Food & Drink /Drink

Rad Hot Summer

Fresh tasting, thirst-quenching Radlers are a biker’s reward.

By: Laura Robinson

Whether pleasure-cruising or full-throttle racing, nothing beats a cold drink after a hot bike ride. Fortunately, there’s a brew tailor-made for the occasion: the Radler (it literally means “cyclist” in German).

In 1922, a Bavarian bartender invented the low-alcohol quaff to satisfy thirsty throngs of cyclists by mixing lemonade with his dwindling supplies of beer. Radlers have been remixed with all types of brews and nectars since then, but remain part beer, part carbonated fruit juice—and 100 per cent refreshing.

Out for a two-wheeled rip? Bring a few of our go-to thirst quenchers along for the ride.

Lit

SYC Brewing Company

Brewed in Edmonton, available in Calgary, ships to Vancouver and Toronto
sycbrewing.com

This zippy pick will give you a Mario Kart-style speed boost: zesty tangerine and lemon brighten the brew while the hops add an extra zing. Squeeze into your spandex suit, slip on the speed shades and strap up the Tour de France helmet—we’re going for a ride.

Radler

Fahr Beer

Brewed in Turner Valley, Alta., available in Calgary
fahr.ca

Dripping with smooth malt, this tall boy tastes like sweet tea. Notes of soft honey swirl with refreshing lemon to mellow the typical citrus sour, resulting in a thirst-quenching honey-lemon drop.

Grapefruit Radler

Waterloo Brewing

Brewed in Kitchener-Waterloo, available in Toronto, Calgary
waterloobrewing.com

Look no further for your summer crush. The sticky-sweet grapefruit draws you in, while the sparkling craft brew mellows out into a satisfying, sunshine-soaked buzz. The lightweight alcohol level in Radlers—typically between three and four per cent—ensures this fling will last longer that the first can.

Grapefruit Radler

Citizen Brewing Company

Brewed in Calgary, available in Calgary
citizenbrewingcompany.com

Ale forward with a tasteful splash of pure pink grapefruit. Don’t be surprised if your beer-slinging uncle brings them to a backyard BBQ, self-consciously joking about how he brought them “for the wife” or is “just trying them out.” We all know he, not-so-secretly, can’t get enough.

Crafty Radler

Pump House Brewery

Brewed in Moncton, N.B., available in Calgary and Toronto
pumphousebrewery.ca

Marrying grapefruit and tangerine, this taste-bud tantalizer makes single-fruited cans look like they’re riding a unicycle. Freshly cut wheels of grapefruit take the main stage, propelled by light malt and hops, while slices of tangerine balance out the back.

Tricycle Grapefruit Radler

Parallel 49 Brewing Company

Brewed in Vancouver, available in Vancouver and Calgary
parallel49brewing.com

Gentle malt hitches its wagon to ripened grapefruit flavours, resulting in a deep and luxurious flavour profile. It’s the pleasure cruiser with a panier affixed, filled with succulent and syrupy fruits. Take your time with this one: it’s a breezy and leisurely ride.