What is a shandy?
Sunny days call for cocktails. And beer. What about a beer cocktail? That’s what a shandy is. No longer just something you hear your grandpa order down the pub. A shandy is a refreshing but lighter way to enjoy a beer. And it’s good with basically everything. BBQs? Check. Sunday roasts? Check. Post-work pint? Check. Keep reading – we’ll tell you all about shandies and why you’ll want to order (or make one) yourself.
The definition of shandy
The shandy is a refreshing thirst-quencher, popular in pubs across the UK. It’s technically a cocktail. Made with equal parts beer (usually lager, but you can totally make one with IPA or ale, too) and lemonade. Or lemon-limeade. It gives the beer a crisp citrus flavour that works really well with the hoppy notes. And it lowers the alcohol content a bit too.
Apparently, the shandy was invented in the 1850s. It was known as a Shandygaff back then and it was a mix of beer and ginger beer. But by the 19th century, ginger beer was traded for lemonade. They also dropped the “gaff” (better for everyone, we think), and the name was shortened to just “shandy”.
Is it different from a lager top?
Yep! A shandy is different from a lager top. Although only by a bit. A lager top has less lemonade – you literally just “top off” your pint (or half pint) of beer with a small amount of lemonade. Rather than make up a glass of 50/50 of each.
What does a shandy taste like?
Shandies are the perfect summer-day sippers. Thanks to the sweet lemonade, they have just the right amount of fizz, a light beer flavour, and low bitterness. So you get all that great hoppy beer flavour, just mellowed out a bit. If you have a mate who isn’t sold on the taste of beer yet, whip them up a shandy – it’s a good starting point. And shandies are lower in alcohol, so they’re a great option if you’re not drinking much. Or if you only have 1 beer left and want to stretch it for the whole footie match.
How to make the best shandy? (Spoiler alert: with Beavertown)
Choose Bones lager for a dead good lager shandy. Just grab your favourite lemonade and mix half and half in your glass. We recommend a pint glass. But our tumbler glasses work well, too. And because they hold exactly a 330ml can of Beavertown, you can get two whole shandies out of one can.
Other beers you could make a top-notch shandy from? Bloody ‘Ell makes a good, citrusy option with all the blood orange juice in there. Or why not try it with our OG session IPA, Neck Oil? It’s got all those great crisp, hoppy notes and a citrusy flavour that goes oh-so-perfectly with lemonade.
Can’t be bothered to mix your own shandy?
We hear you. Sometimes you just want to crack open a cold one. Full stop. That’s why we created Cosmic Drop, our new refreshing shandy beer that comes in two sweet flavours: Watermelon and Berry Punch. Mixed with actual fruit juice, these thirst-quenching shandy beers are perfect for cider lovers.
Summer BBQs. Pub garden gatherings. A light weeknight beer with dinner. Shandies are great any time. Just make sure you enjoy responsibly. Check out the rest of our craft beer to find some new shandy combos we didn’t think of.
