Skip to main content

So Radler

Perhaps one of the most effortless and refreshing cocktails out there, a radler is composed of a blonde lager mixed with equal parts lemonade or citrus-flavored soda.

In place of the more traditional lemon, this radler recipe involves a simple grapefruit syrup that’s built from fresh grapefruit juice, grapefruit zest, honey, water, and a hint of rosemary. Since you add the grapefruit juice last, it ends up tasting like fresh juice, with sweet notes of honey and a mild herbal undertone thanks to the rosemary.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    1 serving

Ingredients

1 bottle (375 ml) sour beer, such as Almanac Citra Sour, chilled
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup honey
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 piece (3 inches by 1 inch) grapefruit peel
1 1/2 cups fresh grapefruit juice (from 2 grapefruits), strained to remove pulp and seeds

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine the water, honey, rosemary, and grapefruit peel in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the syrup has reduced by two-thirds, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.

    Step 2

    Remove and discard the rosemary. Pour the syrup into a glass jar, then add the grapefruit juice. Cover and shake to incorporate.

    Step 3

    Fill a pint glass three-quarters full with the sour beer (feel free to drink the rest!). Add 3/4 ounce (or more to taste) of the grapefruit-rosemary syrup and stir gently to combine. Add ice cubes to fill the glass.

  2. Do Ahead

    Step 4

    Grapefruit-Rosemary Syrup will keep, covered and refrigerated, for about 1 week.

Image may contain: Human, Person, Vacation, Ocean, Water, Outdoors, Nature, Sea, People, Shoreline, Furniture, and Chair
From Day Drinking: 50 Cocktails for a Mellow Buzz, © 2017 by Kat Odell. Reprinted by permission of Workman Publishing Company. Buy the full book from Amazon.
Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Like crispy gnocchi caprese and raspberry—brown butter skillet cake.
A flurry of fresh tarragon makes this speedy weeknight dish of seared cod and luscious, sun-colored pan sauce feel restaurant worthy.
The secret to flavorful, never-greasy eggplant parm? Brine the eggplant first.
Like hot honey chicken with peaches and a dirty martini spritz.
No grill needed for this just-charred-enough sweet and spicy chicken.
Fontina and fried shallots make this diner-style omelet perfectly acceptable dinner fare.