For some beer drinkers, putting ice in beer is sacrilegious and an unforgivable offense. For others, it’s the go-to way to enjoy a beer on a hot afternoon.
So, can you put ice in your beer? Sure, but it should depend entirely on the beer you’re drinking. Let’s take a look at beers that work well with ice and those that should never under any circumstances be mixed with ice.
Why Ice Works for Some Beers and Ruins Others
It’s scientifically proven that cold beer tastes better than warm beer, even if it doesn’t actually improve the quality of what you’re drinking. So, it’s fair to assume that putting ice in beer would make it taste better by keeping it cold.
However, any seasoned whisky drinkers already know the main problem with adding ice to alcohol: dilution. The ice chills the beer as it melts, but it also waters it down, thinning out the brew. For light beers, this isn’t a big issue since the flavor is already…well, light. But for more complex beers, like an IPA or stout, ice can ruin the flavor that the brewer intended.
Beers That Actually Hold Up on Ice
If you’ve ever enjoyed a beer with ice and liked it, then you probably already know what works well: light beers with subtle flavors.
Mexican lagers can be fine when paired with ice. I know this because I always put ice in my Micheladas, and they’re delicious. If you do mix Mexican lagers and ice, you’ll want to stick with the lightest options like Pacifico, Corona, or Modelo.
I’ve also seen people pour American light lagers over ice, which should affect the quality of cheaper beers. I personally don’t love cheaper light lagers over ice, but it’s mostly because I don’t like a lot of those cheaper light lagers on their own.
Beers You Should Never Put Ice In
Most beers should never have ice added. Anything hoppy, hazy, bitter, sour, malty, and so on will only suffer if you add ice. Diluting the beer is only going to weaken the flavors, and the end result is rarely going to be better than the original brew. With thicker beers like stouts and porters, dilution can thin the mouthfeel, which completely ruins the experience.
So, if you’re paying craft beer prices for something, don’t add ice.
Ice in Beer Around the World
A lot of people are surprised to learn that places around the world regularly serve beer with ice. It’s most common in hot and humid places in the United States and Southeast Asia, though you can find people doing this anywhere there’s beer.
If you’re traveling and you’re offered beer with ice, give it a try. Odds are that it’s a lighter lager, and that extra ice could be pretty refreshing on an incredibly hot day.
In any other instance, I think you should avoid putting ice in beer.
FAQ
Yes, ice will ruin craft beer by diluting it. Ice can also change the mouthfeel and make drinking beer unpleasurable.
Yes, plenty of places will pour beer over ice. You’ll usually only find this in areas where it’s incredibly hot.
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