Ingredients
- 6 ounces pale ale or lager
- 6 ounces lemonade
- Lemon wheel for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a pint glass, add pale ale and lemonade.
- Garnish with lemon wheel, if desired.
Variations and Substitutions
The combination of beer with lemonade, or shandy, may have a fairly specific set of ingredients, but these are a few suggestions to alter your drink.
- Skip the pint glass. You can stir your lemonade right into a half-empty bottle or can.
- Add up to a half ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice for a tarter drink.
- Opt for a pale ale or lager with a touch of flavor, such as orange, for a unique spin.
- Add a splash of lemon-lime soda along with the lemonade or even a bit of ginger ale.
Garnishes
A lemon wheel is a reasonably standard garnish to adorn the beer and lemonade drink; however, that doesn't mean you need to follow the recipe exactly.
- Use a different type of citrus, such as orange, lime, or grapefruit.
- Don't feel stuck with a wheel, and you can always use a citrus wedge or slice.
- If you don't want a garnish, don't sweat it. Skip it if it doesn't work for you.
A Look at the Shandy
Combining beer and lemonade isn't a new idea; in fact, its roots go as far back as the mid-19th century. Then, the Britains would call it a shandygaff, and, as with most longer words, the phrase was shortened to what it's known as today: shandy. The British weren't the only ones to combine citrus and beer, as the Germans did so with beer and lemon-lime soda, calling it a Radler. In Spain, the lemon-lime soda and beer combination is a Clara. Over the years, shandy continues to grow in popularity, with breweries marketing the lemon beer as a summertime beer more than worthy of a place in your refrigerator. It's also the perfect path to easing into another style of beer: sour gose beers!
Beer and Lemonade for a Tasty Summer Drink
At first, beer and lemonade may look like unusual bedfellows, but the shandy is the perfect summer drink. The tart, slightly sweet flavors of lemonade are the perfect complement to the citrus notes found in lighter beers, and you'll be a believer after just one sip. Grab your lemonade and beer and get comfortable in a sunny patch of lawn.
