Atomic Submarine

The Atomic Submarine is less a cocktail and more a high-octane party trick designed for quick impact. This drink involves a copious amount of vodka with a small shot of bitter beer dropped in, then chugged. It is a no-frills, no-nonsense proposition for those looking to bypass polite sipping and get straight to the point. You will likely encounter this at house parties, pre-gaming sessions, or in a dive bar where the goal is maximum effect with minimal fuss.

Atomic Submarine

4.41 from 10 votes

Calories: 76kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 5

Ingredients

▢ 1 Pint(s) Vodka
▢ 1 oz Bitter Beer

Instructions

▢
Fill a beer glass with Vodka. and fill a shot glass with beer. Drop the shot of beer into the glass of Vodka. and chug.

Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 76kcal (4%)

Punch

Where it came from

The Atomic Submarine is a product of dive bar culture and party lore, likely emerging whenever someone decided a Boilermaker was not quite aggressive enough. Its specific origins are murky, as with many high-impact, low-ingredient drinks. This is a drink conceived for function over form, a spontaneous creation rather than a studied classic. It is a testament to the human desire for quick intoxication, found in casual settings across many regions.

This drink belongs to the “bomb shot” family, which includes the Jager Bomb, the Sake Bomb, and the Irish Car Bomb. While the Boilermaker typically involves a shot taken alongside a beer, the Atomic Submarine, like other bomb shots, dictates the shot be dropped into the larger drink. What sets it apart is the sheer volume of high proof spirit involved, making it a far more potent beast than its cousins.

You would order or serve an Atomic Submarine in environments where discretion is not a priority. Think college parties, rowdy pre-game events, or a late night at a dive bar where the bartender knows you are not there for a quiet conversation. It is a communal experience, often involving dares or group chugs, rather than a sophisticated standalone drink.

What it tastes like

The flavor profile of an Atomic Submarine is dominated by the neutral, fiery kick of vodka. The front of the palate is pure spirit burn, followed by a fleeting hint of bitterness from the beer as it mixes in. The finish is a rapid fade, leaving behind a strong alcoholic warmth and a lingering, subtle hoppy note. There is no real complexity or balance here; it is a straightforward alcoholic punch.

With a pint of vodka (16 oz at 40% ABV) and only a single ounce of beer, this drink is exceptionally potent. To put it in perspective, a standard beer is around 12 oz at 5% ABV, containing roughly 0.6 oz of pure alcohol. A standard cocktail might have 2 oz of 40% ABV spirit, containing 0.8 oz of pure alcohol. The Atomic Submarine contains 6.4 oz of pure alcohol, making it roughly equivalent to over ten standard beers or eight standard cocktails in one go. This is a drink designed for rapid, significant intoxication.

The technique

Building an Atomic Submarine is straightforward. First, pour the full pint of vodka into a sturdy beer glass or pint glass. Next, fill a standard shot glass with your chosen bitter beer. The final step involves carefully dropping the shot glass of beer into the vodka filled pint. Be prepared for a slight splash. The idea is to consume the entire concoction quickly, or “chug” it, immediately after the shot is dropped.

The most critical technique for this drink is the proper “bomb drop.” Ensure the shot glass is robust enough to withstand the drop without shattering. More importantly, be ready to drink immediately. The point of the bomb shot is the sudden mixing and the rapid consumption, preventing the beer from going flat or the mixture from becoming unappealingly warm. Hesitation ruins the effect.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Vodka

Use: Any standard, unflavored vodka works here. Brands like Smirnoff, Gordon’s, or even house pour vodkas are perfectly acceptable. The goal is alcohol content, not nuanced flavor.
Skip: Expensive, sipping-grade vodkas are wasted in this application. Avoid flavored vodkas unless you are intentionally creating a themed variation, as they will clash with the bitter beer.
Why: Vodka provides the primary alcoholic payload and a neutral base for the drink. Its lack of strong flavor allows the beer’s bitterness to briefly cut through before the spirit takes over.

Bitter Beer

Use: An India Pale Ale (IPA), a stout, or a bitter ale will provide the necessary contrast and flavor kick. Look for beers with a clear, assertive hop or roasted malt bitterness.
Skip: Light lagers, pilsners, or overly sweet beers like fruit lambics will not provide the intended counterpoint to the vodka. Their flavors will be completely overwhelmed.
Why: The bitter beer serves two purposes: it creates the visual ‘bomb’ effect and introduces a fleeting, contrasting flavor that briefly cuts through the vodka’s intensity before consumption.

Three Variations

Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.

Depth Charge

Whiskey and beer, dropped in.: Swap the vodka for a shot of whiskey, traditionally bourbon or rye, dropped into a glass of beer. It is a slightly more flavorful, but still potent, bomb shot.

Irish Car Bomb

Guinness, Irish cream, Irish whiskey.: A notorious bomb shot involving a shot of Baileys Irish Cream and Jameson Irish Whiskey dropped into a pint of Guinness stout. Drink it fast before it curdles.

Jager Bomb

Jagermeister and energy drink.: Drop a shot of Jagermeister into a glass of energy drink, typically Red Bull. This variation provides a stimulant kick alongside the alcohol.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Vodka?

While the name implies vodka, a neutral grain spirit or even a clear rum could technically substitute, though the character of the drink will change significantly. Expect a different flavor profile.

No Bitter Beer?

Any strongly flavored beer, such as a robust porter or even a strong lager, can provide a similar effect. The key is a beer with enough character not to disappear completely.

No Shot Glass?

A small measuring jigger or any small, sturdy glass that can be safely dropped into the larger pint glass will work. Ensure it is heavy enough to sink.

No Beer Glass?

Any large, sturdy drinking glass or even a large plastic cup will suffice for holding the vodka. The main requirement is volume and stability for the drop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.

What is in a Atomic Submarine?

The Atomic Submarine contains one pint of vodka and one ounce of bitter beer. That is it, no frills.

How do you drink a Atomic Submarine?

You fill a beer glass with vodka, a shot glass with bitter beer, drop the shot into the vodka, and then chug the entire mixture immediately.

Is a Atomic Submarine strong?

Yes, exceptionally so. It contains 16 ounces of vodka, making it one of the most potent single ‘drinks’ you can consume. It is equivalent to multiple standard cocktails or beers.

What kind of beer should I use for a Atomic Submarine?

A bitter beer like an IPA, stout, or bitter ale is recommended. Its strong flavor provides a brief contrast to the vodka before you chug it.

What’s the point of dropping the shot in a Atomic Submarine?

The drop creates a sudden mix and a visual spectacle. It is intended to be consumed immediately, part of the ‘bomb shot’ experience, before the beer loses its fizz or settles.

Is a Atomic Submarine similar to a Boilermaker?

While both involve beer and a shot, a Boilermaker typically means drinking the shot alongside or immediately before the beer. An Atomic Submarine requires dropping the shot into the beer and chugging the combined drink.

Can I use flavored vodka in an Atomic Submarine?

You can, but it will significantly alter the drink’s taste profile. The original is about the raw punch of neutral vodka. Flavored vodka might clash with the bitter beer.

Is the Atomic Submarine a good party drink?

It is a party drink for a specific kind of party: one focused on rapid, significant intoxication. It is not for casual sipping or nuanced appreciation.

From the Drink Lab catalogue

Drink Lab has been collecting cocktail recipes since 2013. Some we wrote ourselves, plenty came in from readers, and the rest got passed across a bar somewhere along the way.

Last updated May 8, 2026 · 1 min read