Beer cocktails?

I have only a passing appreciation for beer, so I guess it caught me by surprise to come across a foodie article recently extolling the virtues of beer cocktails:

Many classic cocktails have a beer-based counterpart; beery versions of the margarita, Bloody Mary and kir royale have both charmed and appalled adventurous drinkers and staunch purists. There's also a universe of beer drinks involving chasers or shots, such as the boilermaker. But for summer drinking, beer cocktails that are low in alcohol deliver optimum refreshment without turning you into a lethargic blob come evening.

Ordinarily I'd be skeptical, but just recently we tried out a newly opened neighborhood bar that delivered a Bloody Mary with a "secret ingredient" - and after much cajoling, the bartender admitted the ingredient was Guinness. It was weird, and got mixed reviews; surprisingly, I was kind of in favor of the slightly tangy flavor it added to the mix. At any rate, apparently this kind of thing is great for summer:

Light- to medium-bodied beers are best for cocktails, although for the ultimate thirst quencher on a 90-degree day you can't beat a watery, cheap American lager mixed with lemonade.

Pilsners, wheat beers and Belgian-style ales in particular have an affinity for citrus. Throughout Europe, there are a number of variations on the combination of beer and fizzy, soda-style lemonade; at home, you can upgrade the citrus-beer pairing with freshly squeezed juice. Or try something new altogether: ruby-red punch made from dried hibiscus blossoms (known as flor de jamaica in Latin America) makes not only a visually striking drink, but also offers an invigorating tang.

I'm just not sure I can go there; periodically I come across cocktails that incorporate ginger beer, but it was easier to understand that the strong ginger flavor was the reason to use it, not the "beer"-ness. I guess I could have been wrong. Of course, the part where the writer indicated these were "low alcohol" options for summer is probably where she really lost me.