U-boot (cocktail)
A shot of vodka sinks in beer, then surfaces as drunk.
The U-boot is a beer cocktail where a shot of vodka is dropped into a glass of lager. It’s common in Germany, Poland, North Macedonia, and Flanders. Its name comes from the German word for submarine, *Unterseeboot*, because the shot glass sinks to the bottom of the beer and rises back up as the drink is finished.
To prepare it, place a shot glass upside down on another glass and fill it with vodka. Set a pint glass over the two so it rests against the shot glass, then flip everything over. Fill the pint glass with lager; as you drink, the vodka slowly leaks into the beer.
The drink goes by other names and variations. In Flanders and the Netherlands, it’s called *Duikboot* (“submarine”) and is seen as a twist on the *kopstoot* (a shot of jenever followed by beer). In North Macedonia, *Podmornica* (“submarine”) typically uses vodka or rakija dropped into a large pint. In Mexico, *Submarino* uses tequila, with the shot glass left inverted inside the beer. In Russia, it’s most often called *Glubinnaya bomba* (“depth charge”), and any mix of vodka and beer is known as *Yorsh* (“wire brush”); it’s also rarely called *Vodolaz* (“diver”). In Brazil, *Submarino* uses steinhäger instead of vodka in the south. In Sweden, *Ubåt* (“submarine”) substitutes Jägermeister for vodka. In Greece, *Ypovrychio* (“submarine”) is served as a shot of Jack Daniels sunk into a short glass of beer.
- Type
- Beer cocktail
- Base spirit
- Vodka (or korn, jonge jenever, tequila, Jägermeister, Jack Daniels, steinhäger, rakija)
- Beer base
- Lager (typically)
- Region of popularity
- Germany, Poland, North Macedonia, Flanders, Netherlands, Mexico, Russia, Brazil, Sweden, Greece
- Other names
- Duikboot, Podmornica, Submarino, Depth charge, Ubåt, υποβρύχιο
Lore & Background
The U-boot is prepared by placing a shot glass on an upside-down glass, filling it with vodka, then covering it with a pint glass and flipping the assembly over. The pint glass is filled with lager, and as the drink is consumed, the vodka leaks into the beer. Variations exist across regions: in Flanders and the Netherlands it is called "Duikboot" and is considered a variant of the kopstoot (a shot of jenever followed by beer). In North Macedonia it is called "Подморница" (Podmornica) and typically uses vodka or rakija dropped into a big pint.
Reader's Guide
The U-boot cocktail is significant as a widely adapted drink across multiple European and American cultures, each modifying the base recipe to local spirits and preferences. In Germany, korn may replace vodka; in Flanders and the Netherlands, jonge jenever is preferred. In Mexico, the drink is called "Submarino" and uses tequila with the shot glass left inverted inside the beer. In Russia, it is most often called "Глубинная бомба" (Depth charge) and is a variant of the broader category "Ёрш" (Yorsh), which mixes vodka and beer. In Sweden, Jägermeister is used; in Greece, Jack Daniels sinks into a short glass of beer. The drink's legacy lies in its simple, dramatic presentation and its ability to be localized, appearing in Sorbia with vodka and orange juice, and in Brazil with steinhäger. It is related to other beer cocktails such as the Boilermaker, Jägerbomb, and Sake bomb.
Did You Know?
- The name U-boot comes from the German abbreviation of Unterseeboot, meaning 'submarine'.
- In North Macedonia, the drink is called 'Подморница' (Podmornica) and typically uses vodka or rakija instead of tequila.
- In Russia, the cocktail is most often called 'Глубинная бомба', Russian for 'Depth charge'.
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