Radler/Shandy
An ice-cold half-and-half of light lager and fizzy lemonade: the ultimate thirst quencher.
Ingredients
- Lager, ice cold250 ml
- Lemon soda, ice cold, fizzy lemonade250 ml
- Lemon, to garnish (optional)1 slice
Method
- Chill the beer and lemonade in the fridge, and put a pint glass in the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Pour the cold beer into the glass until it is about half full.
- Slowly add the cold lemonade down the side of the glass to keep the head.
- Stir gently for 5–10 seconds to mix without losing too much fizz.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and serve straight away, without ice.
About this drink
The Radler comes from Bavaria, where legend has it that innkeeper Franz Xaver Kugler invented it in 1922 when he ran short of beer for a crowd of thirsty cyclists. The British shandy is older: it began as the shandygaff, ale mixed with ginger beer, but lager and lemonade are the usual pairing today. Both drinks are about simplicity and cold, and ice traditionally stays out of the glass because it only dilutes the delicate balance.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between a Radler and a Shandy?
Very little: both are beer mixed with lemonade in equal parts, one with a German name (Radler) and one with an English name (Shandy) for the same idea.
Which beer is best for a Radler?
A light, not too bitter pilsner lets the sweetness of the lemonade come through without a fight. Heavily hopped beers create too much contrast.