Monaco

The Monaco is a light, refreshing beer cocktail, popular in Europe as a casual warm-weather drink. It blends the crispness of lager with the sweet tang of lemonade and a splash of grenadine for color and fruity notes. This is a low-ABV option, perfect for those who want something a bit sweeter than a shandy but still decidedly beer-forward. It’s a simple pour, often ordered when the sun is out and the vibes are chill.

Monaco

4.55 from 31 votes

Calories: 66kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 5

Ingredients

▢ 1 Splash(s) Grenadine Syrup
▢ .66 Glass(s) Bitter Beer
▢ .33 Glass(s) Lemonade

Instructions

▢
Pour Syrup - Grenadine syrup into a collins glass filled with ice cubes. Add the beer and 7-up. and stir well.

Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 66kcal (3%)Carbohydrates: 15g (5%)Sugar: 14g (16%)

Where it came from

This casual beer cocktail is most commonly associated with France, where it’s a staple on cafe terraces and in bars, especially during warmer months. While its exact origin is murky, it likely evolved as a simple, refreshing variation on the shandy, offering a touch more sweetness and a distinctive color. It's a drink for relaxed social settings, not a classic cocktail bar.

The Monaco sits in the broad family of beer cocktails, alongside the German Radler or the British Shandy. What sets the Monaco apart is the inclusion of grenadine, which provides both its signature rosy hue and a distinct pomegranate sweetness that separates it from its lemon-and-beer relatives. It’s less about complex flavors and more about straightforward refreshment.

You’d typically find the Monaco served in a casual French brasserie, a beachside bar on the Mediterranean, or at a backyard barbecue. It’s the kind of drink you order when you want something thirst-quenching and easy-drinking, especially when a straight beer feels too heavy or you crave a touch of sweetness.

What it tastes like

The Monaco offers a sweet and fruity initial sip from the grenadine and lemonade, quickly followed by the malty, slightly bitter notes of the beer. The mid-palate is a balance of the beer’s body and the citrus brightness, finishing clean with a lingering sweetness and a refreshing carbonated bite. It's designed to be light and easy to drink, appealing to those who enjoy sweet beer cocktails.

Given that the Monaco is primarily composed of beer and a non-alcoholic mixer, its ABV is significantly lower than a standard spirit-based cocktail. It’s often lighter in alcohol content than a full glass of beer, making it a sessionable choice for extended enjoyment without excessive impact. Think of it as a very light, flavored beer cooler.

The technique

Building a Monaco is straightforward. Start with a collins glass filled with fresh ice cubes. Pour in the splash of grenadine first, letting it settle at the bottom. Then, gently add the bitter beer, followed by the lemonade or 7-Up. A gentle stir is all that’s needed to combine the ingredients without losing too much of the carbonation.

The most important technique for this drink is the gentle stir. After adding all components, give the drink just a few rotations with a bar spoon. Over-stirring will agitate the carbonation out of the beer and soda, leaving you with a flat, lifeless drink. A light touch ensures the Monaco retains its refreshing fizz and effervescence.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Bitter Beer

Use: A crisp, clean lager or pilsner is ideal. Think European lagers like Heineken, Stella Artois, or a classic American pilsner. These provide a balanced bitterness and a clean finish that complements the sweet mixers.
Skip: Heavily hopped IPAs or dark stouts. Their dominant flavors will clash with the grenadine and lemonade, creating an unbalanced and unpleasant drink. Avoid anything too robust.
Why: The beer forms the backbone of the drink, providing its primary liquid volume, carbonation, and a crucial counterpoint of bitterness to the sweetness of the other ingredients.

Grenadine Syrup

Use: A quality grenadine made from pomegranate is key. Brands like Liber & Co. or homemade versions offer a genuine pomegranate flavor. Rose’s is acceptable for a casual pour, but better options exist.
Skip: Generic red sugar syrups or cherry syrup. These lack the tart complexity of true grenadine and will make the drink taste artificially sweet and one-dimensional.
Why: Grenadine is responsible for the Monaco’s characteristic rosy color and its distinct sweet-tart, fruity profile. It’s not just for aesthetics; it’s a core flavor component.

Three Variations

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

Monaco Royale

A spirited twist.: Add a half-ounce of gin or vodka to the Monaco for a subtle alcoholic kick without drastically altering the flavor profile.

Monaco Tropical

Exotic fruit notes.: Swap out the grenadine for a splash of passion fruit or mango syrup to give the Monaco a more tropical, sunny disposition.

Monaco Verde

A touch of green.: Introduce a small amount of green mint syrup or a splash of Midori for a vibrant green hue and a contrasting flavor note.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Grenadine?

Try raspberry syrup for a similar fruity sweetness and red color, or a splash of cranberry juice if you prefer less sweetness.

No Bitter Beer?

Any light lager, pilsner, or even a light ale will work. The goal is a relatively neutral, carbonated beer base.

No Lemonade?

Use 7-Up, Sprite, or any lemon-lime soda. For a less sweet option, use fresh lemon juice with soda water and a touch of simple syrup.

No Collins Glass?

A standard pint glass or any tall, straight-sided tumbler will serve the purpose just fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is in a Monaco?

A Monaco typically contains grenadine syrup, bitter beer (often a lager or pilsner), and lemonade or lemon-lime soda.

Is Monaco a strong drink?

No, the Monaco is a low ABV drink. It’s mostly beer and non-alcoholic mixers, making it less potent than a standard cocktail.

What kind of beer should I use for a Monaco?

A crisp, clean lager or pilsner is recommended. Avoid overly hoppy or dark beers that might overpower the other ingredients.

What does a Monaco taste like?

It’s a sweet, fruity, and refreshing drink with a balance of beer’s malty notes, lemonade’s citrus tang, and grenadine’s pomegranate sweetness.

Is the Monaco a French drink?

Yes, the Monaco is widely popular in France and is considered a classic French beer cocktail.

Can I make a non-alcoholic Monaco?

Absolutely. Replace the bitter beer with a non-alcoholic beer or ginger ale, keeping the grenadine and lemonade.

What’s the difference between a Monaco and a Shandy?

A Shandy typically combines beer with lemonade or ginger ale. The Monaco specifically includes grenadine, giving it a distinctive color and a sweeter, fruitier profile.

How do you get the layered effect in a Monaco?

While the recipe calls for stirring, some Monacos are served with the grenadine settled at the bottom. This is achieved by pouring the grenadine first, then carefully layering the beer and lemonade over ice.

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