Beer cocktails are nothing new. Remember the Boilermaker -- a shot glass of whisky dumped in a beer? It was a blue collar, let's-get-down-to-business kind of drink, a little déclassé compared to the la-ti-da beer cocktails made today. But then, why wouldn't beer cocktails become more artisanal and interesting, given that both beer and cocktails have become more artisanal and interesting?

See also: -- Eleven Favorite Phoenix Beers -- Fernet Branca: The "It" Liqueur for Bartenders and Cocktail Nerds

With so much emphasis, these days, on quality, it just makes sense that craft brews, which have flavor profiles similar to liquor -- giving off herbal, caramel or fruity notes of their own -- would become an integral part of an interesting drink. Beer adds flavor, depth and sometimes fizz to a cocktail, although it isn't necessarily a primary ingredient.

If you love beer or cocktails or both, here are eight beer cocktails you won't want to miss.