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Traditional British Shandy Recipe

A traditional British Shandy is a refreshing mix of lager beer and carbonated lemonade. It is the perfect refreshing summer beer drink that goes down very easy.

The drinking age in the UK is 18, and Shandy seems to have become the beverage for the young drinker in training.

It’s no secret that the Brits love their pubs and beer. When one turns the drinking age (or before, if no one is looking) it takes a while to develop your taste for beer.

Traditional British Shandy Photo
(Janette Fushchi)

I remember trying my dad’s beer for the first time and hated the taste. This is where the Shandy is the perfect sweet transition for developing the palette.

I have fond memories of my parents taking me on summer evenings to the pub, sitting outside in the warm evening sun, drinking a nice cold Shandy and feeling so grown-up.

Traditional British Shandy Picture
(Janette Fushchi)

The pub I loved the most was on the side of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Taking an elevator down the side of the cliff was the only way to access the pub.

Traditional British Shandy Image
(Janette Fushchi)

It was perfectly acceptable for them to serve me a Shandy because of the low alcohol content. This makes it exempt from laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Traditional British Shandy Pic
(Janette Fushchi)

The ‘Shandy’ name is derived from the old British name ‘Shandy-gaff’, which is a drink from the 1850’s of beer and ginger ale.

Shandy is a mix of equal parts of beer (lager) and lemonade. It must be fizzy lemonade. Also, no ice.

File 1 Traditional British Shandy

Ice is not served in beer and it doesn’t belong in this drink, just use very cold beer and lemonade.

Shandy can also be made with bitter, which is a light body, copper colored beer. When you ask for a Shandy in a pub you have state your preference and ask for a “lager Shandy” or a “bitter Shandy”.

File 2 Traditional British Shandy

It goes exceptionally well with summertime favorites like Heather’s Trailblazer Burger and Kristy’s Grilled Baby Back Ribs.

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Traditional British Shandy Photo

Traditional British Shandy Recipe

Janette Fuschi
A traditional British Shandy is a refreshing mix of lager beer and carbonated lemonade. It is the perfect refreshing summer beer drink that goes down very easy.
3 from 16 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Cuisine British
Servings 2
Calories 88 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 16 ounces Lager Beer cold
  • 16 ounces Sparkling Lemonade cold

Instructions
 

  • Pour 8 ounces of the beer into a pint glass and fill with 8 ounces lemonade.
  • Serve cold.

Nutrition

Calories: 88kcalCarbohydrates: 24gSugar: 24g
Keyword Beer, British, Cocktails, Drinks, Easy, Lemons, Party Food
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
3 from 16 votes (16 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating