Shandy Beer

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

A mouth-watering and thirst-quenching combination of suds and citrus, the Shandy Beer is the ultimate summertime concoction.

Some years back, I found myself meandering up and down the aisles at one of my local grocery stores on a hot summer’s eve. I had no list, no pressing appointments or reasons to rush, so my brain blithely wondered to itself about what I should be making for dinner, what kind of snacks should I get, and—since I was a little thirsty that day—what should I have to drink? Definitely something cold and fizzy, a tipple that’ll relax as well as cool. Nothing too hard, either. In this heat, I’m liable to pass out halfway through a Popeye cartoon after one Gin & Tonic. Then I saw something that—no kidding—became my favorite beer-based drink of all time: the Shandy Beer.

It was a twelve-pack of a witbier (wheat beer) mixed with lemonade, and was labeled as a Summer Shandy. Long story short, I easily became obsessed, in a healthy and moderate way, with the refreshing combo of tangy, sweet citrus swirled about in a golden, effervescent brew. That’s all I wanted to quaff that summer and when I returned to the store to purchase more… they were sold out.

After a momentary wave of panic washed over me, I immediately brightened up. Why not just make these at home? Grab a six-pack, some lemonade and get to sipping. Was it that easy? I pulled out my smartphone and did a quick internet search, right there in the beer aisle…

Turns out this drink has been around for quite a long while, going all the way back to the 19th century. Created in England in the mid-1800s, the Shandy Beer was traditionally a blend of beer and ginger beer. Originally called a shandygaff, author Charles Dickens once described the concoction as an “alliance between beer and pop”. The shandygaff proved to be so popular that its name was added to the Oxford Dictionary in 1855. Over time, bartenders and mixologists began to use lemonade and other tangy juices in place of the ginger beer, and the drink’s name was shortened to Shandy.

The Shandy Beer we’ll be making tonight is an homage of sorts to the original libation that caught on in Albion of yore. Instead of lemonade, we’ll be adding some extra bubbles to our beer, by using your preferred lemon-lime soft drink, be it Sprite or 7-Up.

What Is The Best Beer To Use In A Shandy?

There’s a multitude of beers that’ll work wonderfully in a Shandy Beer, mainly anything that’s amber or golden colored. Pale, blonde and wheat ales are ideal choices, as they tend to balance their flavors perfectly with the soda or lemonade you’re using. My personal choice is actually Red Stripe, a Jamaican pale lager.

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?

A nice big pint glass that’s been chilled for about 30 minutes in your freezer, is the best way to enjoy a Shandy Beer. Garnish the rim with a lemon slice and enjoy yourself.

IS THE LEMONADE VERSION PREPARED DIFFERENTLY?

Yes. Our Shandy has the lemon-lime soda added after the beer, because the soda is more carbonated and will help mix the two ingredients together without stirring. When I make a Shandy with lemonade, I’ll pour the juice in first and top with the beer, using the bubbles to help meld everything together.

Other Beer-Based Drinks Worth Trying

If you prefer a chilled bottle of beer to a spirit-based drink, but still like a cocktail from time to time, now is a great opportunity to try out a few beer-based beverages, with recipes found right here at Twist & Toast. After a few Shandy Beers on a hot and sweaty day, you’re in the market for even more drinks like it. And it doesn’t matter what time of year it is, either. Anytime is a good time for a refreshing and thirst-quenching libation.

• Beer Paloma – This combo of the cocktail mixed with beer is both tangy and refreshing.
• Corona Sunrise – A fizz-filled riff on the popular tequila drink.
• Michelada – A spicy and robust way to enjoy your next cerveza.
• Tequila and Beer – Tequila, Cointreau and lime juice topped with your favorite Mexican beer.