I saw some tweets on Twitter the other day asking what is a good Shandy out there. This reminded me of the great summer quencher. The Shandy is the English version a mixture of a lager and lemonade. The Radler is the German version usually a mix of a Helles lager and lemon-lime soda and the Russ, which is a hefeweizen and lemon-lime soda. Radler, translating to cyclist in German, was invented in 1922 by Franz Kugler, owner of Gasthaus high in the mountains of Bavaria. He was running out of beer for the cyclists and hikers that day so he supplemented with lemon-lime soda and people immediately fell in love with the concoction. 

Leinenkugel has a summer Shandy as well as Shock Top. Stiegl is a German brewery that makes a fine Radler. Detroit Brewing Company makes a nice Radler where you taste the beer more with just a hint of lime. These are all offered by ABC. 

The Radler is not limited to lemon-lime. Grapefruit is popular with breweries as well as orange soda and even cola. Warsteiner offers all of these blends. I suggest creating your own with your favorite beer such as Hofbrau Original or Cigar City Hotter Than Helles and add fresh lemonade/orange soda/lemon-lime soda to taste. Ass Kisser Hefeweizen or Spaten Franziskaner and some Seven Up would make a nice Russ. Try a Witbier like Wittekerke or Ommegang Witte and some Fanta Orange. Summer is good to us beer drinkers.    

Adam Shugan, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Beer Consultant - Archer Road, Gainesville

Follow him on Twitter @abcbeeradams