Elevate your brunch with a beermosa: a simple, refreshing cocktail made by combining your favorite light beer with orange juice. It’s an easy, budget-friendly twist on the classic mimosa that keeps the bright citrus flavor while swapping bubbly champagne for beer.
Beer or Bubbly?
You don’t have to choose—you can enjoy both. Champagne is the traditional celebratory option for mimosas, but beer offers its own appeal: it’s approachable, often lighter on the palate, and very refreshing on a warm day. If champagne sometimes disagrees with you, a beermosa is an excellent alternative that still delivers the festive, citrus-forward experience of a mimosa without the bubbles of champagne.
We first encountered the beermosa at AEGIR Brewing Company in Elk River, MN, and have been making them at home ever since. It’s a casual, crowd-pleasing drink that’s easy to scale for a group and pairs well with brunch foods like eggs, fruit, and light pastries.
How to Make a Beermosa
Making a beermosa is effortless and quick—perfect for mornings when you want a special drink without fuss. The choice of beer matters most: lighter, more neutral beers let the orange juice shine while still contributing a subtle malt character and carbonation.
Recommended beers for a beermosa
- Bluemoon (wheat ale)
- Oberon (seasonal wheat ale)
- Corona (light lager)
- Spotted Cow (cream ale)
Ratio and basic instructions
A good starting ratio is 2/3 beer to 1/3 orange juice, which preserves the beer’s effervescence and keeps the drink balanced. If you prefer a beer-forward version, use a full 12 oz can of beer with only a splash of orange juice. Pour cold beer into a chilled tall glass, then carefully add orange juice to maintain some carbonation. Garnish and serve immediately.
Variations and storage
- Try different 100% fruit juices for variations—grapefruit or pineapple can work nicely, though orange is the classic choice.
- Freshly squeezed orange juice enhances flavor, so squeeze if you have the time; store-bought 100% orange juice is a fine shortcut.
- Beermosas are best consumed right away. The carbonation fades within a couple of hours, so avoid making drinks too far in advance.
- To serve a crowd, mix beermosas in a pitcher and top individual glasses with chilled beer and juice just before serving to preserve fizz.
Fun Beermosa Ideas
- Garnish with fresh fruit or herbs—an orange wheel or a sprig of rosemary adds aroma and visual appeal.
- Serve in a pretty glass: a champagne flute or a stemless wine glass makes for an elegant presentation, though a pint glass works well for a casual setting.
- Freeze orange juice into ice cubes or a sorbet and blend with beer for a beermosa slushie on hot days.
- Get guests involved: set up a small bar with chilled beer options, fresh-squeezed juice, and garnishes so everyone can build their own beermosa.
Related Cocktail Ideas
If you enjoy naturally sweetened or lighter cocktails, here are some other brunch-appropriate options to try without links:
- Bloody Mary variations with fresh tomato juice and savory garnishes
- Honey Greyhound: grapefruit and honey for a lighter vodka cocktail
- Sex on the Beach slushies for fruit-forward, frozen cocktails
Beermosa Recipe
Author: Linley Hanson
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 0 minutes | Total: 5 minutes | Servings: 1
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup (about 5 fl oz) light beer, chilled
- 1/3 cup (about 2.5 fl oz) 100% orange juice, chilled
Instructions
- Chill a tall glass or flute in the fridge for a few minutes.
- Pour the beer into the cold glass first.
- Gently add the orange juice to the beer to preserve carbonation.
- Garnish with an orange slice or fresh rosemary if desired, and serve immediately.
Nutrition (approximate)
Calories: 83 kcal | Carbohydrates: 11 g | Protein: 1 g | Fat: 0 g | Fiber: 0 g | Sugar: 8 g
Nutrition information is an estimate and should be used as a guide.
Love this recipe? Try different beers and fresh juices to discover your favorite combination. Tag your photos and share your take on the classic beermosa—whether you keep it simple or dress it up for a special brunch, it’s an easy, refreshing way to celebrate.