What to Drink With a Cheesesteak: AYO Lemonade + Vodka Pairing Guide

Ask ten people in Philly what to drink with a cheesesteak and you will hear ten answers. Soda, iced tea, a cold lager. Here is one more for the list: a cold can of AYO™ Lemonade + Vodka. If you are figuring out what to drink with a cheesesteak at a cookout, a bar, or a restaurant, a bright lemonade cocktail is worth a spot on the table.

AYO Lemonade + Vodka is a ready-to-drink canned cocktail from Philly. Each 12 fl oz can is 5% ABV, made with vodka and natural flavors, and produced and packaged by Hidden Still in Hershey, PA. No mixing, no shaker, no bar tools needed.

Why lemonade works with a cheesesteak

A good cheesesteak is rich. Thin-sliced ribeye, melted cheese, fried onions, and a soft roll add up to a heavy, savory bite. What helps most next to that is something cold, tart, and a little sweet.

• Tart lemon cuts through melted cheese and keeps each bite tasting fresh.
• A touch of sweetness balances salty, griddled beef.
• A lower 5% ABV keeps the drink easy to sip alongside a meal.

It is the same reason people reach for lemonade at a cookout. AYO just puts it in a can with vodka.

Pairing guide: what to drink with a cheesesteak, by order

Every shop builds its sandwich a little differently. Here is how AYO lines up with the classics.

• Whiz wit: cheese sauce and fried onions bring the most richness of any order. Serve AYO ice cold, straight from the can or over ice in a pint glass, so the lemon has the most snap.
• Provolone and mushrooms: sharp provolone and earthy mushrooms are a little deeper in flavor. Add a lemon wheel and a sprig of fresh mint to the glass. The herbs pick up the savory notes.
• American with hot peppers: spicy cherry peppers or long hots bring heat. A lemonade cocktail over crushed ice cools things down between bites.
• Chicken cheesesteak: chicken is lighter than beef, so the citrus comes forward more. Try AYO over ice with a few muddled raspberries for a fruit-forward pour.

Serving tips for bars and restaurants

If your kitchen sells cheesesteaks, a canned cocktail is one of the easiest pairings to add to a menu.

• Keep cans in the coldest part of the cooler. Lemonade tastes best very cold.
• Offer a "sandwich and a can" pairing on your menu board so guests see the match right away.
• Use garnish you already stock: lemon wheels, mint, and berries.
• Pour over ice in a pint glass for dine-in guests, or serve the can as is on the patio where your license allows.

Every serve uses one can, so pours stay consistent and staff do not need to learn a new recipe. AYO comes 24 cans to a case at $48 a case. Ordering is not open yet, but bars, restaurants, clubs, breweries, and distributors can join the waitlist or send an order request on this site.

Hosting a cheesesteak night at home

Making sandwiches for friends on game day or a weekend cookout? Set up a simple station.

• Fill a cooler or tub with ice and cans of AYO.
• Put out a cup of lemon wheels and a bunch of mint next to the glasses.
• Offer plenty of water, soda, and iced tea alongside so everyone has a choice.
• Make sure every guest drinking AYO is 21 or older.

Keep the food coming and the pace easy. One can per sandwich is a good rhythm for a relaxed afternoon.

Coming soon

We are also working on Bourbon + Lemonade, which is coming soon. For now, AYO Lemonade + Vodka is the can to grab when the sandwiches come off the griddle.

Please serve responsibly to guests 21 and over.