Spirits: How to Make a Radler
Let's enjoy a German drink. Given the hot weather, my go-to choice is the Radler! It's simple: mix lemonade with beer and savor the refreshing blend.
Ingredients
- 1 part German-style beer (such as a light lager or hefeweizen)
- 1 part lemonade (preferably fizzy or sparkling, but a good quality store-bought lemonade works too)
- Ice cubes (optional)
- Lemon wedge or slice for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Choose a German-style beer that you enjoy, such as a light lager or a hefeweizen. Make sure it's cold for a refreshing drink.
- In a glass, pour equal parts of the German beer and lemonade. For example, if you're using 8 ounces of beer, add 8 ounces of lemonade.
- Stir gently to mix the beer and lemonade together. If you prefer, you can add ice cubes to the glass before pouring in the ingredients.
- Optionally, garnish the drink with a lemon wedge or slice for added flavor and presentation.
- Serve immediately and enjoy your homemade Radler!
Adding lemonade to the Radler
While delving into German cocktails, I discovered a unanimous opinion: if it's not beer, it's not worth it. Who am I to dispute a culture with a beer-making legacy since the 11th century? Bearing that in mind, I opted for the oldest German beer I could find.
Completing the Radler with hefeweizen
Enter The Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan, officially brewing since 1040. They surely know their craft by now. I picked up their hefeweizen, known for its citrus notes and perfect for a summer day. Mix it one-to-one with lemonade, and you're set!
A word about the lemonade — traditional German lemonade is fizzy like lemon-lime soda, but I settled for a good store-bought version as local options were a tad sweet for my liking. While homemade lemonade would elevate this drink, a quality store-bought version does the trick too.
Here's a toast to you, Germans!