This combo of beer and lemonade is definitely going to be a go-to for us this summer. It’s refreshing, easy to make and absolutely delicious. Think backyard BBQ, pool party, chilling on a picnic blanket.
I know what you’re thinking though: you thought this combo was called a radler. Well technically, they’re almost the same thing. A shandy or radler is beer (usually a light beer like a lager, wheat beer or pilsner) mixed fifty-fifty-ish with lemonade or if you live across the pond then lemon-lime soda. A shandy only differs from a radler in that it can include substitutions for lemonade like ginger ale, ginger beer, apple, grapefruit or orange juice, whereas radlers are usually defined by the addition of citrus like lemons, oranges, or grapefruits.
There are a ton of different beer options you could use for a shandy, but it should be a light one. If you love an IPA, you could also go this route and maybe mix in grapefruit juice instead.
We chose Kronenboourg Blanc for a couple of different reasons. We love wheat beer, and thought it’s light, fruity flavour, which already has citrus notes, would be bomb with lemonade. It’s also a beer that reminds us of summer.
- Beer – we used Kronenbourg Blanc
- Lemonade – we made our own using 1 cup of water, the juice of 1 and a half lemons and 2.5 tbs of sugar
- Sliced lemons
If you choose to make your own lemonade, then add the water and sugar to a small pot and bring it to a boil, stirring frequently so the sugar dissolves. Once the mixture cools, add the lemon juice and stir to combine. Transfer the lemonade to a jar or pitcher and refrigerate.
Fill a pint glass or mason jar glass 2/3 of the way with beer, add the sliced lemons and top with lemonade. Crush, repeat.
