Warm drinks for the colder weather: Mulled Ale and Hot Chocolate Stout

Despite dreaming of warmer temperatures it feels like it’s winter just wont leave and a cold drink doesn’t sound very comforting right now, so what if you could use your iKegger mini keg system for some delicious hot beverages instead?

The key to making the perfect warm alcoholic beverage, whether it be cocktails, mulled ales, or even just coffee, lies in ensuring that your cocktails are served at the right temperature. One of the most important steps is making sure that you don’t overheat your drink once the alcohol has been added, but it still needs to be hot enough that all the aromas and flavours that are common in winter drinks reveal themselves as you’re sipping away.

Most hot drinks are served at 60 degrees Celsius, if you don’t have a thermometer at hand, a good rule of thumb is that they will usually start steaming around 55 degrees Celsius. You’ll know if you’ve gone too hot if it starts bubbling, as at these temperatures the alcohol will start to evaporate, but if you quickly remove it from the heat you’ll be okay.

The information below for delicious winter drink recipes has the amounts for either yourself or keep reading for 4L party sized batched versions.

So for everyone who loves beer and warm drinks, get ready to experiment with a delicious mulled ale.

Although it might sound a little strange or unusual, historical records show that mulled ale was a popular drink in England in the sixteen hundreds, so why not bring it back and see what it’s all about!

For this recipe you will need,

• 2 cups dark ale or stout

• 2 - 3 tablespoons brown sugar

• ⅓ cup brandy

• Lemon juice

• Winter spices; cloves, star anise, nutmeg and cinnamon

• Orange slice for garnish

For this recipe you’ll want a flavourful and malty tasting dark ale or stout, this is important as the beer you choose will have the biggest impact on the flavour and outcome of your finished drink. Which and how much of each spice you want to use also depends on your own personal preference, but remember it’s always easier to add more later! This is also true for the lemon juice. We’re using lemon juice in this recipe to balance the bitterness or sweetness of the mulled ale, so just taste as you go!

We love an easy recipe and this one is as easy as it comes!  All you have to do is pour your beer into a cold saucepan, add the sugar and spices, gently stirring to combine while it comes to a simmer and let it sit for at least five minutes. Once it’s warmed all the way through being careful not to let it boil, take it off the heat, add the lemon juice and brandy and fill your warm mulled ale directly into your keg. Attach your iKegger 2.0 tap and regulator, pour into your mug, garnish with an orange slice and you have a perfectly deliciously warm mulled ale!

If you’re not a fan of dry drinks our next one will satisfy your sweet tooth! How about a delicious mug of stout hot chocolate?

For this grown ups only hot chocolate you’ll need:

• 2 cups heavy cream

• 1 cup milk

• 1 cup dark chocolate chips

• 1 cup chocolate stout

• Optional, maple syrup or sugar

This recipe is also as easy as can be, all you need to do is slowly heat the heavy cream, milk and dark chocolate together, stirring until the chocolate melts completely. Once everything is combined remove the chocolate mixture from the heat. Add the chocolate stout, and if you still need it a little sweeter, add a couple of tablespoons of maple syrup or sugar. Pour directly into your keg and serve.

If neither of these recipes take your fancy, what about trading cold espresso martinis for hot white russians to keep you warm on these chilly days?

For this recipe you’ll need:

• 2 cups freshly brewed coffee

• 1 cup Kahlua

• 1 cup milk

• ½ cup vodka

Another recipe that couldn’t be any easier, all you need to do is mix all the ingredients together and heat to 60 degrees celsius being careful not to let it boil. Pour into your keg and serve. 

To take the guesswork out, we’ve scaled up these recipes to work in our 4L kegs so you can share these delicious hot drinks with your friends.

Mulled Ale:

• 3.25 litres dark ale or stout

• 500ml brandy

• 200 - 300g brown sugar

• 3 Tablespoons spices of your choice

Stout Hot Chocolate:

• 1.5 litres heavy cream

• 750 ml milk

• 750g chocolate chips

• 750ml stout

• 200g sweetener (optional)

Hot White Russian: 

• 1.75 litres freshly brewed coffee

• 750ml Kahlua

• 750ml milk

• 400ml vodka

Hopefully now you’re inspired to try some absolutely delicious and special hot drinks in your iKegger mini keg system, and if you’re wondering how you can keep your drinks warm without either boiling your beverage or it going cold, well no need to worry!

Our iKegger insulated kegs work just as well keeping drinks hot as they do cold, guaranteeing that your drinks will stay hot for up to 10 hours, while making the serving of your beverage as easy as can be. Now all that’s left to do is to get cosy and enjoy one of these drinks.

Cheers!