Hops Syrup for Hops Lemonade or Hops Cocktails!

There's no denying it ... I love beer. I love talking about it, I love drinking it, I love making it, I love sitting around a fire and enjoying it with friends. When I'm pregnant, I don't have cravings but hops is a flavor that I miss. I do have sips here and there, but it's not the same as sitting down with Paul after the kids go to bed and talking about our days over a cold glass of beer that we brewed. Some people have their coffee, I have beer. People always think I'm crazy because we tend to brew more when we're pregnant than when we aren't. Right now we have a Scotch Ale and Chai Bourbon Stout on tap as well as a Belgian IPA, Christmas Abbey and our spring MaiBock all fementing! If I'm not drinking it, I want to at least be surrounded massive amount of it!

Years back, in a brewing magazine. I came across a recipe for hops lemonade. I have made it quite a few times and absolutely adored it. It gives me that hops flavor that I crave while not giving me the alcohol that I don't need. This pregnancy, I have searched the web and can't find the recipe or anything like it ... anywhere! I tried making it from memory twice and both times it ended up totally bitter. So, I tried to empty my memory bank and start from scratch. I wanted to make more of a hops syrup so I could add to anything I wanted ... seltzer, tonic, water for more of a lemonade taste, kombucha and even make a mixer out of if should company want to try it (or me post baby!).

After a few rounds of completely failed attempts, I decided to give that old college effort and try one more time. Once again I learn, when it comes to delicious hops ... try, try again and wait for the magic to happen! I finally succeeded to my liking and have been enjoying hop-tails all week!

Hops don't equal alcohol! This is a completely non-alcoholic syrup that you can enjoy anytime of the day! Read more here to learn more about growing your own hops and all of their health benefits!

Hops Syrup

Makes 2 cups

2 c sugar
2 c water
zest of an orange or grapefruit
2 cups of fresh hops or 1/3 oz hops pellets (my favorite to use are cascade, amarillo and chinook)
1/2 c citrus juice (orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime)

(a tablespoon of ginger is a great addition to add to the boil too!)

In a pot, mix together sugar and water. Over medium heat, let it have a steady rolling boil until it reduces to about 1 1/2 cups total. It should have a thicker syrupy feel to it.

In a bowl, pour in your syrup and add hop pellets. I let this sit for around a half hour. Using a fine towel or double layered cheese cloth, strain the mixture to get all of the hop residue out of the mixture.

Finally, add your citrus juice and it's ready to use!

When you're ready to mix your drinks start with a little and add to your liking. I love the flavor of hops so I use almost 1/4 c of syrup or to your liking for a 12 oz drink.

What to mix with Your Hops Syrup Drinks

• Ginger Beer
• Kombucha
• Seltzer or Tonic
• Sparkling Water
• For cocktails, add a little vodka or tequila with any of the drinks above!

Garden Fresh Simple Syrups

The last few years, I always seem to be pregnant or nursing and I get sick of drinking water all of the time ... especially during parties. I love having a fun mocktail to sip on as well as have a fun cocktail for those who can ... and when I'm ready for that cocktail! For me, there's no better time than summer to sip on those fun drinks because of all the fresh ingredients. Many times, I simply muddle some fresh fruit with mint or lemon balm and add it to my water or club soda, but there are those special occasions that I go all out and make a simple syrup. Simple syrups are so fun to add to any drink and they are ridiculously quick and easy to make!

Here are some of my favorite syrups and fruit combinations ideas:

• Cherry Lime (do the cherries as the recipe calls for and add 1 T of fresh lime juice after you strain the fruit.
• Herbs! Use 10 leaves instead of 1 c of fruit. Basil, Chamomile and Mint make great syrups
• Strawberry Rhubarb
• Raspberry Blueberry
• Vanilla: Use 1 vanilla bean instead of the fruit.

Garden Fresh Simple Syrups

Makes 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cups depending on the fruit

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup chopped fruit

Bring water and sugar to boil so that sugar dissolves completely. Add in your chopped fruit and lower heat to medium heat and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Strain fruit out and chill. Cover and keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

Rhubarb Simple Syrup

Add 1 or 2 oz of syrup per cup to your favorite mocktails and cocktails!

Rhubarb Simple Syrup with Club Soda ... Cucumbers and Blueberries made it extra bright tasting!

The Perfect Margarita: Loaded and Non-Alcoholic

Sometimes, nothing cures the day better than a margarita. I'm sorry, but it's the truth. Paul is known around these parts for his killer margaritas and after going though a few pregnancies and nursings, I figured it's high time to find the perfect non-alcoholic substitute.

There was a little debate of adding these to the blog ... it's not quite like the other recipes that I have been sharing. In my response, it is not practical to lead a life without margaritas! I hope you feel the same. Cheers!

The Perfect Margarita

Fully Loaded

3 oz tequila
2 oz triple sec
2 oz natural lemon lime soda
juice from half a lime ... need to have a juicy lime too!

Mix all ingredients. Add the soda a little at a time to find your perfect mixture.  Pour over ice ... best served with a salt-rimmed glass.

Non-Alcoholic (N/A)

1/2 small orange or 2 clementines
1/2 lime
1 T lime juice concentrate
1 T grapefruit juice concentrate
3/4 c seltzer water

Blend all ingredients together. Yes, it's more orange than you're used to but the citrusy-lime flavor is fantastic!