Ingredients
Drink
- 300 mlcold Helles or Pilsner
- 200 mlcold Zitronenlimonade, clear lemon soda
Also
- a chilled half-litre glass
Optional
- a slice of lemon
Directions
- Use a Helles or a Pilsner rather than anything hoppy, dark or strongly aromatic.
- Chill the beer, the lemonade and the glass thoroughly. Everything must be properly cold.
- Let the head settle for a moment. Now top up with the cold lemonade.
- Add a slice of lemon if you like, though German beer gardens generally do not.
- Serve immediately, without ice.
Technique
- Ready-mixed Radler is sold in bottles and cans throughout Germany and Austria.
- Grapefruit Radler is now common and is a genuine variant rather than a novelty.
- It is around two per cent alcohol, which is why it is drunk at midday.
Substitutions
- Sprite or any clear lemon soda in place of Zitronenlimonade.
- Any pale lager or pilsner.
Variations
- Russ, made with Weissbier.
- Grapefruit Radler.
- Panaché or Monaco, the French versions.
History
Named for cyclists; innkeeper Franz Kugler is said to have stretched his beer for a 1922 cycling crowd near Munich.
Frequently asked questions
What is Radler?
Radler is a cocktail from Germany: lager cut half and half with lemon soda. Named for cyclists; innkeeper Franz Kugler is said to have stretched his beer for a 1922 cycling crowd near Munich.
How long does Radler take to make?
Radler takes 2 min of preparation and no cooking at all. The recipe makes 1 glass. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Radler?
Yes, within limits. Sprite or any clear lemon soda in place of Zitronenlimonade. Any pale lager or pilsner.
What is the most important thing to get right in Radler?
Use a Helles or a Pilsner rather than anything hoppy, dark or strongly aromatic.
