Spicy Pineapple Shandy

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/13/21
Spicy Pineapple Shandy

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 drink
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
202 Calories
0g Fat
22g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 202
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 9mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 33mg 167%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 146mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Give your shandy a tropical spin with an intriguing combination of heat and pineapple. It's a fun twist on this popular summertime drink that is very easy to make. You'll love serving it at cookouts and it's ideal for those times when you want to dress up your beer.

This shandy recipe starts out with tequila, spiced up with homemade jalapeño simple syrup and sweet, fresh pineapple juice. All you have to do is top it with your favorite beer. Pale ale works wonderfully with the fruit, but most lighter beers work just fine. It's not an overly spicy drink, either, but if you fear the heat just leave out the jalapeno.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce tequila

  • 2 ounces pineapple juice

  • 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 1/2 ounce jalapeño simple syrup

  • 6 ounces pale ale beer

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for a Spicy Pineapple Shandy
    S&C Design Studios

  2. In a pint glass, combine the tequila, fruit juices, and jalapeño syrup. Stir well.

    Mixing Up a Spicy Pineapple Shandy
    S&C Design Studios

  3. Fill the glass with ice (if desired) and top with beer. Serve and enjoy.

    Spicy Pineapple Shandy
    S&C Design Studios

Tips

  • If your beer and juices are cold, there's really no need to add ice unless you'd like to. Your drink will also stay colder if you pour it into a frosty glass.
  • Pour the beer slower than normal and stop with a little extra room at the top. The foam head will form quickly as it interacts with the pineapple juice. You can always top it off once the head relaxes.
  • Jalapeño simple syrup is very easy to make at home. You will need a raw sugar such as demerara, two peppers, and a cup of water. It takes just 20 minutes but will need to cool before you mix with it.
  • Fresh lemon juice is best. The average lemon yields 1 3/4 ounces of juice, so one fruit is more than enough for a few shandies. You can even simply squeeze a lemon wedge directly into the drink.
  • You can use a juicer to make fresh pineapple juice or muddle chunks of the fruit, then strain out the juice. If you buy the juice, consider using smaller cans so any leftovers don't go bad before you get a chance to drink it.
  • A silver (blanco) tequila is an excellent choice for this shandy. Yet, it is really interesting with the slight oakiness found in a reposado tequila.

Recipe Variations

  • For a milder spice that will also complement the pineapple, try a peppercorn syrup. Use either pink or black peppercorns—about 1/4 cup—and make it according to the cardamom simple syrup recipe.
  • If you want to eliminate the spice entirely, a plain simple syrup will work just fine.
  • Pour vodka instead of tequila if you prefer.
  • Make this shandy as a punch to make serving a group quick and easy: Increase all of the ingredients in proportion for the number of servings you need. When making it ahead of time, hold the beer until you're ready to serve. You can also mix up the base (tequila, juices, and syrup) only then add the beer in the individual glasses.

How Strong Is a Spicy Pineapple Shandy?

Oddly enough, the alcohol content of the spicy pineapple shandy is going to be nearly identical to the beer you pour. That's due to the fact that the strength of the tequila is counteracted by the juice and syrup. For example, if you're using a 5 percent ABV beer, your shandy will weigh in right around there, too.

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