Ginger Shandy

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

A thirst-quenching beer combined with a spiky, bubbly ginger ale is what makes the delicious Ginger Shandy.

Singing the praises of a tasty and refreshing beer cocktail is nothing new for me. I enjoy a bottle of suds from time to time, but it’s not something that’s regularly kept at home. If I’m in the mood for a brewski or two, then I’ll take a walk around the corner, or up to the grocery store and grab a six pack. A couple of months later is when I’ll usually find the rest of those longnecks at the back of the fridge.

I like beer just fine, but when I’m in the mood for an adult beverage, I’ll usually pour a few fingers of bourbon, or make myself a stiff cocktail. Beer tends to fill me up pretty quickly, plus I prefer to have a few on a really hot day as opposed to just whenever. But there are always exceptions.

Take tonight’s drink, for example… the Ginger Shandy. Like its name suggests, this is a simple concoction made up of ginger ale and beer. Until I took a look at the recipe, I never even considered combining both together. Now that I’ve had a few, I can’t imagine a Friday evening without one. The crisp and refreshing bite from both the beer and the ginger ale match up beautifully. When you make this beverage for yourself, or your friends, you’ll be mixing equal parts soda and lager. Upon every sip, you’ll notice a balanced flavor, with the spice from the ginger ale dancing in harmony with the hops and other notes from the beer.

When the summer’s back for another good time, that’s when the shandies come out to play. But the good news is that you can enjoy this delicious and fizzy treat any time of the year.

What Is The Best Beer To Use In A Ginger Shandy?

Stick with a golden beer, like a pale ale or wheat lager. Blue Moon, Harp, Bass… These are all very good to make your Ginger Shandy with. My personal favorite, whenever I make or serve shandies of any kind, is a crisp and cool Red Stripe lager from Jamaica. Easy to find at your local store, Red Stripe is not only one of the best beers you can drink, it also has the distinction of being the very first instance of product placement in a James Bond film, prominently featured in the 1962 film Dr. No.

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?

For the coldest Ginger Shandy possible, keep a beer glass in your freezer for at least thirty minutes before making your drink. Once poured and stirred, garnish the rim of the glass with a lemon wheel.

WHAT IS THE BEST GINGER ALE TO USE IN A GINGER SHANDY?

I’m a big fan of Fever-Tree mixers, and their ginger ale is the best I’ve ever had. Specifically crafted and designed to be used with spirits, Fever-Tree ginger ale elevates your shandy with high-end, robust flavors. If you can’t find any, Canada Dry and Schweppes are very reliable, and have never let me down.

Similar Drinks To The Ginger Shandy

A good buddy of mine loves their beer. Whenever I’d help them out on the job—they’re a contractor—the day would always wind down with them saying: “I can almost taste that first beer.” And one day after work, just to try something different, we made a few shandies. And if you’re wondering if there are different types of beer cocktails apart from the ginger ale variety, you’ll be pleased to find out that yes, there are.

• Beer Shandy – Fresh lemonade mixed with your favorite lager makes the sun shine a little brighter.
• Black Velvet – Guinness, with a layer of champagne floating on top, isn’t just for Bond villains.
• Tequila and Beer – Add an earthy and peppery punch to your next pitcher.
• Boilermaker – Sometimes all you need is a shot and a beer after a long, hard day.