Classic Shandy

By Rebekah Peppler

Updated July 16, 2026

  • Rachel Vanni for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Media 1 of 2
Ready In
5 min
Rating
5(12)
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A simple two-ingredient drink with beer as a base, the shandy offers the drinker a choice of mixers: lemonade, ginger ale or ginger beer. Lemonade leans the drink sweeter and brighter, while ginger ale or ginger beer lends spice and a bit of heat to the final shandy. Whatever you choose, make sure both mixer and beer are nicely chilled before combining. If you’re looking to keep the chill going for even longer, pop the empty glass in the freezer for at least 15 minutes and up to an hour before pouring.

Featured in: It’s Not Summer Until You’ve Had a Proper Shandy

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Ingredients

Yield:1 drink

  • 6 to 8 ounces cold lighter-style beer, such as lager

  • 6 to 8 ounces cold sparkling lemonade, ginger ale or ginger beer

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving

14 grams carbs; 113 calories; 20 milligrams sodium; 1 gram protein; 7 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a pint or Collins glass, combine the beer and lemonade, ginger ale or ginger beer. Stir gently to mix, and serve.

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5 out of 5
12 user ratings
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Comments

Rich

Lemonade in the UK is a carbonated soda akin to 7-up or Sprite. I wouldn’t try making a shandy with American style lemonade.

Zsa Zsa

I came here to write the same thing. I suggest one of the following: Fever-Tree Sparkling Sicilian Lemonade or Sanpellegrino Liemonata.

DRC423

The less fussy, the better. Growing up in the UK, we used the equivalent of 7-Up and any light lager- and not half and half, more 1/4 lager to 3/4 beer. Here in the US, 7-Up or Sprite would pair well with Bud or Miller or any relatively plain regional lager. Cheers.

Rmski77

Had an Amstel Radler in Amsterdam recently. Best shandy I’ve ever had. There are some Radlers in the US like Sam Adams Porch Rocker, but the Amstel one is the best.

cbbNcinci

Harp & Sprite, ice cold, is very nice.

Kraffel

Wrong beer, too. In England shandy traditionally made with bitter.

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