Red Corona

The Red Corona is a quick and dirty beer cocktail, a party starter for when you want a little extra kick without much fuss. It’s a straightforward mix for those looking to amplify their beer with a shot of spirit and a touch of sweetness. You’ll find this ordered by folks who want something easy to drink that gets the job done without breaking the bank or requiring a shaker.

Red Corona

4.30 from 20 votes

Calories: 105kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 5

Ingredients

▢ 1 oz Vodka
▢ 1 tbsp Grenadine Syrup
▢ 1 Can(s) Larger Beer
▢ 1 Slice(s) Lime

Instructions

▢
Drink your Corona a little bit past the neck. Add 1 Shot Vodka 1 Tablespoon of Grenadine 1 Slice of Lime Put your thumb over the top. flip(not shake) once to mix. enjoy.

Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 105kcal (5%)Carbohydrates: 7g (2%)Sugar: 6g (7%)

Where it came from

The Red Corona is a modern, likely American or Mexican bar invention, probably emerging in the late 20th century. It falls into the broad category of ‘beer cocktails’ or ‘beertails,’ often found in casual settings, beach bars, or college towns where simple, potent drinks are in demand. There’s no grand history here, just practical mixing.

This drink sits within the family of doctored beers. It’s simpler than a Michelada, which adds savory spices and sauces, and less complex than a Snakebite that combines lager and cider. The Red Corona distinguishes itself by its direct, boozy sweetness from the vodka and grenadine, keeping the beer’s character mostly intact while adding a punch.

You’d most likely encounter the Red Corona in a relaxed, high-volume bar, a casual backyard barbecue, or a low-key house party. It’s not a craft cocktail bar offering. Think sunny patios, pool decks, or any place where the focus is on good times and easy drinking, rather than intricate mixology.

What it tastes like

The taste profile of a Red Corona is dominated by the light, crisp notes of the lager, upfront. A subtle sweetness from the grenadine hits first, quickly blending with the beer’s effervescence. The vodka, being largely neutral, adds a clean alcoholic warmth to the middle, while the lime slice provides a refreshing, zesty finish that cuts through the sweetness and rounds out the beer’s flavor.

A standard 12 oz Corona at 4.5% ABV contains roughly 0.54 oz of pure alcohol. Adding 1 oz of 80-proof (40% ABV) vodka contributes another 0.4 oz of pure alcohol. With a tablespoon of grenadine, the total volume is around 13.5 oz, making the ABV approximately 7%. This makes the Red Corona significantly stronger than a regular beer, but generally less potent than many spirit-forward classic cocktails.

The technique

To build a Red Corona, start by taking a good sip of your chilled lager directly from the bottle, just enough to make room. Carefully pour in the vodka, followed by the grenadine, then drop in the lime slice. Place your thumb firmly over the bottle opening, then gently invert the bottle once to mix the ingredients. Avoid vigorous shaking to prevent excessive foaming and loss of carbonation.

The most important technique for this drink type is the single, gentle flip to mix. Over-agitating the bottle will cause the beer to foam excessively and go flat, ruining the drink’s texture and effervescence. A quick inversion is all you need to combine the ingredients without sacrificing the beer’s carbonation.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Lager Beer

Use: A light, crisp lager like Corona, Modelo Especial, or Pacifico works best. Their clean profiles allow the added spirits and sweeteners to shine without clashing.
Skip: Heavy stouts, IPAs, or overly hoppy beers will overpower the delicate additions and create an unbalanced, potentially unpleasant flavor profile.
Why: The lager is the foundational ingredient, providing the volume, effervescence, and base flavor. Its lightness ensures the vodka and grenadine integrate smoothly without making the drink too heavy.

Vodka

Use: Any decent quality, unflavored vodka will do. Brands like Smirnoff, Absolut, or Svedka offer a neutral canvas for the drink.
Skip: Flavored vodkas will introduce unwanted complexities that can muddle the simple profile of the Red Corona. Save your citrus or berry vodkas for other drinks.
Why: Vodka provides a clean, potent alcoholic kick without significantly altering the beer’s taste. It boosts the ABV without adding competing flavors, making it the ideal spirit for this straightforward mix.

Three Variations

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

Red Corona Light

A lighter take on the original.: Swap out the regular lager for a light beer option to reduce calories and maintain a similar flavor profile.

Spicy Corona

For those who like a little heat.: Add a dash or two of your favorite hot sauce, like Tabasco or Cholula, along with the other ingredients for a zesty, spicy kick.

Dark Corona

A deeper, maltier version.: Instead of a light lager, use a darker Mexican lager or a light amber ale for a richer, more malty base that still pairs well with grenadine and lime.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Vodka?

Tequila Blanco offers a different but compatible kick, adding a slight agave note.

No Grenadine Syrup?

Cherry syrup or a splash of cranberry juice can provide a similar sweetness and color, though the flavor will differ slightly.

No Larger Beer?

Any light, crisp lager will work. Bud Light, Coors Light, or even a pilsner can stand in.

No Lime Slice?

A lemon wedge will provide a similar citrus brightness, though with a slightly different aromatic profile.

No Beer bottle?

You can build this in a pint glass. Pour out a couple of ounces of beer, add the vodka, grenadine, and lime, then stir gently with a bar spoon to combine.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is in a Red Corona?

A Red Corona contains lager beer, vodka, grenadine syrup, and a slice of lime.

Why is it called Red Corona?

It gets its name from the addition of grenadine, which gives the light-colored beer a reddish hue, and the use of Corona lager as the base.

How strong is a Red Corona?

A Red Corona typically has an ABV of around 7%, making it stronger than a standard beer but generally less potent than many traditional cocktails.

Can I use any beer for a Red Corona?

While a light lager like Corona is traditional, you can use any light, crisp lager. Avoid dark or hoppy beers as they will clash with the other ingredients.

Do I shake a Red Corona?

No, you should not shake a Red Corona. A single, gentle flip of the bottle is enough to mix the ingredients without causing excessive foaming or flattening the beer.

What does a Red Corona taste like?

It tastes like a slightly sweeter, boozier version of a light lager, with a refreshing citrus finish from the lime and a hint of fruity sweetness from the grenadine.

Is the Red Corona a well-known cocktail?

It’s more of a popular bar hack or party drink than a classic cocktail, widely recognized in casual drinking settings.

Can I make a Red Corona in a glass?

Yes, if you don’t want to drink from the bottle, pour a couple of ounces out of a beer into a pint glass, then add the vodka, grenadine, and lime. Stir gently.

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