Pick your favourite poison to enjoy on the patio this summer, with samples from over 200 liquor, beer, and wine brands featured at Top of the Hops. Doors open at 6:30 tonight. You can get tickets at the door, or in advance. There are over 85 vendors sampling a huge variety of libations, and some great food accompaniments as well! I scoured the web for a list of vendors to see which of our local alcohol producers are going to be in attendance, but didn't find it if such a thing exists. I guess it will be a surprise! I am hoping that many of the local guys will be at Top of the Hops so I can sample the flavours and products I haven't tried.

Photo Credit: Top of the Hops

As I've got booze on the brain, I thought I would share some cocktail recipes that would definitely accompany the warm weather we are expected to have this weekend (fingers crossed for no rain!). I love, love, love supporting local brands, so I thought I'd put a Saskatoon spin on a few recipes that are a must-try for the patio, poolside, or lake this summer! They all include great locally-made liquor and beer.

Beer Floats

This one is easy. Pour Double Chocolate Porter from Saskatoon Brewery over your favourite ice cream, scooped into glasses. Make this extra awesome by choosing locally made ice cream from Prairie Sun Orchard.

Beer Sangria

1 1/2 cups white grape juice

1 cup LB Distillers' Vodka

1 crisp red apple, quartered, cored, and sliced 1/4 inch thick

1 orange, quartered and sliced

5 12oz bottles of Prairie Sun Brewery's 306 Urban Wheat 

Combine the grape juice, vodka, grapes, apples, and oranges in a pitcher. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, and up to 8 hours for the flavours to infuse. Fill glasses half way with the grape juice mixture and some more fruit. Fill the rest of the glass with beer. 

Beer' Garita

 1 bottle Paddock Wood Czech Mate

1 shot tequila

1 shot LB Distillers' Seabuckthorn Liqueur

1/2 shot Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice

1 Tablespoon frozen limeade concentrate (thawed)

Juice from one lime

Ice

Also very easy. Combine all ingredients together in a large glass. Mix, then add the ice. Voila!

I hope you enjoy experimenting with these recipes! They can all be tweaked and played around with to suit your individual preferences, but hopefully they serve as a starting point for your creativity! If you have a favourite summer cocktail, please share the recipe in the comments! Also, as always, enjoy responsibly :)

Cheers!