Store shelves are brimming with an ever-increasing number of flavored beers each year. Radlers and shandies with constantly new flavors are winning the hearts of Poles. During the holidays, already one in ten Poles chooses them! No wonder – they are excellent thirst quenchers and often contain no alcohol at all, which is a huge advantage for drivers and many other people. Where do radlers come from? How do they differ from shandies? How can you prepare them yourself at home? What beer cocktails can you serve your guests in summer?
Not just bitter beer
Beers, primarily depending on their hop content, differ in their level of bitterness. The bitter taste, so appreciated by connoisseurs, does not necessarily suit all consumers. On the other hand, sweeter beverages, such as wines, might be too alcoholic for them.
Even 15-20 years ago, the only alternative in this situation was beer with juice, or rather with a sweet fruit syrup. Two or three "pumps" of the concoction would go into a goblet or mug to counteract the bitterness of the golden beverage. However, this solution significantly increased the caloric content of the drink, and often its consumption – due to the high sugar content – caused a headache the next day.
It was not until around 2012 that the Polish beer market began to be conquered by non-alcoholic flavored beers and those with low alcohol content. Fruit radlers and shandies, initially offered only under certain brands, today often make up as much as 30% of the store's assortment. Almost every producer offers them – from large corporations to craft breweries. Interestingly, this is not a new trend. This type of flavored beer has been known for almost 100 years!
Aromatic radlers
Radler is a mixture of beer and lemonade. The traditional proportions of light beer and lemonade should be 6:4. Such a beverage is characterized by reduced alcohol content. It can also be quite sweet – depending on the sweetness of the citrus part. It is often quite cloudy and foams less. It certainly perfectly refreshes and tastes best when chilled.
Radlers were reportedly created as early as 1922. As with many other cocktails, the origins of this story are shrouded in mystery. A clue here may be the original name: "Radlermass," which in the Bavarian dialect is composed of the words "Radler," meaning cyclist, and "Mass" – a liter of beer. The owner of an inn in the Bavarian Alps – Franz Xaver Kugler – wanted to serve beer to his guests, mountain bikers. However, he didn't have enough alcohol, so he decided that instead of diluting it, he would mix it with lemon juice. This combination proved so delicious that it became a permanent fixture on the menu, and over time began to conquer new lands.
Another version of this story tells us that the clever innkeeper built a bike path right next to his establishment, which meant thirsty cyclists often visited him. It was precisely due to unexpected crowds of them that one day the beer was "multiplied" by mixing it with lemonade.
Radlers eventually crossed national borders. They are served in Spain under the name "clara," in Italy as "ciclista," in Switzerland as "panasch" or "panachѐ." The latter name is also used by the French. Japanese, Australians, and Canadians love them. Pilsner, wheat, lager, and sometimes even porter beers are now mixed not only with lemon juice but also with grapefruit, lime, and exotic fruits. Manufacturers flavor them with mint, rosemary, and other, sometimes surprising, herbs. The most varieties have, of course, been created in Germany, where almost every brewery can boast its own idea for a traditional radler.
Where else has beer with lemonade been embraced? Can you make it yourself at home? How to serve it?
Radler vs. Shandy
Sometimes in Poland, the terms radler and shandy are used interchangeably. The latter name comes from the British Isles. There, beer is combined with a non-alcoholic drink, often in a 1:1 ratio, but there is no single, prescribed value. They were reportedly created as early as the 17th century, although it is difficult to definitively identify the originator of this beverage. Ginger beers and ciders are still used in their production there today.
Radlers or shandies – the name was used interchangeably – arrived in Poland in the mid-20th century. They were industrially bottled in the 1960s-1980s. Then they disappeared from Polish consciousness, replaced precisely by beers with sweet syrup. However, for the past 8 years, they have been increasingly pushing their way onto the market – not only in variants with reduced alcohol content but also in non-alcoholic versions.
Non-alcoholic trends
Non-alcoholic beer is certainly also a good alternative for thirsty drivers and cyclists! Many people who for some reason cannot enjoy an alcoholic beverage also reach for it. More and more variants can be found in stores – wheat, dark, but also highly bitter, like IPA, appeal to the tastes of connoisseurs.
Interestingly – although manufacturers advertise non-alcoholic beers as a great way to quench thirst at work, during a walk, or during training, Poles still treat them the same way as alcoholic beverages. They identify them rather with meetings, informal time, or parties.
All flavored and non-alcoholic beers should be served like their traditional counterparts. Dark versions are therefore served in bulbous glasses with a short stem. Wheat and pilsners are poured into a tall glass, ideally with a slice of fresh lemon. Lagers can go into a simple goblet or mug.
The clear glass of KROSNO beer glasses will allow you to appreciate their shimmering, not always golden, color in the sun. The fizz will last longer in them, so the drink won't quickly turn into a bland juice. It's important to remember that a radler or shandy – regardless of its alcohol content – should be served well chilled.
Homemade flavored beers
Although stores offer a wide selection of radlers and shandies, it's worth learning how to prepare homemade flavored beer, discovering recipes for beer cocktails, and finding out how to make original and delicious beer with fruit. Each of these drinks will surely win over guests' taste buds and prove perfect for the hottest summer days.
Recipe for homemade radler
To prepare a homemade radler, you will need:
- 300 ml wheat, pilsner, or lager beer,
- 150 ml sparkling water,
- 50 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice,
- 2-3 tablespoons of xylitol or sugar.
Prepare lemonade from sparkling water, lemon juice, and sweetener, mixing all ingredients in a pitcher. Refrigerate for about an hour. Pour cold beer and lemonade into a goblet in appropriate proportions, mix. The drink can also be made in these proportions with watermelon, strawberries, grapefruits, or other fruits and mixed with mint, lemon balm, or basil.
Recipe for homemade shandy
To prepare a simple shandy, you will need:
- 250 ml pilsner or lager beer,
- 250 ml Sprite.
Chill the ingredients and mix them together. You can also combine dark porter with Cola or wheat beer with Fanta in this way.
Recipe for beer cider
To prepare a beer cider, you will need:
- 500 ml cherry beer,
- 40 ml rum,
- 60 ml apple juice,
- Juice squeezed from half a lemon,
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon,
- 5 ice cubes,
- Apple slice or candied cherry for decoration.
In a shaker, mix rum, apple juice, almost all of the lemon juice, and ice cubes. Dip the glass in the rest of the juice and then in cinnamon, creating a crust on the rim. Pour the contents of the shaker through a sieve into a tall goblet, then add the beer. Hook an apple slice onto the rim of the glass.
Recipe for dark banana radler
To prepare a dark banana radler, you will need:
- 100 ml porter beer,
- 30 ml brandy,
- Juice squeezed from half a lemon,
- Half a banana,
- A pinch of cardamom,
- 15 ice cubes.
Mash the banana. Transfer to a shaker with all other ingredients and 5 ice cubes. Shake vigorously and then strain into a bulbous glass with a stem, filled with ice.
Recipe for beer with fruit
To prepare beer with fruit, you will need:
- 500 ml lager beer,
- Pineapple slice,
- 3 red grapes,
- 2 apple slices,
- Orange slice,
- 1 tablespoon of multi-fruit or lemon syrup,
- Skewer stick,
- Tall and wide beer glass.
Cut the fruit into pieces and thread them onto a stick, creating a skewer. Pour fruit syrup and beer into the glass, mix thoroughly. Place the fruit skewer inside and stir the drink with it. Serve immediately. It is worth preparing the skewers in advance and chilling them in the refrigerator.
See our suggestions for glassware for serving flavored beers: