June is here! Which, if you live in Maryland, means crab season is upon us!!! 2017 is projected to yield a great crab harvest! High yields translates to affordable crab feasts …. so start planning one now!
Marylanders love their crabs! They love the taste of the sweet meat, the spice of the Old Bay and most of all, they love the social gathering that embodies a crab feast. Now, everyone knows crabs and beer go hand-in-hand. But not everyone is a beer drinker. So here are some drink ideas that everyone can enjoy and perhaps will even broaden your crab-pairing horizon 🙂 Enjoy!
If You Don’t Drink Alcohol:
Cola, Rootbeer, Lemonade and fresh-brewed iced tea are go-to non-alcoholic crab pairings. Also feel free to make any of the cocktail recipes listed below with the alcohol omitted. Iced water with lemon is another no-brainer to quench your thirst from all those tongue-tingling spices.
If You Drink Beer:
Baltimore natives tend to go with Natty Boh or Coors Light. For the most part any lager or pilsner is a safe bet too. The favorite in our house is a Belgian white like Blue Moon with a slice of orange. But for the beer connoisseur, my research yields less traditional but well-respected pairings which include smaller batch beers like : Brooklyn Lager, Mobjack’s Old Coot Stout, Claypipe BackfinPale Ale, Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale,
If You’re Looking for Something Other Than Beer:
Bloody Mary (my favorite steamed-crab pairing)
- rim a glass with lemon and then old bay
- pour 3/4 glass of Spicy V8 juice
- add 1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
- the juice of one lemon
- 1/2 tsp horseradish
- 1 tsp old bay
- a shake of black pepper and celery seed
- add vodka to taste
- stir and garnish with olives and a celery stick
Spicy Mango Punch
- 1/3 cup jalapeno vodka like Stoli Hot
- 1/3 cup rum
- 1/3 cup tequila
- 1/4 cup grenadine
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup mango juice
Spiked Lemonade
- Lemonade mixed with an alcohol of choice, mixed to taste with ice
- Some alcohols that would work, depending on your taste are: citrus vodka, PIMMS, bourbon, Malibu coconut rum, peach schnapps, sparkling wine or even beer!
Long Island Iced Tea
(while this pairs well, be careful! These are strong!!!)
- 1 shot of vodka
- 1 shot of gin
- 1 shot of rum
- 1 shot of tequila
- 1/2 shot triple sec
- 1 freshly squeezed lemon
- cola to taste
Captain and Coke
- Captain Morgan spiced rum with Cola to taste
