It's October. A.K.A. Oktober. As in, Oktoberfest. As in, the holiday dedicated to all things German, Beer and Sausage related. That's my kind of holiday. I, for one, am all for beer guzzling however, I know I may be in the minority around here. 


When you imagine a 'typical beer fan', you're probably picturing some Homer Simpson-esque guy, pot bellied and balding with a big ol' mug o' beer in one hand while watching TV. (see above)

Now, I'm a beer fan and I like to think but I also am a little classier than that. What you may not know is that there are a lot of beer alternatives, that you've probably never heard of, that will completely turn you into a beer guzzling gal! 

We talked to Nathan Cameron, bier expert at hotspot Bier Markt who gave us a few ideas on how to ease your way into beer loving. 


#1 Try a Shandy or Radler: A shandy or radler are pretty similar. Essentially, it's a beer mixed with a soda and because they are about 50/50-60/40 mixed, they are of low alcohol content. Shandies are usually done with Sprite or 7 Up. A radler is of Bavarian origin and (super fun tidbit here!) the term 'radler' actually means cyclist. Cyclists who wanted a drink but still wanted to be sober would pound these radlers back instead. Radlers are great mixed with grapefruit soda or passionfruit as well. You can find these pre-mixed at the liquor store, but they're super simple to make yourself. I prefer to mix with a light beer or wheat beer but you can also try a darker one. 


#2 Beer Cocktails: Beer cocktails are totally a thing and they are totally delicious. We've spoken about them before (see here), but there are a ton of possibilities for them. Check out recipes here and here! 


#3 Ciders: Ciders are made of fermented fruits, for the most part apples and if you haven't really introduced yourself to them, please do so at your earliest convenience. They're a sweet, fruitier, lighter alternative to beers. You can mix with beer and lemon soda and you've got yourself a twist on the shandy called a snakebite. Use cider to create a harvest-esque sangria this fall! 


#4 Dessert Beer: Beer float, anyone? Yup, it's a thing. Try a full body, chocolate stout and add some ice cream. Extra points for those who add a vanilla spiced simple syrup or a vodka infused with a little flavour. 

What's your favourite cocktail or alcoholic beverage? Have you tried any 'fancy' beers?