Spaghett

Recipe from Reed Cahill

Adapted by Luke Fortney

Updated August 18, 2026

  • Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini.
Media 1 of 1
Ready In
5 min
Rating
5(79)
Comments
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The Spaghett, as it’s known around the world, was invented by Reed Cahill in 2016, when he was a bartender at Wet City Brewing in Baltimore. He’d created beer cocktails before, usually by adding well liquor to a bottle of Lone Star or Coors Banquet. But he altered the course of beverage history when, in a joking riff on an Aperol spritz, he added the Italian aperitif to the so-called Champagne of Beers and named it after a recurring, marinara-stained character on the “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!”  The Spaghett does not require a shaker or glassware, though you can build it into a mug or beer can. But the original involves a bottle of Miller High Life, Aperol and lemon.

Featured in: The Spaghett Is Baltimore’s Gift to the World

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Ingredients

Yield:1 drink

  • 1 (12-ounce) bottle light lager (preferably Miller High Life)

  • 1 ounce Aperol

  • ½ ounce fresh lemon juice

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving

14 grams carbs; 173 calories; 15 milligrams sodium; 2 grams protein; 1 gram sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Open the beer and pour out (or swig) about 1 ½ ounces

  2. Step 2

    Pour Aperol directly into the bottle, followed by lemon juice. Serve.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
79 user ratings
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Comments

DD

@David It's the opposite in fact. The lightness of the High Life allows the Aperol (or Campari, which I prefer) to come forward with only a hint of hoppiness. I've tried this with better beers, and it's a waste of both beer and amaro. Plus the clear bottle is an important part of the presentation. I hadn't heard this name, I know it as a Redneck Riviera.

Mike Mc

Also known as a Low Life, depending on where in Baltimore you get one.

The Peppermeister

We served this at our 4th of July party a few years ago, and it was a huge hit. It has since become the beverage of choice at the party! Perfect for a hot afternoon with a grilled brat by the pool with friends!

M C

T taste was great. Novel and interesting. The second flat. The third was pretty bad. And I stopped drinking it. Yuk!

Andrew

So glad this exists! Spaghett is a timeless character deserving of a beverage named after him.

STEVE

I've only had this as a bromosa, which uses orange juice (bottled is fine, fresh squeezed is next level) instead of lemon juice. I'm sure this is equally fantastic with a different flavor profile. Would only use High Life for reasons others have mentioned. If you haven't tried it yet, do it! Summer is howling to a close!

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