Bored of drinking plain lager? A few simple ingredients can turn a regular beer into a refreshing cocktail at home. Beer-based mixed drinks such as shandies and radlers are seeing renewed interest this summer, with their easy recipes and lighter, fruit-forward flavours making them popular choices for warm-weather drinking. A recent drinks roundup highlighted the resurgence of shandies, including classic lager shandies, radlers and fruit-based variations.
Here are three simple options to try.
1. Classic Lemon Shandy
The lemon shandy is probably the easiest place to start. Traditionally, it is made by mixing lager with lemonade, generally in a roughly 50:50 ratio. The result is crisp, fizzy and citrusy, with the sweetness of lemonade balancing the bitterness of beer.
For one serving, pour chilled lemonade into a tall glass and slowly add an equal amount of cold lager. Pour gently to avoid losing too much carbonation. Add a lemon slice and serve immediately. The ratio can be adjusted depending on whether you prefer a sweeter or more beer-forward drink.
2. Grapefruit Radler
Radler is closely associated with Germany and Austria and is traditionally made by combining beer with a citrus soft drink. Lemon is classic, but grapefruit gives the drink a sharper, slightly bitter flavour that works particularly well with a light lager.
To make it at home, fill a tall glass with ice and add equal parts chilled lager and grapefruit soda. Stir gently and garnish with a grapefruit or lime wedge. For a sweeter version, use sparkling grapefruit lemonade instead.
3. Easy Michelada
If sweet and citrusy drinks are not your style, try a Michelada. This Mexican beer cocktail takes lager in a completely different direction with lime, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and spices.
Start with a chilled glass and coat the rim with salt or a salt-and-chilli mixture. Add fresh lime juice, a few dashes of hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and a pinch of salt. Fill the glass with ice and slowly pour in the lager. Stir gently and finish with a lime wedge.
Beer cocktails are also being explored in newer ways, with recent recipe collections featuring combinations such as shandies, radlers and other fruit-driven beer drinks.
The biggest advantage of these drinks is that they require little preparation. A cold lager, some citrus or soda and a few basic ingredients can create something noticeably different from an ordinary beer.
For a hot afternoon, the lemon shandy offers simplicity, the grapefruit radler brings a fruity edge, while the Michelada delivers something spicy and savoury. Whichever one you choose, serve responsibly and remember that mixing beer with other ingredients does not remove its alcohol content.
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