cocktaildna

Deisenhofen, Germany · 1922

Radler

Also known as Shandy, Bavarian Radler, Alsterwasser, Panaché

A simple, low-alcohol mix of beer and citrus soda that's crisp, wet, and very easy to drink.

citrusmaltylow-alcoholsweeteffervescentthirst-quenchinglightsummersessionablefizzy

%

ABV

Difficulty

Radler

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip is bright and fizzy, hitting you with sweet lemon-lime soda and the bready carbonation of cold beer. The middle softens out as the malt comes through, balancing the citrus sweetness. It finishes clean and a little tart, leaving you ready for another gulp.

Who will like it

For people who like low-alcohol, thirst-quenching drinks with a balance of malt and citrus rather than strong spirit heat.

When to drink

Drink this on a hot afternoon when you want a beer but need to stay sharp, or after a long bike ride.

Ordering tip

Ask for a specific beer style if you care about the base, since a lager will taste crisper while a wheat beer makes it softer and sweeter.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $2–$5Glass: PilsnerBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This is about as simple and refreshing as a drink gets. You taste sweet lemon soda and bready beer, and the two just work together to make something crisp and wet. There's no depth or spirit buzz to chase, just cold fizz and a light tartness that scrubs the palate. It's a gulper, not a sipper.

Finish: The finish is short and clean, leaving a faint bready sweetness and lemon zest on the tongue before disappearing.

Primary tastes

sweetsourfruity

Secondary

bitterearthy

Aroma

bready maltsweet lemoncereal
  • Bitternessmildly bitter

    A faint hop bitterness from the beer peeks through, but the sweet soda dominates it.

  • Sweetnessmoderately sweet

    The lemon soda brings a noticeable sugar sweetness that softens the dry edges of the beer.

  • Sournessmild acidity

    You get a light tartness from the lemon soda that keeps the sweetness in check.

  • Refreshingextremely refreshing

    High carbonation, cold serving temperature, and low alcohol make this one of the most thirst-quenching drinks you can have.

  • Complexityvery simple

    It's a two-ingredient mix with straightforward malt and citrus flavors that don't evolve much.

Recipe

Make it at home

Built · Pilsner · equal parts on Lager Beer. A crisp German helles or pilsner works best; avoid heavy stouts or IPAs

Before you start

Make sure both the beer and the lemon soda are thoroughly chilled beforehand, since this drink relies entirely on cold ingredients and doesn't get shaken or stirred with ice.

Ingredients

  • Lager BeerBase SpiritHalf a standard 500ml bottle250ml
  • Lemon SodaSodaSweetened sparkling lemonade like Sprite or traditional German Zitronenlimonade250ml
  • Lemon sliceoptionalGarnishPlaced on the rim or dropped in1 slice

Garnish: Lemon slice

Tools

  • Pilsner glass · Serving

    Holds the full volume of the drink and shows off the carbonation

    At home: Any large pint glass or tall tumbler

  • Can opener or bottle opener · Other

    Opens the beer and soda containers

Ingredients and tools to make Radler
Ingredients and tools

Steps

  1. 1

    Take a tall pilsner glass and give it a quick chill by rinsing it with cold water, or just pull it straight from the freezer if you keep glassware there. Set it on the counter and get your cold beer and cold lemon soda ready.

    Step 1 — how to make Radler

    !Using a warm glass will flatten the beer and make the drink taste flabby.

  2. 2

    Tilt the glass at a 45-degree angle and slowly pour in the 250ml of cold beer, letting it run down the side of the glass. This keeps the foam from overflowing so you actually have room for the soda.

    Step 2 — how to make Radler

    !Pouring the beer straight down into the glass creates too much foam and leaves no room for the soda.

  3. 3

    Once the beer settles and the foam drops a bit, slowly pour in the 250ml of cold lemon soda right on top. The two liquids will mix naturally as the soda sinks into the beer.

    Step 3 — how to make Radler

    !Pouring the soda too fast stirs up the beer foam and makes a mess over the rim.

  4. 4

    Place a lemon slice on the rim of the glass or drop it right into the drink. Serve it immediately while it's still cold and highly carbonated.

    Step 4 — how to make Radler

    !Letting the drink sit too long before drinking means losing the sharp carbonation that makes it refreshing.

Serve

Serve it in a tall glass without ice, since the ice will dilute the beer and kill the carbonation. Drink it while it's still frosty and fizzy.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Lager Beer

  • Lager BeerWheat Beer
    Match
    Common availability

    Lager Beer → Wheat Beer: Makes the drink softer, cloudier, and sweeter with stronger banana and clove notes from the yeast.

  • Lager BeerPilsner
    Match
    Common availability

    Lager Beer → Pilsner: Adds a sharper, more bitter hop bite that cuts through the sweetness of the soda more aggressively.

Swap options for Lemon Soda

  • Lemon SodaGrapefruit Soda
    Match
    Common availability

    Lemon Soda → Grapefruit Soda: Brings a more bitter, tart citrus edge that makes the drink taste less like candy and more grown-up.

  • Lemon SodaFresh Lemon Juice and Club Soda
    Match
    Common availability

    Lemon Soda → Fresh Lemon Juice and Club Soda: Dries the drink out significantly, removing the sugary sweetness and leaving a sharper, tarter beverage.

Related

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Shandy

Similar cocktail

Shandy

Shandy is the British name for the same concept, traditionally using ginger beer or bitter lemon instead of sweet lemon soda.

Match

Both drinks are light and refreshing beer mixes, but the Radler leans sweeter and fruitier while the Shandy is drier with a ginger bite.

In common: Low ABV, Beer-based, Highly carbonated, Citrus-forward

Ingredients

Both share

Lager Beer

Only in Radler

Lemon Soda

Only in Shandy

Ginger Beer

The Radler uses sweet lemon soda, while a traditional British Shandy often uses ginger beer or bitter lemon, making the Shandy drier and spicier.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Low alcohol warmth, Bready malt backbone, High carbonation, Refreshing character

How Shandy differs

Sweeter and fruitier in Radler, Drier and spicier in Shandy

View recipe & details →

Michelada

Similar cocktail

Michelada

A Michelada is savory and spicy with hot sauce and tomato, while a Radler is sweet and citrusy.

Match

They share the same light beer foundation, but the Radler is a sweet thirst-quencher while the Michelada is a savory, spicy wake-up call.

In common: Beer-based, Low ABV, Built in glass, Cold and refreshing

Ingredients

Both share

Lager Beer

Only in Radler

Lemon Soda

Only in Michelada

Tomato Juice, Hot Sauce, Lime Juice, Worcestershire Sauce

The Radler swaps out the savory, spicy tomato and hot sauce components of a Michelada for sweet, fruity lemon soda.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Crisp beer carbonation, Cold serving temperature, Sessionable strength

How Michelada differs

Sweet and fruity in Radler, Savory, salty, and spicy in Michelada

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

In 1922, Bavarian innkeeper Franz Xaver Kugler faced a busy day of cyclists visiting his tavern and realized he was running low on beer. He mixed his remaining beer stock with lemon soda, serving it as a special to the cyclists and claiming it was the perfect drink for riders—hence the name Radler, which means cyclist in German. A nearly identical drink called Shandy appeared in Britain around the same time, so the exact origin of mixing beer and citrus is disputed, though the name Radler is distinctly German.

Creator
Franz Xaver Kugler
Era
1920s
Confidence

The 50/50 ratio is the traditional German standard, though regional variations exist. The origin story of Franz Kugler is widely cited but difficult to verify independently.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

  • Chill both the beer and soda in the fridge for at least a few hours before making.
  • Pour the beer first and let the foam settle before adding the soda.
  • Use a 50/50 ratio, but adjust to taste if you prefer it drier or sweeter.
  • Never add ice to the glass, as it kills the carbonation and waters it down.

Avoid

Common mistakes

  • Don't use a highly hopped IPA, as the bitterness clashes with the sweet soda.
  • Avoid shaking or stirring, which flattens the drink and ruins the fizz.
  • Don't use warm beer, because it will foam over and taste flat.