I was in the grocery store and noticed a new summer beer by Saranac (a local brewer in central NY). Apparently it's a blend of beer and lemonade. The description on the label reads,"For nearly 100 years, Europeans have mixed lemonade and beer as a refreshing beverage during the summer months. We continue this tradition with Saranac Summer Brew-A refreshing blend of lemonade and lager. Kick back, relax and enjoy!"
This is the first time I've heard of such a thing. Has anyone ever tried mixing beer and lemonade?
Years ago in my youth, I spent a summer working for a mason. He was not long off the boat from Ireland and I can remember him doing this for both of us on really hot days. If memory serves, it was very refreshing although obviously not so much so that I continued drinking it after I stopped working for him.
Posts: 920 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: August 22, 2008
It's quite popular here, generally called "shandy" and usually drunk by people who don't want to get too drunk too quickly or are looking for a lighter summer drink. There are two main types, lager shandy: half lager beer and half white lemonade, not the homemade style lemonade popular in the US but something more like 7-up. The other type is called beer shandy (beer in this country is the red coloured stuff you guys would call "ale", although that's changing since Irish people started watching US TV shows like "Charlie's Angels" and such. Now Budweiser is called beer here too.) Beer shandy is made with an ale such as Smithwicks or Bass and an equal amount of red lemonade. Red lemonade seems to be a peculiarly Irish thing, I haven't even found it in England. It's like white lemonade but not quite as sweet plus there's a very slight ginger flavour from it. Also, it's red. If you can't find white or red lemonade, get a pint glass and fill it with equal parts 7-up and Heineken (or whatever lager beer), this will give you a very good idea of what shandy is. By the way, pour the lemonade in the glass first, otherwise you don't get a proper head.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: AnRyan,
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Posts: 1758 | Location: Dublin | Registered: November 29, 2006
Is still pretty popular in Germany. There it is usually called a 'Radler' (Bicyclist) and done with any beer you want and lemon soda (like 7up/Sprite) or more common with a lemon flavored but clear carbonated water.
Variation of this also include beer and coke (Cola-Bier) or a Hefeweizen (Yeast beer) and Coke (Cola Weizen). The top creation for me is Banana juice and Hefeweizen (Banane-Weizen)
On the wine side we have 'Cola-Rot' (Coke and red wine)and 'Cola-Weiss' (Coke and white wine).
Now I'm thirsty
Posts: 73 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: June 10, 2009
Ive been drinking this for a few years, especially back when I was in college. We would also add vodka to it sometimes. The last few summers for our softball league, we would have a cooler full of this stuff.
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Posts: 1063 | Location: Iowa | Registered: October 24, 2008
Dad used to give us the odd Shandy when we were kids.I havent had one for a while but mum has the odd glass now & then.It is a nice refreshing drink on a hot day though & keeps you under the limit
Posts: 152 | Location: New Zealand | Registered: May 23, 2009
This is also pretty popular in France in the summer. Since French beer is not very good, I think this is a big improvement. Works well with any light beer.
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Posts: 473 | Location: Colorado | Registered: January 21, 2005
When I buy the wrong bottle of Scotch, I'll mix it; half lemonade and half whisky with ice...
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Posts: 855 | Location: Somewhere between Denial and Confusion | Registered: March 26, 2006
Originally posted by AnRyan: It's quite popular here, generally called "shandy" and usually drunk by people who don't want to get too drunk too quickly or are looking for a lighter summer drink. There are two main types, lager shandy: half lager beer and half white lemonade, not the homemade style lemonade popular in the US but something more like 7-up. The other type is called beer shandy (beer in this country is the red coloured stuff you guys would call "ale", although that's changing since Irish people started watching US TV shows like "Charlie's Angels" and such. Now Budweiser is called beer here too.) Beer shandy is made with an ale such as Smithwicks or Bass and an equal amount of red lemonade. Red lemonade seems to be a peculiarly Irish thing, I haven't even found it in England. It's like white lemonade but not quite as sweet plus there's a very slight ginger flavour from it. Also, it's red. If you can't find white or red lemonade, get a pint glass and fill it with equal parts 7-up and Heineken (or whatever lager beer), this will give you a very good idea of what shandy is. By the way, pour the lemonade in the glass first, otherwise you don't get a proper head.
that makes more sense and sounds pretty good. I was thinking of sour and sweet american style lemonade and it sounded really gross.
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Posts: 2172 | Location: The Green Mountains | Registered: March 26, 2009
We have this beer down here in Louisiana called Abita Beer. I tried it last week and it realy isn't bad at all. I did a trial run of Abita Beer with a Quorum cigar and it matched almost perfectly therein. I might start doing that beer/cigar combo more often.
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Posts: 29 | Location: New Orleans, U.S.A. | Registered: August 19, 2009
