Jess Dixon of the Red Lion, Yarnton mixes up her beer
So here we are for another ramble in the Oxford Drinker. As I write this I wonder if we have we all lost all enthusiasm for the insane heat of summer, or do we have to love it so we’re not seen as ungrateful?
The warmer weather definitely changes people’s habits; you wouldn’t expect to regularly consume stews in the heat, so why wouldn’t people’s drink choices also change?
People expect pubs to get busier on par with the thermometer but the truth is that once it hits 30 degrees outside, unless you’ve got aircon in your pub, people would much rather sit at home with their feet in a pool or in front of a fan sweating profusely. Give me low to mid-twenties, a breeze and a clear sky any day, that’s peak beer garden weather.
From a beer point of view, people who may typically drink ale may shift their habits and start drinking lager or a cheeky craft keg beer as it is chilled a few degrees cooler. Guinness sales sadly fall through the floor (it’s not just a winter drink, people!) So why not have a look into some alternative ways to consume beer in a more refreshing way, for instance a beer cocktail of sorts?
SHANDIES
When we cast our minds to lighter beer alternatives you might envision a shandy, or you might not. Shandies do get a hard time and in my opinion do butcher a cask ale, but in the heat it doesn’t get much better than a lager shandy. There are also other drink variations similar to this classic British invention, depending on geography and ingredients, which I’ll touch on shortly.
Looking into some of the history you’ll find that shandies in the 1850s were originally made with ginger beer or ginger ale before lemonade became the norm. These ginger derivatives were also originally alcoholic until the mid-19th century, when they were then produced without the alcohol and their names subsequently became misnomers.
The original name for this beverage was “Shandygaff” and if you’re a fan of etymology then here’s one for you. Although the drink and its name’s history are unclear the theory is this: Gaff means “nonsense/loud talk”, and was also used to describe “fun fairs”, a place of lower class amusement.
Alternatively Gaff has also been thought to be a portmanteau, a combination of the words ginger and half to shorten its name in this context. Shandy was used as an adjective for “boisterous or wild” and was commonly used from the 17th century onwards to describe the lower classes.
Lots of speculation around the name seems to originate from the lower classes that made up the majority of shandy drinkers, and in theory how rowdy they got subsequently. It would be really cool if more research was done to solidify the origins however.
RADLERS
If you’re into your craft beers and follow various breweries then you’ve probably seen the term Radler thrown around and you may wonder… isn’t that just a shandy? Radlers actually have a far more defined history than shandies and originate from 1920s Bavaria.
Who would have thought that radlers originated with cyclists? Photo by Stephen Craven, Wikimedia Commons
Radler means cyclist in German and it’s also sometimes called Bikers’ Brew due to hydrating cyclists in pubs and mid-ride. And much like a shandy, its name has also been shortened over time with the original name being Radlermass, meaning cyclists’ litre.
The core difference between these drinks is that Radlers are a complete product with a more deliberate taste profile, as you don’t just stick lemonade in on a 50:50 ratio and hope for the best. This citrus-forward option usually ranges in ABV from 2-3% so fits well with current drinking habits, allowing drinkers to enjoy a different style of beer and feel refreshed.
Higher demand for lower ABV drinks means room for innovation. Craft breweries are taking the simple concept of a lager base with citrus soda and experimenting with fruit juices and purees, different base beers and Botanicals.
Some great examples of modern Radlers are Renegade’s Rhubarbie Girl, which uses rhubarb for a tart but rounded flavour (2.3% ABV); or Raddle Me This by Rebellion which provides a classic lemon hit at only 2.8% ABV.
FUN BEER
It would be a bit rude when talking about beer cocktails not to mention some of the fun concoctions people drink from time to time. Has anyone else had to pour a shandy using Coca-Cola? Has anyone else been asked for a Guinness shandy? Snakebite? Black and Tan? Black velvet?
If you’re really feeling adventurous maybe try something like the Michelada, a Mexican drink that combines beer, lime juice, hot sauce and chillies in a chilled glass with a salted rim. Or a Beergarita, when you mix a beer of your choice with Tequila and lime to create something that hopefully tastes nicer than Desperados but may also send you to sleep if you have one too many.
Beer cocktails – don’t you love them?
Jess Dixon of the Red Lion, Yarnton mixes up her beer
So here we are for another ramble in the Oxford Drinker. As I write this I wonder if we have we all lost all enthusiasm for the insane heat of summer, or do we have to love it so we’re not seen as ungrateful?
The warmer weather definitely changes people’s habits; you wouldn’t expect to regularly consume stews in the heat, so why wouldn’t people’s drink choices also change?
People expect pubs to get busier on par with the thermometer but the truth is that once it hits 30 degrees outside, unless you’ve got aircon in your pub, people would much rather sit at home with their feet in a pool or in front of a fan sweating profusely. Give me low to mid-twenties, a breeze and a clear sky any day, that’s peak beer garden weather.
From a beer point of view, people who may typically drink ale may shift their habits and start drinking lager or a cheeky craft keg beer as it is chilled a few degrees cooler. Guinness sales sadly fall through the floor (it’s not just a winter drink, people!) So why not have a look into some alternative ways to consume beer in a more refreshing way, for instance a beer cocktail of sorts?
SHANDIES
When we cast our minds to lighter beer alternatives you might envision a shandy, or you might not. Shandies do get a hard time and in my opinion do butcher a cask ale, but in the heat it doesn’t get much better than a lager shandy. There are also other drink variations similar to this classic British invention, depending on geography and ingredients, which I’ll touch on shortly.
Looking into some of the history you’ll find that shandies in the 1850s were originally made with ginger beer or ginger ale before lemonade became the norm. These ginger derivatives were also originally alcoholic until the mid-19th century, when they were then produced without the alcohol and their names subsequently became misnomers.
The original name for this beverage was “Shandygaff” and if you’re a fan of etymology then here’s one for you. Although the drink and its name’s history are unclear the theory is this: Gaff means “nonsense/loud talk”, and was also used to describe “fun fairs”, a place of lower class amusement.
Alternatively Gaff has also been thought to be a portmanteau, a combination of the words ginger and half to shorten its name in this context. Shandy was used as an adjective for “boisterous or wild” and was commonly used from the 17th century onwards to describe the lower classes.
Lots of speculation around the name seems to originate from the lower classes that made up the majority of shandy drinkers, and in theory how rowdy they got subsequently. It would be really cool if more research was done to solidify the origins however.
RADLERS
If you’re into your craft beers and follow various breweries then you’ve probably seen the term Radler thrown around and you may wonder… isn’t that just a shandy? Radlers actually have a far more defined history than shandies and originate from 1920s Bavaria.
Radler means cyclist in German and it’s also sometimes called Bikers’ Brew due to hydrating cyclists in pubs and mid-ride. And much like a shandy, its name has also been shortened over time with the original name being Radlermass, meaning cyclists’ litre.
The core difference between these drinks is that Radlers are a complete product with a more deliberate taste profile, as you don’t just stick lemonade in on a 50:50 ratio and hope for the best. This citrus-forward option usually ranges in ABV from 2-3% so fits well with current drinking habits, allowing drinkers to enjoy a different style of beer and feel refreshed.
Higher demand for lower ABV drinks means room for innovation. Craft breweries are taking the simple concept of a lager base with citrus soda and experimenting with fruit juices and purees, different base beers and Botanicals.
Some great examples of modern Radlers are Renegade’s Rhubarbie Girl, which uses rhubarb for a tart but rounded flavour (2.3% ABV); or Raddle Me This by Rebellion which provides a classic lemon hit at only 2.8% ABV.
FUN BEER
It would be a bit rude when talking about beer cocktails not to mention some of the fun concoctions people drink from time to time.
Has anyone else had to pour a shandy using Coca-Cola? Has anyone else been asked for a Guinness shandy? Snakebite? Black and Tan? Black velvet?
If you’re really feeling adventurous maybe try something like the Michelada, a Mexican drink that combines beer, lime juice, hot sauce and chillies in a chilled glass with a salted rim. Or a Beergarita, when you mix a beer of your choice with Tequila and lime to create something that hopefully tastes nicer than Desperados but may also send you to sleep if you have one too many.
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