Canned Cocktails Done Right: A Brewery Take on Ready to Drink
How the principles behind great beer shaped our canned cocktail lineup.
Canned cocktails have earned their place in the cooler. Porch hangs, river floats, post-trail rewards, the format fits the life. The adult beverage industry has never had more options. But more options don’t always mean better ones.
The parallels between craft beer and craft cocktails aren’t hard to draw. We’ve spent years learning what separates a great beer from a forgettable one. Balance. Freshness. Real ingredients. No shortcuts. Those same pillars, it turns out, translate directly into making a great ready-to-drink cocktail. Over the past several months, we put that to the test.
The Philosophy
At Common Roots, we hold one standard across everything we make. Beer, cider, coffee, non-alcoholic options, and now, canned cocktails. The products are different. The standard isn’t.
When we looked at the canned cocktail space, we didn’t see a problem to fix so much as a gap worth filling. Room for something that drinks like a cocktail, but brings along the care and craftsmanship that is on display in the craft beer space. Something refined enough to stand out to those with an existing affinity for cocktails, yet approachable enough to welcome new drinkers into the cocktail space. Our lineup of four craft canned cocktails puts a fresh spin on timeless classics, each built with quality ingredients and the same care that defines everything else that leaves this brewery.
Built for the Occasion
The right drink at the right moment is its own kind of craft.
As with great beer, great cocktails aren’t designed in a vacuum. They belong somewhere. On a porch, at a trailhead, floating down a river, watching the light shift over the mountains. When we set out to build this lineup, we didn’t start with a list of spirits and work backwards. We started with the moments. The kind of Upstate experiences that already carry a feeling, and then we asked what a drink needs to do to belong there.
That’s how four recipes took shape. Each one is anchored in a classic cocktail profile and given a fresh twist that fits within these experiences. Familiar enough to be an approachable offering. Refined enough to notice a difference. The Gin Collins for the adventure. The Italian Spritz for golden hour. The Blue Mule for the cool evening. The Tiki Punch for the float. A drink that meets you where you are just tastes better.
The Lineup
Gin Collins – The Porch Pour
Bright & Botanical | 10%ABV
A deck of cards on the table. The dog is asleep in the one patch of sun still hitting the porch. A speaker set atop a cooler filled with ice-cold beverages, surrounded by good company.
Gin Collins belongs here. Gin botanicals and a bright citrus pop for an ultra-refreshing twist on a timeless classic. A hint of lime puts the citrus in the spotlight, adding a little more dimension without losing the clean, crisp character that makes this style so enduring.
Italian Spritz – The Aperitivo Hour Hero
Bright & Botanical | 10% ABV
Golden Hour in Upstate New York is a spectacle worthy of its own beverage. Something to pair with prepping veggies, or throwing burgers on the grill after a successful day of Upstate adventures.
Enter Italian Spritz. Vodka, orange, and bittersweet botanicals come together for an aperitivo that is lightly bitter and lightly sweet. Pour it over ice to let the orange come forward and soften the edges, or drink it straight from the can to let the bitters lead. Either way, don’t rush it.
Blue Mule – The Dockside Delight
Zesty & Crisp | 12% ABV
Feet dangling off the dock. The lake has gone still, and the tree line across the water is starting to darken at the edges. Time to start collecting firewood and find something cold to crack open.
This is Blue Mule territory. Zesty ginger and lime take the lead, complemented by the addition of blueberry for an effortless refreshment tailor-made for cool evenings and open landscapes.
Tiki Punch – The Party Pour
Tropical & Lively | 12% ABV
The floats are inflated. The speaker has enough charge to last the afternoon. The cooler is packed and positioned for maximum convenience and minimum effort. This is peak summer. Poolside, lakeside, riverside, it doesn’t matter. Tiki Punch was built for the occasion.
Rum, pineapple, and grenadine come together for a tropical delight that is apologetically fun with real character. The ultimate poolside sipper and the undisputed refreshment for the long afternoon.
Where to Find Them
The full lineup is available now at the Flagship Taproom in South Glens Falls and the Albany Outpost. Available as a can pour at the bar or in 4-packs to take home. Can’t pick a favorite? Grab the mix pack and let the occasion decide.
We’re also hitting shelves at local liquor stores across the region this spring. Keep an eye out wherever you stock the cooler. A Common Roots canned cocktail deserves a spot in the rotation.
