Beer is the perfect drink for summer. It's refreshing, flavorful, and goes great with all sorts of food. But sometimes, beer can be a little too heavy or filling. That's why the refreshing ginger summer shandy is the perfect beer drink for hot summer days.
It's high time you had the best shandy ever, which is this very Caribbean take on a traditional shandy. My version is made with ginger beer, lime juice, and Jamaican Red Stripe Beer.
This light and refreshing drink is perfect for sipping on a patio or by the pool. So if you're looking for a delicious way to beat the heat this summer, grab some ingredients and whip up a batch of this summery brew!
What is a summer shandy?
A traditional British shandy is a refreshing beer cocktail made with draft beer and citrus soda. 7-up (lemon-lime) soda is normally the soda of choice. Here in the States a shandy is likely to be a half beer + half lemonade combination.
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy a beer-based refresher, and there's no better way to do that than with a summer shandy. The beer provides a light and refreshing base, while the lime juice/ginger beer combo gives the drink a delicious sweetness.
Summer shandies are also incredibly easy to make, so they're perfect for parties or barbecues. Just mix up your favorite beer with some lemonade or juice, and you're good to go!
Beats and Eats (music to pair with Summer Shandy Beer Cocktail Recipe)
This is that refreshing drink that you'll constantly be dreaming about on those hot summer days. It's as infectious and on point as the Blackbyrds jam, "Dreaming About You."
Ingredients Needed To Make This Beer Drink Recipe
- Red Stripe Beer
- Ginger Beer
- Lime Juice
- Crystalized Ginger
How To Make A Summer Shandy with Ginger Beer
Mix the Red Stripe, Ginger Beer, and lime juice together in a pitcher.
Add the crystallized ginger to each of your glasses and muddle them as fine as you can.
Fill each glass with the shandy mixture.
Garnish with fresh lime or lemon slices.
Considerations and Tips for Making A Beer Shandy
Refrigerate the lager and ginger beer.
Freeze your beer glasses ahead of time. The colder the better for this recipe. This is a drink for those hot days
Tweak the ratios for the different liquids based on your taste preferences. Go heavier on the lime juice if you want this more refreshing. Add more ginger beer for an even lighter beer vibe. Or you can go equal parts beer and ginger beer.
For a more lemony vibe you could substitute crystallized lemon and a lemony drink like homemade lemonade or lemon-lime soda
I prefer lime, followed closely by lemon as my citrus of choice but you could easily go for an orange juice or grapefruit shandy.
If you're not a big beer drinker or just prefer low bitterness, you can add some simple syrup to sweeten things a bit more. I personally find that the ginger beer and candied ginger offer up enough sweetness.
Pair Shandy with some tasty New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp, Beef Neck Bones Sandwich, and a side of Pinto Beans.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About This Shandy Beer Recipe
Where to buy crystallized ginger?
In my local grocery store I buy crystallized ginger in the bulk nuts and candy section. But I've also often seen it in the regular candy aisle and/or dried fruit section. Crystallized ginger is just candied ginger.
What are the best beer types to make a shandy?
I'm partial to a light lager style type of beer like Red Stripe. American style wheat beer is another good option. I tend to stay away from pale ale and dark beer types. I'm also not a fan of light beer, so I avoid, but you can certainly use them as your base beer if you prefer.
Can you substitute ginger ale for ginger beer?
Yes, you sure can. I find most ginger ales to be much lighter on the ginger side of things relative to ginger beer, but if you have ginger ale on hand vs. beer then don't feel like you have to purchase ginger beer.
For other drink recipes try these:
Make this recipe
With summer in full swing, what could be better than enjoying a refreshing slice of summertime in the form of a shandy? This great drink recipe is perfect for those hot days when you want a refreshing treat.
All you need are a few simple ingredients including fresh juice and a few minutes to put it together. So why not give it a try? We’re sure you’ll love it!
If you make this Caribbean summer shandy beer recipe or any other recipe please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. Definitely take a photo of the dish and be sure to tag #foodfidelity so that I can see them.
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Ingredients
- 24 oz Red Stripe Lager Beer (2 beers)
- 2 cups Ginger Beer
- ½ cup Lime Juice
- 1 tablespoon Crystalized Ginger
Instructions
- Mix the Red Stripe, Ginger Beer, and lime juice together in a pitcher.
- Add the crystallized ginger to each of your glasses and muddle them as fine as you can.
- Fill each glass with the shandy mixture.
- Garnish with fresh lime or lemon slices.
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer
Sunday 24th of July 2022
OMGosh my hubby LOVED this! I love the idea of beer cocktails! Such a great summer drink that's not heavy!
amy liu dong
Sunday 24th of July 2022
This sound like a perfect and easy summer drink to have. I will def make this on my sister's birthday!
Jacqueline Debono
Sunday 24th of July 2022
I love shandy in summer, although I usually use just lager and sprite or a lime-mint juice. Never thought to use ginger beer. Excellent idea. Have to try it!
Ann
Sunday 24th of July 2022
I am a huge fan of a summer shandy - really anytime of year! I made this when we went camping over the weekend, and it was perfect! Hit the spot with the heat!
Amanda Mason
Friday 22nd of July 2022
So good!! I loved the pairing of the lime and ginger! I made this and shared it with my dad when we grilled steaks the other day. We both really enjoyed this! So refreshing!