Springtime is upon us, along with the promise of warm weather and the return of cherished activities such as cookouts, beach trips, and pool parties—all of which are synonymous with day-drinking.

Whether grilling up some hamburgers or lying out and catching some rays by the pool, there is something about a nice day that just makes you lust for a cold one.

However, lugging a thirty-rack or two to the beach can be problematic—most beaches forbid open containers. And, even if you bring the red cups, sketchily pour your beers, remember the trash bag, and manage to keep the seagulls out of it so you can frolic in the waves, you now have a bunch of cans to tow back with you.

Beer is great for afternoon cookouts, but if you are not a beer drinker, sipping on your usually whiskey and coke may seem aggressive at 1 p.m.

But don’t fret, pets, there is a perfect solution to your problem: sangria!

Not quite hard alcohol, but more exciting than a beer or a glass of wine, sangria is a refreshing cocktail for spring and summer.

Sangria can be made in bulk and stored for a period of time in the refrigerator, making it cost efficient and always a hit at parties and cookouts. Unlike beer, it can be easily transported to the beach in large jugs, and it won’t raise suspicions or create a ton of trash.

Wine may not be your drink of choice, but rest assured there are many people out there who have a distaste for wine but love sangria. Give it a chance.

Below are some simple, bulk white and red sangria recipes for beginners.

White Sangria

You will need:

4 bottles (750 milliliters each) of Pinot Grigio. Feel free to buy the cheap stuff.

½ cup of orange liquor. Grand Marnier or Cointreau work well and are a great addition to any liquor cabinet, as they can be used to jazz up many cocktails, including margaritas.

½ cup peach schnapps

¼ cup sugar or triple sec

4 sliced oranges 

2 mangos, peeled and sliced

1 liter of soda water

In a container, combine all of the ingredients except for the soda water. Chill in the fridge for at least an hour. When you are ready to serve, stir in the soda water. Serve over ice. Yields about one gallon.

Red Sangria

You will need:

4 bottles (750 milliliters) of red wine. Merlot or Cabernet work just fine.

¼ cup of brandy

¼ cup of orange liquor. Already getting use out of that Grand Marnier or Cointreau.

½ cup of triple sec

¼ cup orange juice

Sliced oranges, lemons, and oranges

Combine all the ingredients into a large container, and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Serve over ice. You can also add soda water if you want something fizzy. Yields about one gallon.

The best thing about sangria is that you can really make it your own. Try experimenting with different juices such as lemon juice, and perhaps even try adding some rum. Not a fan of mangos? Nectarines and peaches work wonderfully too.

Enjoy, and remember: always drink responsibly and designate a driver.