It’s GroundHog’s Day!

On this day, people are split evenly into three groups:

1. Those who think it is all just good, harmless fun.
2. Those who think it is animal cruelty.
3. Those who watch the ceremonies, waiting for someone to be bitten. (Do a Google search – groundhog bites happen more frequently at these ceremonies than you realize.)

I don’t know who originally had the idea to wake up a hibernating groundhog who is prone to biting and can carry rabies, and then use them as a highly inaccurate weather forecasting device. I’m guessing it has something to do with Halloween kicking off a few months of various celebrations, holidays, and merry making, and then suddenly it’s dreary old January. Back to work and your old life and cold gray days and colder nights and nasty New Year’s resolutions. Small wonder by February we are looking for any excuse to party! And sober curious people love a party as much as anyone!

This year Punxsutawney Phil did NOT see his shadow, which means an early Spring!

How To Celebrate Groundhog’s Day If You Are Sober Curious?

Traditionally, if an early Spring is predicted, Tequila Sunrises are the drink of choice. (Check out my foolproof mocktail Tequila Sunrise recipe.)

If six more weeks of winter are predicted, the drinks range from Dark N Stormys (dark rum, ginger beer, and lime) to Irish coffees spiked with whisky and hot cocoa spiked with rum. (Ritual Zero Proof has an excellent, alcohol free whisky and rum.)

Want a beer? Samuel Adams is the “official” beer of Groundhog Day, and they happen to have a popular non-alcoholic beer, Just the Haze. (Less than .5%.) It’s a hazy, juicy IPA with impressive foam. If you like light, slightly fruity beers, you’ll probably enjoy this one.

Just The Haze Shandy

The Samuel Adams Just The Haze is also a great beer to make a shandy with.

What’s a shandy?

If you’re British, it’s a light-ish beer (Guinness won’t work for this one), mixed half and half with a lemon lime soda.

If you’re American, it’s a light-ish beer mixed half and half with lemonade. Sort of a beer version of an Arnold Palmer.

Here I mixed Just The Haze with a sparkling lemonade. Whichever you decide to use - soda or lemonade – make sure the beer and lemon mixer are both well chilled.