Radler
A crisp, effervescent German classic: cold lager cut with tart grapefruit juice for a beautifully refreshing low-alcohol thirst-quencher.
Ingredients
- 8 oz (1 cup) cold pale lager
- 4 oz fresh grapefruit juice, chilled
- Grapefruit wedge, to garnish
Instructions
- 1Chill a pint glass in the freezer for a few minutes.
- 2Pour the lager into the glass first to minimise foam.
- 3Slowly pour the fresh grapefruit juice down the side of the glass.
- 4Stir gently once and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
Origin & Story
On a hot summer day in 1922, innkeeper Franz Kugler near Munich found himself facing 13,000 thirsty cyclists arriving at his roadside inn with barely enough beer to serve them. His improvised solution — cutting his remaining lager with lemon soda at a 1:1 ratio — became an instant hit. He named it 'Radler,' German for 'cyclist,' since the lower alcohol meant his guests could safely pedal home. The modern Bavarian Radler typically swaps lemon soda for fresh citrus juice, and grapefruit — tart, floral, and slightly bitter — has become the contemporary favourite for the way its acidity plays against malt sweetness.
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