Even though shandies are among the simplest mixed drinks to make, there are countless varieties you can explore. It is a mixture of beer and lemonade that should be consumed cold and can optionally be garnished with more citrus fruit.
The history of this seemingly straightforward beverage, though, is fascinating, and it has been consumed all throughout the world.
In this blog post, we will take a look at 10 of the best beers for a shandy and discuss their individual flavor profiles. We will also provide some tips on how to mix them together to create the perfect drink!
- Great Divide Roadie
- Jack’s Abby Blood Orange Wheat
- Goose Island 312 Lemonade Shandy
- House Beer Grapefruit Radler
- Saugatuck Blueberry Lemonade Shandy
- Paulaner Grapefruit Radler
- Rhinegeist SunSpun Shandy
- Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy
- Widmer Brothers Hefe Shandy
- Sweetwater Blood Orange Radler
What Are Shandies
Shandies are a delicious and refreshing drink that combines beer with fresh lemonade or Sprite. They are perfect for summertime parties, cookouts, and gatherings with friends. A traditional British summertime drink, shandies are perfect for quenching your thirst on a hot day.
Why Do You Need Beer For Shandy?
There are a few reasons why you might want to consider adding beer to your shandy.
- Beer can help to add some carbonation to your drink, which can be refreshing on a hot day.
- The hops in beer can help to balance out the sweetness of the lemonade, making for a more well-rounded drink.
- Finally, the alcohol in the beer will give your shandy a little bit of a kick!
Read More: 10 Beers Like Budweiser
The Ratio Of Alcohol In Shandies
A shandy is made by mixing equal parts beer and non-alcoholic lemonade or lemon soda. The amount of alcohol is effectively decreased in half as a result. In reality, you may make alcohol-free shandies known as “rock shandies” by omitting the beer entirely or by substituting non-alcoholic beer.
Best Beer For Shandy
Read More: 10 Beers Like Sapporo
1. Great Divide Roadie
Great Divide Roadie, a 4.2 percent ale brewed with natural grapefruit puree, was created to honor the off-road bike riders in Colorado and to provide them with something to drink.
A hazy, somewhat tangy, grapefruit-flavored brew emerges as a result, and it has a mildly bitter finish that makes you want more.
2. Jack’s Abby Blood Orange Wheat
The beer, which was first solely produced for Jack’s Abby’s beer hall, became so well-liked that the brewery decided to can it. It has since become a standard. It begins with the company’s classic wheat lager, which is later flavor-infused with blood orange.
As a result, a light, pleasant beer emerges that has hints of blood orange and sweet wheat. Refreshing and somewhat tangy describe the finish.
3. Goose Island 312 Lemonade Shandy
Goose Island 312 Lemonade Shandy has a long name, but the flavor is worth it. The 312 Urban Wheat Ale from Goose Island serves as the foundation and boasts a citrus backbone.
Brewers flavor it with Italian lemon ice. A crisp, thirst-quenching, somewhat tangy shandy with lemon zest, flavors of sweet grains, and wheat is the end result.
4. House Beer Grapefruit Radler
A few years ago, House Beer entered the market by offering a simple pale lager beer with the name “House Beer.” Then the California-based company introduced the 4 % ABV Beer House Grapefruit Radler, a blend of fresh grapefruit juice and the aforementioned lager, to its roster. A session, simple-to-drink beer with delicate, tangy citrus notes is what you get.
Read More: 10 Beers Like Red Stripe
5. Saugatuck Blueberry Lemonade Shandy
When beer comes to shandies and Radler, citrus is typically the flavor that predominates, but occasionally brewers switch things up and add an unexpected but complementing flavor.
The Saugatuck Blueberry Lemonade Shandy is an example of this. This seasonal beverage has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 5% and is a blend of beer, tangy lemonade, and sweet blueberries.
6. Paulaner Grapefruit Radler
If you’re going to consume a shandy or Radler, why not do it from a native of the nation that created them? It begins with a base of beer, just like all Radlers and shandies.
It’s Paulaner’s Münchner Lager in this instance. The addition of a hazy grapefruit taste results in a refreshing, crisp beverage perfect for warm weather.
7. Rhinegeist SunSpun Shandy
Cincinnati might not come to mind when you think of excellent craft beer locations, but breweries like Rhinegeist are working to alter that with a variety of highly regarded beers and seasonal brews like SunSpun Shandy.
In contrast to most shandies, which begin with a lager, Rhinegeist’s starts with a golden ale that has been mixed with orange and grapefruit juice. As a result, a light, citrus-flavored beer is produced.
8. Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy
Few drinks are more well-known than Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy when it comes to shandies, and for good reason. Based on a traditional German recipe, this summer beer (4.2 percent ABV) combines the brewery’s typical Weiss beer with real lemonade flavor.
Sweet wheat and acidic, vibrant lemon tastes can be found in this award-winning brew.
9. Widmer Brothers Hefe Shandy
The brewery reduced the ABV somewhat (from 4.9 percent to 4.2 percent), added the recently developed Lemon Drop hops, and then added a small amount of “natural lemonade flavor.” The murky brew has a hazy tint reminiscent of magic hour sunlight with a bold citric fragrance and flavor that is authentically lemony rather than artificially chemical.
10. Sweetwater Blood Orange Radler
Sweetwater in Atlanta is well renowned for its variety of bitter, hoppy beers, but it also creates a fantastic Radler. This lager with a 4 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) is brewed with Hallertau and Mitt hops and blood orange and mandarin orange juice.
The end product is a hoppy, bright, crisp lager that has a strong orange tartness that unites everything.
Read More: 10 Beers Like Miller Lite
Frequently Asked Question
Shandy Contains How Much Alcohol?
A soft drink that quenches your thirst with a hint of pilsner. Pilsner is used in a ratio of 1:4 with a lemon-lime beverage. The 0.9% alcohol content of Bavaria Shandy makes it a malt beverage.
What Lager Makes The Finest Shandy?
The ideal beers to use for brewing a shandy are pale ale, wheat beer, or light lager. Stouts or dark beers are not typically utilized in shandies.
