Moon Drops

The Moon Drops is a simple two-ingredient beer cocktail with sherry. It is an interesting mix of savory and sweet, light and refreshing. This is not your typical highball. It is a niche drink for someone looking for something genuinely different, perhaps a beer drinker open to experimentation or someone who appreciates low ABV options. It might just surprise you.

Moon Drops

4.58 from 28 votes

Calories: 83kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 3

Ingredients

▢ 1 oz Sherry
▢ 4 oz Larger Beer

Instructions

▢
Pour into a wine glass and serve with two melon balls.

Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 83kcal (4%)Carbohydrates: 1gSugar: 1g (1%)

Where it came from

With just sherry and beer, the Moon Drops feels like a modern invention, perhaps from a craft cocktail bar looking to push boundaries with low alcohol options. Its exact origin is unknown, but it fits into the contemporary trend of combining disparate elements for unique flavor profiles. It is not a classic by any stretch.

This drink sits loosely in the beer cocktail family, a category that includes the Shandy or the Boilermaker. Unlike a Shandy, it is not diluted with soda, and it is not a shot and a beer like the Boilermaker. The sherry adds a complex layer, making it more of a sipper than a chugger, setting it apart from most simple beer mixes.

You would likely find the Moon Drops on a creative cocktail menu in a relaxed, experimental bar, or perhaps as an intriguing offering during a tasting event. It is a conversation starter, not a round of shots. It is also an easy one to batch and serve at a casual backyard gathering.

What it tastes like

The Moon Drops starts with the malty, often slightly sweet notes of the lager, quickly followed by the nutty, sometimes oxidized, and slightly saline character of the sherry. The two blend to create a surprisingly cohesive, mellow profile. The finish is clean and refreshing, with a lingering hint of both beer and fortified wine.

Assuming a 5% ABV lager and a 17% ABV sherry, a 5 oz drink would have roughly 0.2 oz alcohol from the lager (4 oz * 0.05) and 0.17 oz from the sherry (1 oz * 0.17). Totaling about 0.37 oz of pure alcohol in a 5 oz drink, this puts the Moon Drops at around 7.4% ABV. This is stronger than most standard beers but significantly lighter than a typical 2 oz spirit cocktail which can hit 25% ABV or more.

The technique

Building a Moon Drops is straightforward. Start with a chilled wine glass. Pour the sherry in first, then top gently with the cold lager beer. The idea is to preserve as much carbonation as possible. A light stir with a bar spoon if you must, but often a gentle pour is enough to combine. Garnish with those melon balls right before serving.

The crucial technique here is pouring the beer gently and avoiding aggressive stirring. The carbonation from the lager is a key component, providing a refreshing lift to the drink. If you pour too hard or over-stir, you will flatten the beer, leaving you with a dull, lifeless drink that misses its intended effervescence.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Sherry

Use: Fino or Manzanilla sherry works best for its dry, crisp, and slightly briny notes. Brands like Tio Pepe Fino or La Gitana Manzanilla are solid choices. Amontillado can also work for a richer, nuttier profile.
Skip: Cream sherries or Oloroso are too sweet and heavy for this light beer cocktail. They will overpower the lager and make the drink cloying rather than refreshing.
Why: Sherry provides a unique savory depth and a touch of acidity that cuts through the beer’s maltiness. It adds complexity without adding significant alcohol, balancing the flavors.

Larger Beer

Use: A crisp, clean lager is ideal. Think a classic European pilsner or a light American lager. Brands like Stella Artois, Peroni, or even a solid craft pilsner will work. The goal is refreshing and not too hoppy.
Skip: Heavy stouts, overly hoppy IPAs, or sour beers. Their strong flavors will clash aggressively with the delicate sherry and create an unbalanced mess.
Why: The lager forms the bulk of the drink, providing the refreshing body and carbonation. Its relatively neutral or subtly malty flavor allows the sherry to shine without being overwhelmed.

Three Variations

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

Moon Drops Spritz

A bubbly, lighter take.: Add 1 oz of sparkling water or club soda to further lighten the drink and boost the effervescence, making it even more refreshing for a hot day.

Dark Moon Drops

Richer and maltier.: Swap the lager for a darker, malty beer like a Schwarzbier or a Munich Dunkel. Pair this with an Amontillado sherry for a deeper, more robust flavor profile.

Fruity Moon Drops

A touch of sweetness.: Muddle a few raspberries or a slice of peach in the glass before adding the sherry and lager. This introduces a subtle fruit note that complements both main ingredients.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Sherry?

Try a dry vermouth or even a light, dry white wine. The flavor profile will shift, losing some of that distinct sherry nuttiness, but it will still provide a savory counterpoint.

No Larger Beer?

A crisp pilsner or even a light ale will work. The flavor will be slightly different, but the body and carbonation will remain, keeping the drink light and refreshing.

No Melon Balls?

A lemon twist, a few grapes, or even a simple cucumber ribbon will offer a visual garnish and a hint of freshness. The melon is primarily for aesthetics here.

No Wine Glass?

A standard pint glass or a highball glass will serve the purpose. While a wine glass is suggested for presentation, any tall glass will hold the drink just fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is in a Moon Drops?

A Moon Drops contains 1 oz of sherry and 4 oz of lager beer, typically garnished with two melon balls.

Is Moon Drops a strong drink?

No, it is a relatively low alcohol drink, usually around 7-8% ABV, making it stronger than most beers but much lighter than a standard cocktail.

What kind of sherry should I use?

A dry sherry like Fino or Manzanilla is recommended. Their crisp, nutty, and slightly saline notes pair best with the lager.

Can I use any beer?

A light, crisp lager or pilsner works best. Avoid heavy stouts or overly hoppy IPAs, as they will overpower the sherry.

Why is it served in a wine glass?

Serving it in a wine glass allows for better appreciation of the aroma and color, treating it more like a sophisticated sipper than a casual beer.

Is Moon Drops a good summer drink?

Yes, its light body, refreshing carbonation, and relatively low ABV make it an excellent choice for warmer weather or casual daytime drinking.

Can I make a batch of Moon Drops?

You can certainly pre-measure the sherry, but it is best to pour the lager fresh into each glass just before serving to maintain carbonation.

What does Moon Drops taste like?

It offers a unique blend of malty beer notes with the nutty, savory, and slightly briny characteristics of sherry, finishing clean and refreshing.

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