Easy Summer Shandy

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 04/29/21
Easy Summer Shandy

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 drink
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
153 Calories
0g Fat
26g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 153
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 15mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 10%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 19g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 11mg 55%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 86mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Most beer mixed drinks are easy, but few are as simple as the shandy. This popular drink requires just two ingredients and it's the perfect way to give your favorite beer a citrus twist. The shandy is simply a 50-50 mix of beer and lemonade, and you can personalize it in many ways.

First off, there are a lot of beers to choose from. Though everyone defines it a little differently, the best shandy will come from light, refreshing brews. Most people enjoy their shandy with a light lager, and it's a well-rounded choice. Wheat ales are an excellent option as well because many have a natural citrus profile. If you enjoy the hoppy IPAs, give a couple a try to see if any work for your taste. It's generally best to avoid dark beers.

The second ingredient requires just as much thought. Your shandy will only be as good as the lemonade, and it's highly recommended to make lemonade from scratch. It is very easy and you can make enough to fill an entire day with shandies.

With all these options and the fact that the shandy is so easy to mix up, there's really no need to buy a bottled shandy, which many brewers now offer. You'll find that the freshly made version is far more refreshing.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 (12-ounce) can or bottle beer

  • 6 ounces lemonade

  • Lemon slice, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Easy Summer Shandy ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Pour the beer into a pint glass until it is about half full.

    Pour the beer into a pint glass until it is about half full

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Fill with lemonade.

    Fill the rest of the beer glass with lemonade

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Garnish with a lemon slice. Serve and enjoy.

    Easy Summer Shandy garnished with a lemon slice

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

To keep your shandy cold on a warm day, be sure to use a frosty pint glass or beer mug. Storing these glasses in the freezer is a great way to ensure you always have one on hand.

Recipe Variations

This basic recipe has a lot of room for experimentation, and there are lots of shandy recipes to keep you refreshed throughout the summer. Try them all and have fun giving it a personal spin!

  • One popular variation is the radler, which has German origins. It can be made in a few different ways, but typically replaces the shandy's lemonade with a fruit soda (often citrus sodas like grapefruit or lemon-lime) or ginger ale. Again, the mix is equal parts of beer and soda.
  • The British shandy pours equal parts of beer and lemon-lime soda.
  • You can also pour equal parts lemonade and soda after filling the glass halfway with beer.
  • Make your shandy just a little more interesting by adding extra fruit to the lemonade. For instance, you can sweeten lemonade with strawberry syrup instead of plain syrup. The same technique can be used with almost any fruit; berries, mango, and other citrus are great options.
  • Another fun idea is to create a lilac shandy. It's perfect for spring because it's made with fresh lilac syrup.
  • There's also no need to stick with lemonade. Try a grapefruit shandy, which uses homemade grapefruit-ade for a fun twist, or a basil-rosemary orange shandy that flavors orangeade with a custom simple syrup.
  • Like your drinks spicy? This pineapple shandy with jalapeño syrup should be on your must-drink list.

How Strong Is a Shandy?

Essentially, the final alcohol content of your shandy will be half the strength of whatever beer your pour. For example, if you choose Paulaner Hefeweizen (a very popular wheat beer that makes an excellent shandy), your drink will weigh in at just 2.75 percent ABV.