The most popular mixed beer drink in Switzerland is probably panaché or panasch. For this, light lager is poured into a bar until it is about two-thirds full and then topped up with lemonade. This order is important, otherwise the lemonade will remain at the bottom of the glass due to the higher sugar content and there will be no mixing. A good panaché should be balanced. If it doesn't taste too sweet, it is the best refreshment on a hot day or after exercise.
A Bavarian invention
In southern Germany and many parts of Austria, the mix of lemonade and beer is called Radler. There is a story about the origin of the name that takes place outside Munich in the 1920s: The landlord of a popular pub for day-trippers found himself with so many guests on a sunny day that he was in danger of running out of beer. Fortunately, he had the ingenious idea of diluting half of his Helles with lemonade. As the thirsty guests were numerous cyclists, he called the half liter of this mix Radlermass.
He explained that he had invented this especially for the cyclists so that they would not sway as they cycled home. It is said that the guests liked this new drink and demand therefore also increased in other pubs. Today you can also buy the Radler ready-mixed. In addition to lemonade, you can also find variants with other citrus fruits such as grapefruit or even with syrup such as raspberry or elderflower. And when not only lemonade but also fruit juice is added, it's called a Naturradler. Russnmass is almost only known in Bavaria.
This is a half-liter Hefeweizen with lemonade. The name probably goes back to the time after the First World War when supporters of communism met in Munich. It is said that they stretched the beer so that they could talk for longer. In the vernacular, this mixture then became "Russ". In northern Germany, there are also several ways of mixing beer with sweet drinks. One of these is Alsterwasser. It is made with pilsner, which is somewhat more bitter than lager. The name is said to refer to the color similarity of the drink to the river Alster.
This article appeared in
issue 3-2024
BAR NEWS magazine as single issue
The color also gives the Diesel its name: a mixture of lager and Coca-Cola. Another mix from Germany is Berliner Weisse with a shot of "red" or "green". Raspberry or woodruff syrup is added to the Berliner Weisse - a tart, fresh wheat beer specialty. This mixture is typically drunk with a straw from a goblet-like glass. And finally, there is the beer punch. For this, beer and syrup are supplemented with fruit, sparkling wine and ice cubes.
Mixing everywhere
However, Panaché and Radler are not limited to German-speaking countries. In England and the Commonwealth countries, you get more or less the same thing when you order shandy. In Mexico, thirsty throats like to refresh themselves with a chelada. An ice-cold, pale lager is added to lime juice and ice cubes, and the glass is rimmed with salt. Add tomato juice, hot chili sauce and spices to add a little pep and the drink is called a michelada.
A beer cocktail reminiscent of a Bloody Mary. The two beer nations of Great Britain and Ireland also like it mixed. The Black and Tan is worth mentioning. The name refers to the color of the two beers in the drink. Half a glass is filled with a light brown ale (tan) and then a black stout (black), for example a Guinness, is carefully poured over the back of a spoon. If it has worked, the two layers remain clearly visible due to the different densities. If you feel a little more luxurious, combine the stout with champagne and you have a beer cocktail called Black Velvet. Or how about a Picon Bière for an aperitif?
A strong shot of herbal orange liqueur, Picon, is added to a light beer. The fruity, bitter taste is highly appreciated in Alsace (F) and the neighboring French-speaking regions. Finally, the so-called submarine is somewhat less noble. This involves sinking a shot glass full of schnapps - Jägermeister, for example - into a beer stein. Due to the different densities, the two liquids do not mix here either - a drink for the hard-boiled. You could say that where there is beer, there are variations on mixing. Whether as a refreshment or as an ingredient in a drink, beer can do (almost) everything.
