or ‘adam ‘n eve’ )
I’ll drink to either name, Beth. Thanks for coming by 🙂 Hope your school year goes well.
Sounds like a perfect match for wings. Though not a beer fan I do enjoy a Snakebite now and then. The drink, not an actual snake bite! Although if I have hard cider in the house it’s hard not to put some Fireball in it.
Snakebite was new to me. Fireball in hard cider sounds amazing.The other day I had a Cinnamon Mule. Fun what can be done with fall drinks. Hope you and yours are well. Will get around the blogosphere eventually to read about what you’ve been up to 🙂
Hmmm . . . I like beer and I like cider! But I never considered combining them–will let you know what I think!
Who knew that the two could be combined? Good to see you here – thanks for popping over. Curious what you’ve been up to. Miss my trips around the blogosphere.
I like that you’re “imagining” the pairing 😉
Thank you for coming over, Jay! Haha,imagination is key, yes. Fine line between that and delusion and I’m never quite sure where I am 😉
p.s. Just checked out your site – love it! Clever title.
You have done it again. What a great idea/pairing. Never would I have considered mixing hard cider with beer, but I bet a few of my nephews would love it.
Can’t wait to see what you come up with next. 🙂
Sorry to leave this unanswered, Fannie! Always appreciate your comments. And your enthusiasm 🙂 Hope you dropped your knowledge on your nephews!
Currently drinking a version of this! Love it! Pinned.
Thank you, Receta. I LOVE that you are sipping this 🙂