Hibiscus Spiked Beer

Previously while in Mexico on a boozy retreat and wanted to share a recipe that highlighted some flavors of the far south. I went to a bunch of grocery stores and liquor stores to try to find the perfect craft beer. The craft beer scene in Mexico is on the rise but many small breweries are having to pay a hefty tax so it is hard to find these beers distributed in local beer stores. I did however find a craft beer out of Monroe, Wisconsin from the Minhas Craft Brewery called Seasonal Bad Hare Amber Ale. This beer has an ABV of 5.5% and is recommended for everyday drinking, food pairing, and sipping. Today I created a hibiscus simple syrup to accent the amber ale. I used dried hibiscus flowers from the local market which is called Flor de Jamaica. They are also available online at several stores including the MexGrocer.

This recipe makes about 3 cups of syrup so if you want less the recipe could be cut. I also added sliced ginger and cinnamon to give it even more flavor. One thing to note is that this syrup is very pink and will stain surfaces kind of like beets. So, be careful not to spill it could be a nightmare in your kitchen. I decided to use a local gin to booze this beer cocktail up! The botanicals in the gin pair perfectly with the spices in the simple syrup. The sweetness of the syrup cuts the bitterness of the ale and makes this combination the ultimate beer cocktail.