So you’ve found a coveted seat on a patio and it’s hot and you’re thirsty. Maybe you work the next day or don’t want to risk the literal headache of imbibing a few too many. What should you order? Easy, a radler.
What’s a Radler?
We have the Germans to thank for this tasty concoction of fresh juice or soda, usually grapefruit or lemon, mixed with beer. “radler” comes from “Radlermass” which means “cyclist litre” in German. (The British equivalent is the shandy, which is beer mixed with ginger ale, citrus sodas or juice and is also very tasty but I digress…)
The citrus/beer blended radler was created by German innkeeper Franz Kugler in the 1920s. A bicycling trail led to Kugler’s inn and during one particularly busy day, Kugler saw his beer supply quickly dwindling. So, to meet the demand of thirsty cyclists, he mixed the remaining beer with 50 per cent lemon soda. Problem solved. A refreshing beverage was created and summertime drinking was forever changed.
6 Calgary restaurants with radlers on the menu
1410 Bier Haus
What to drink
For $7, 1410’s Bier Haus Mimosa is a 16 ounce blend of Rolling Rock and orange juice.
1410 17 Avenue S.W., 403-229-1410, 1410bierhaus.ca
Anju
What to drink
Anju carries cans of Parallel 49‘s Tricycle Grapefruit Radler for $6. The Vancouver brewery’s radler has a strong, fresh grapefruit taste.
344 17 Avenue S.W., 403-460-3341, anju.ca
Earls Tin Palace
What to drink
Earls’ Rhino Shandy is Rhino Signature Lager blended with lime, passion fruit or raspberry juice. An 18 ounce pour is $7.50.
2401 4 Street S.W., 403-228-4141, earls.ca
Last Best Brewing
What to drink
For a non-traditional take on a radler, or shandy, order Last Best’s Hefeweizen with a shot of banana, mango or peach puree. It’s $7.50 for a pint plus $1 for the fruit at the local brewpub.
607 11 Avenue S.W., 587-353-7387, lastbestbrewing.com
National on 10th
What to drink
Central City‘s Hopping Mad Cider Radler is the first radler that combines cider, instead of beer, with fresh grapefruit juice. The combination of apple cider and citrus is surprisingly balanced, not too sweet and definitely refreshing. Order a pint for $8.50.
341 10 Avenue S.W., 403-474-2739, ntl.ca
Unicorn Superpub
What to drink
Order Steigl Radler here at the Sports Cantina for $7.50 for a big can. Brewed in Austria, Stiegl Radler is a very traditional, and always tasty, mix of Stiegl-Goldbru and unsweetened grapefruit juice.
223 8 Avenue S.W., 403-265-3665, superpub.ca