Beer Style Fun Facts: Shandy vs Radler

Aaah, the taste of summer! There’s nothing quite like a refreshing lemonade in the heat of summer. But wait! We’re beer drinkers and summertime is meant for beer. But what if we mixed lemonade with beer?

Welcome to the world of shandies and radlers! A world of crisp, cold, light, low alcohol beverages that are refreshing and satisfying for those hot summer days.

But where did these beer cocktails come from? And what’s the difference and why does it even matter?

What is a radler?

Let’s start with a bit of history. Some cycling history, to be exact. Rumor has it that the radler was born out of necessity. In the early 1920’s when bicycling was starting to become a thing, many cyclists embarked upon a biking journey to a popular brewery in a small town just outside of Munich, some miles down a trail.

Reportedly, 13,000 cyclists made the trek to Franz Kugler’s brewery that day. The brewery was running low on beer. So as not to anger his patrons from lack of beer, Kugler got crafty. He added sparkling lemon juice to the beer to make it last longer and called it a Radlermass, which translates to cyclist liter. The radler was born.

What is a shandy?

Prior to the radler, there was this thing called the Shandygaff, which can be traced back to 18th century Britain. This drink was often referred to as the rich man’s drink as champagne was added to the beer. Those that couldn’t afford champagne would instead turn to lemonade and ginger beer. Other historians say that King Henry VIII created this concoction in the 16th century as a tonic.

Wherever it originated from, the shandy today has become quite popular, particularly in the warmer months, right alongside the radler.

What’s the difference between a radler and a shandy?

Today, shandies and radlers are often interchangeable. But technically, there is a difference. It’s more than the fact that a radler is German and a shandy is British. It’s about the citrus that is used.

Shandies, if following the traditional rules of those that were not rich, should only have lemonade, lemon soda, or something in the lemon family, added to the beer. Radlers, on the other hand, can use any type of citrus or fruits. But both need to be at least 50 percent beer.

What beers are used to craft shandies and radlers?

The beers generally used in these crafty summer cocktails are pilsners, hefeweizens, blondes, and light lagers. They are hand-mixed at many breweries, but you can also find them on the shelves of your local liquor store, as well as straight from the tap at your local brewery.

What malts are used in shandies and radlers?

For some of the best summer beers, pilsen malts are great starting points, allowing the citrus flavors to pop. But whether you need a good pilsen, pale ale, or wheat malt, from our American and import malts to fun Belgian malts from our partners at Castle Malting, we’ve got the malts you need to create both shandies and radlers.

Why does any of this matter?

Hard seltzers, radlers, shandies, hard kombuchas, whatever you want to call them, consumers are on the hunt for beer that is beer…but not. They’re seeking lower calorie beverages that quench their thirst without the big heavy beer buzz or the gut to match. Beer lovers are getting crafty. Are you?

Social media wording:

A radlermass or shandygaff? German or Britain? Lemon or grapefruit? Summertime is right around the corner. Hop on your bike, because that cyclist liter is in demand. Will you have it on tap?

https://www.twistedgrove.com/blog/2017/8/4/dandy-shandy-the-origins-of-beer-cocktails

https://www.americancraftbeer.com/what-the-hell-is-a-radler/

https://renegadebrewing.com/radler-beer/

https://www.brewer-world.com/shandy-beer-cocktail/

https://vinepair.com/articles/ask-adam-whats-the-difference-between-a-radler-and-a-shandy/