The Perfect Shandy Cocktail Recipe (Beer and Lemonade Summer Refresher)

There’s nothing quite like a crisp, refreshing drink to cool you down on a warm day. And honestly ? I spent way too many summers drinking complicated cocktails that required twelve ingredients and a bartending degree before I discovered the shandy.

Beer and lemonade. That’s it. Two ingredients. Mix them together and you get this light, effervescent, citrusy drink that tastes way more interesting than it has any right to be.

It’s the thing you make when it’s 85 degrees, you’re too lazy to measure anything, and you just want something cold and drinkable.

Perfect for backyard barbecues, pool days, or that moment when you realize hard seltzers are just expensive carbonated sadness and you want actual flavor.

Why This Cocktail Stands Out

It’s stupid simple. Pour lemonade. Pour beer. Stir. Done. Unlike more complicated cocktails that require multiple ingredients, precise measurements, and a cocktail shaker you’ll use twice a year, this one is straightforward.

Two ingredients. Five seconds. You’re drinking.

Despite its simplicity, it tastes complex. The tangy sweetness of lemonade cuts through the malt bitterness of beer. The carbonation from both creates this light, fizzy texture.

And the citrus brightens everything so it doesn’t taste heavy even though you’re literally drinking beer.

It’s endlessly customizable. While the traditional shandy recipe calls for pale lager and lemonade, there are endless variations. Swap lemonade for ginger ale. Use cranberry juice. Add yuzu. Try it with wheat beer instead of lager. It’s a template, not a rule.

It’s refreshing without being sweet. A lot of summer drinks are basically liquid sugar. This one has sweetness from the lemonade but it’s balanced by the beer. You can drink more than one without feeling like you need to brush your teeth.

What You’ll Need

For one shandy:

• 6 oz pale lager beer, cold
• 6 oz cold lemonade (not pink lemonade, regular)
• Ice (optional)
• Lemon twist for garnish

Best beers to use:

• Pale lager: Corona, Modelo, Stella Artois
• Pilsner: Pilsner Urquell, Victory Prima Pils
• Wheat beer: Blue Moon, Allagash White (makes it creamier)
• Light beer: Miller High Life, Coors Light (if you want it really light)

Don’t use:

• IPAs (too bitter and hoppy)
• Stouts or porters (too heavy and dark)
• Sour beers (already acidic, adding lemonade makes it weird)

How to Make It

Step 1: Pour the lemonade. Fill your glass with 6 oz of cold lemonade. Use a tall glass like a pint glass or pilsner glass.

Step 2: Add the beer slowly. Slowly pour 6 oz of cold beer into the glass. Pour gently so it doesn’t foam up and overflow. Tilt the glass slightly if needed.

Step 3: Stir gently. Give it one or two gentle stirs to combine. Don’t stir too much or you’ll kill all the carbonation.

Step 4: Garnish and serve. Add a lemon twist. Serve immediately. This doesn’t sit well because the carbonation dies.

That’s it. That’s the whole recipe. I told you it was simple.

The Perfect Pairings

This is a light, crisp, slightly sweet drink. It pairs well with basically anything you’d eat at a summer cookout.

Grilled foods: Burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, shrimp skewers, vegetable kebabs. The citrus cuts through the char and fat.

Fresh seafood: Fish tacos, ceviche, shrimp cocktail, oysters. The lemon notes echo the seafood.

Light appetizers: Pretzels, nuts, cheese platter, chips and salsa, hummus and veggies.

Spicy foods: The carbonation and lightness help balance heat. Try it with buffalo wings, jalapeño poppers, or spicy Thai food.

Mediterranean dishes: Greek salad, falafel, grilled lamb, tabbouleh. The bright citrus complements Mediterranean flavors.

Variations to Try

Yuzu Shandy

Replace regular lemonade with sparkling lemonade and add 2 tablespoons of yuzu juice. Yuzu is a Japanese citrus that tastes like lemon, lime, and grapefruit had a baby.

It adds a citrusy twist that’s more complex than plain lemon.

Cranberry Shandy

Substitute lemonade with 4 oz of ginger ale and 2 oz of cranberry juice. This makes it more tart and fruity. Good for fall and winter when you want shandy vibes but it’s not beach weather.

Radler (The German Version)

Use a German pilsner or helles lager. Mix with sparkling lemonade instead of still lemonade for extra bubbles. Germans have been making this forever and call it a radler. Same drink, fancier name.

Grapefruit Shandy

Replace half the lemonade with fresh grapefruit juice. Adds bitterness and makes it taste more adult.

Ginger Shandy

Use ginger beer instead of lemonade. This is spicier and less sweet. More assertive ginger flavor pairs well with wheat beers.

Non-Alcoholic Shandy

Use non-alcoholic beer like Athletic Brewing or Heineken 0.0. Mix with lemonade the same way. You get the shandy flavor without the alcohol.

Tips for the Best Flavor

Choose the right beer. A pale lager is best. It’s mild and crisp and blends well with citrus. Avoid dark or heavy beers like stouts or porters. They overpower the lemonade and turn the drink muddy brown.

Keep everything cold. Since this drink is best served icy cold, make sure both the beer and lemonade are well chilled before mixing. Warm beer and warm lemonade makes a sad lukewarm shandy.

Use fresh lemonade if possible. Fresh-squeezed lemonade or good quality store-bought lemonade (like Simply Lemonade) tastes way better than the powder stuff. The flavor is brighter and more natural.

Stir gently. Mix just enough to combine. Don’t over-stir or you’ll lose all the carbonation and it’ll taste flat.

Add ice carefully. Ice dilutes the drink. If your beer and lemonade are already cold, you don’t need ice. If you do use ice, use just a few cubes.

Enhance with garnish. A lemon twist looks pretty and adds aroma. You can also add a lemon wheel on the rim.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using warm ingredients. This drink needs to be cold. Room temperature beer and lemonade makes it taste wrong.

Over-stirring. You’ll kill the bubbles. Just one or two gentle stirs.

Wrong beer choice. IPAs are too bitter. Dark beers are too heavy. Stick with pale lager, pilsner, or wheat beer.

Too much lemonade. The ratio should be 50/50. If you use more lemonade, it’s just beer-flavored lemonade. If you use more beer, it’s just lemon-flavored beer.

Letting it sit. This loses carbonation fast. Make it and drink it immediately.

Why This Cocktail Belongs in Your Collection

If you enjoy easy-to-make beer cocktails that don’t sacrifice flavor, this is one drink you’ll want in your rotation.

Universal appeal. Beer lovers enjoy it for the crisp malt flavor. People who don’t usually like beer appreciate the bright citrus notes that mask the bitterness. It’s a gateway drink for beer skeptics.

Budget friendly. Beer and lemonade. Both are cheap. You can make a whole pitcher for under $10.

Perfect for crowds. Scale it up to a pitcher or drink dispenser for parties. Everyone can pour their own. No bartending required.

Sessionable. Lower alcohol than straight beer or cocktails. You can drink a few without getting wrecked or feeling bloated.

Works year-round. It’s obviously perfect for summer. But the cranberry and yuzu variations work for fall and winter too.

Make It a Pitcher for Parties

Serves 8:

• 48 oz (six 8oz bottles) pale lager beer, cold
• 48 oz (6 cups) cold lemonade
• Lemon wheels for garnish

Mix beer and lemonade in a large pitcher. Stir gently. Add lemon wheels. Serve over ice in individual glasses or let guests pour their own.

Pro tip: Don’t add ice to the pitcher. It dilutes everything as it melts. Keep the pitcher in an ice bucket or cooler and let people add ice to their own glasses if they want.

Serving Suggestions

Glassware: Pint glass, pilsner glass, or highball glass. Something tall and clear so you can see the golden color.

When to serve it: Backyard barbecues, pool parties, beach days, brunch, Sunday afternoon when you want a drink but it’s too early for hard liquor.

Temperature: Ice cold. This is not a sipping whiskey situation. Chug it before it gets warm.

FAQ Quick Hits

What’s the difference between a shandy and a radler?
Same drink. Shandy is the British name. Radler is the German name. Both are beer mixed with lemonade or lemon soda.

Can I use pink lemonade?
You can but it’ll taste and look different. Pink lemonade is usually sweeter and has berry flavors. Regular lemonade is better for classic shandy.

What if I don’t like beer?
Try the non-alcoholic version with NA beer. Or skip this entirely and make a different drink.

Can I make this ahead?
No. The carbonation dies. Mix it right before serving.

Is this a girly drink?
No. It’s a drink. Drinks don’t have genders. But if toxic masculinity prevents you from enjoying lemonade and beer together, that’s a you problem.

What beer is best?
Pale lager. Corona, Stella, Modelo, any light crisp lager. Avoid IPAs and dark beers.

Can I use hard lemonade instead of regular lemonade?
Then you’re just mixing two alcoholic drinks. It’ll be boozier. Not traditional but do what you want.