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Radler beer, a popular beverage originating from Germany, is made by combing beer and lemonade. It is light and refreshing and perfect for hot summer days!
Radler is a popular drink in Germany made by combining lager beer and sparkling lemonade. Adding lemonade to beer adds a citrusy and slightly sweet taste which is very refreshing and perfect for hot summer days or as a thirst-quenching option after hiking, biking, or exercising.
How do you make Radler? Traditionally, a Radler is made by mixing a light lager beer with sparkling lemonade, typically in a 50:50 ratio. The result is a beverage with a lower alcohol content compared to regular beer
Radler beer was first created in the early 20th century in Germany. Legend has it that it was invented by a resourceful innkeeper who mixed beer with lemonade to satisfy a group of thirsty cyclists (Radler means cyclist in German).
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Refreshing summer drink
- Low-alcohol and can also be made with alcohol-free beer
- Even people that don’t like beer usually like Radler
Ingredient notes
Here is an overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom for quantities.
- Beer – Traditionally light lager beer is used but pilseners also work. Some variations include using wheat beer or darker beers. I used a Hacker Pschorr Munchner Gold for the Radler in this post.
- Lemonade – The lemonade should be sparkling so I recommend using a sparkling lemonade like San Pellegrino Limonata or citrus soda like Sprite or 7-up.
How to make this recipe
Detailed measurements and instructions can be found at the bottom of the page on the printable recipe card.
- Chill your ingredients: Make sure the beer and lemonade are cold.
- Pour the beer: Pour the beer into the glass. Fill it about halfway to leave enough room for the lemonade.
- Add the lemonade: Slowly pour the lemonade or citrus soda into the glass, filling it the rest of the way. The beer will foam so make sure to go slow.
- Serve and enjoy: Your Radler is now ready to be served! Enjoy it immediately while it’s still chilled.
Expert tips for success
- Chilling: It’s important to chill the beer and the lemonade, don’t add ice to the Radler
- Beer: You can use beer or non-alcoholic beer. I recommend using a German Lager or Pilsener for the most authentic taste
- Lemonade: Use a sparkling lemonade. Using lemonade without fizz or juice will result in a Radler that doesn’t have a lot of fizz and tastes stale
- Mixing beer and lemonade: First, pour the beer into the glass, then the lemonade. The lemonade is heavier and will combine better with the beer.
- Ratio: I usually go for a 50:50 ratio, but you can also go 60:40 and use more beer.
- Serving: Radler is traditionally served in a beer stein (Masskrug) or a Willi Becher beer glass without any garnishes
- Foam: You want the Radler to have foam on top because it protects the fizz and aromatics of the drink.
- Make-ahead: Radler shouldn’t be made ahead because you would lose all the fizz, and it would taste stale and not as refreshing
Variations
Non-Alcoholic Radler: There are many great non-alcoholic German beers and even pre-mixed canned non-alcoholic German Radlers that you can buy. To make non-alcoholic Radler just use a non-alcoholic beer.
Russ: This is a popular Bavarian Radler variation made with wheat beer (weissbier in German). German wheat beer is bubblier than other beer styles, very aromatic with notes of banana, and is naturally cloudy. Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier and Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier are very popular in Germany.
Radler with other citrus juices: While the classic Radler beer is made with sparkling lemonade, there are also variations with different fruit flavors like grapefruit, orange, or even raspberry. It’s always best to use a sparkling mixer but feel free to try something new.
Recipe FAQs
A Radler is a beer-based drink that originated in Germany. It is a refreshing blend of beer and sparkling lemonade or lemon soda. The term “Radler” means “cyclist” in German, and the drink is believed to have been created to quench the thirst of cyclists during a bike ride.
Shandy and Radler are both beer-based drinks. Shandy originated in the UK and is typically made with regular beer and lemonade or ginger beer. In contrast, Radler originated in Germany and is made with light lager beer and sparkling lemonade or citrus soda. Shandies often have a higher alcohol content, while Radlers are intentionally lower in alcohol. Flavorwise Radlers have a defined citrusy and slightly sweet taste, while Shandies often have a broader flavor profile.
In Canada and the US, there are several popular canned Radler options available. Most of them are mixed with grapefruit soda but are a great alternative if you’re looking for a canned Radler. A few of my favorites are
Stiegl Radler, which is Austrian and available in lemon and grapefruit, Schofferhofer Grapefruit is made with wheat beer and grapefruit juice. It has a balanced sweetness and a distinct grapefruit taste.
The ingredients in a traditional Radler are beer and lemonade. The beer is usually a light lager or sometimes a pilsener and the lemonade should be sparkling lemonade or citrus soda.
Yes, you can make Radler with different types of beer, although traditionally it is made with light lager or pilsener. The beer you use will affect the flavor of the Radler and make it taste light and crisp or more bitter.
Serve it with
Radlers are often enjoyed as a refreshing drink on a hot summer day so typical “Biergarten” (beer garden) dishes or light summer food are a great match. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Brezen (pretzels): These make a great snack! Serve them on their own or with mustard to dip on the side.
- German potato salad
- German Schnitzel
- Bavarian beer cheese dip (Obatzda): A popular cheese spread usually served with bread or pretzels.
- Grilled seafood or fish
- Salads: Wurstsalat, Cucumber Salad, Italian Pasta Salad
More German Recipes to Try
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Radler
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz light lager beer, e.g. Paulaner Münchner Hell
- 16 oz sparkling lemonade, or citrus soda like Sprite
Instructions
- Make sure the beer and lemonade are cold.
- Pour the beer into the glass. Fill it about halfway to leave enough room for the lemonade.
- Slowly pour the lemonade or citrus soda into the glass, filling it the rest of the way. The beer will foam so make sure to go slow.
- Serve and enjoy immediately!
Notes
- Chilling: It’s important to chill the beer and the lemonade, don’t add ice to the Radler
- Beer: You can use beer or non-alcoholic beer. I recommend using a German Lager or Pilsener for the most authentic taste. See the post for more options.
- Lemonade: Use a sparkling lemonade or citrus soda. Using lemonade without fizz or juice will result in a Radler that doesn’t have a lot of fizz and tastes stale. See the post for options.
- Mixing beer and lemonade: First, pour the beer into the glass, then the lemonade. The lemonade is heavier and will combine better with the beer.
- Ratio: I usually go for a 50:50 ratio, but you can also go 60:40 and use more beer.
- Serving: Radler is traditionally served in a beer stein (Masskrug) or a Willi Becher beer glass without any garnishes
- Foam: You want the Radler to have foam on top because it protects the fizz and aromatics of the drink.
- Make-ahead: Radler shouldn’t be made ahead because you would lose all the fizz, and it would taste stale and not as refreshing
