PRODUCT: Shandy ~ Half Beer, Half Lemonade
 Strawberry shandy. Photo courtesy Traveler Beer Company. |
Shandy, short for shandygaff (no one knows the origin of the word), is beer diluted with a non-alcoholic beverage. It’s a traditional British pub drink that mixes lager with lemon soda, ginger ale or ginger beer. Carbonated lemonade, cider or other citrus-flavored soda can be used.
Whatever you use, consensus is that shandy is a refreshing summertime drink. The shandy tradition dates back to the 17th century. Today, English publicans blend an English ale or beer with various lemon and lime beverages. With a new twist on the tradition, Traveler Beer Company of Burlington, Vermont, makes three craft shandies (4.4% ABV): |
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DIY SHANDY: CREATE A SHANDY BAR It you’re looking for a Labor Day activity, how about a make-your-own shandy bar? Just assemble the ingredients, print out brief “instructions*” and put them in a frame next to the beer. Shandy Bar Ingredients
Shandy Garnishes |
 What adult trick-or-treaters want: pumpkin shandy. Photo courtesy Travel Beer Company. |
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A COMPARATIVE SHANDY TASTING If you don’t want a shandy bar, gather whatever shandy brands you can find and have a tasting. Samuel Adams makes Porch Rocker, if you can still find it (the distribution period is through July). Anheuser-Busch’s Shock Top Lemon Shandy is available through August. Also look for Harp Lemon Shandy, Labatt Shandy and Saranac Shandy Lager and Lemonade. Fentiman’s brews two soft drink shandy styles, non-alcoholic shandy and a low alcoholic version brewed to .5 ABV ABV (1 proof), which allows it to be sold as a soft drink. We like to use shot glasses or juice glasses for this type of tasting. It lets everyone try a small amount of each brand, and return to their favorite with a larger glass. |
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