The Best Summer Beer Cocktail (Homemade Shandy)
Summer Beer is the perfect cocktail for hot summer days! Similar to a summer shandy, it’s made with with light beer, lemon and lime soda, and vodka. It’s a refreshing summer punch recipe!
If you need a refreshing drink for summer, look no further than this easy summer beer recipe! It’s the perfect summer cocktail for those super hot sunny days when you need something extra cool and hydrating, and your favorite beer just won’t do. Even if you aren’t much of a beer drinker, I think you’ll love this recipe!
A traditional shandy recipe is a beer cocktail! It’s a mix of beer, tequila (or vodka), lemonade or lemonade concentrate, and sometimes a bit of simple syrup or sugar for extra sweetness! For this summer brew recipe, I deviated just a little bit.
This recipe still has beer and vodka, but instead of lemonade, I used lemon lime soda! The soda added the citrus flavors, a bit of sweetness AND some carbonation, which I love.
I think that the best shandy is not too sweet AND not too alcoholic tasting. This makes this a great drink for those who aren’t beer drinkers normally! Below, I include instructions to make a cocktail for one, or an entire batch for a group.
Substitutions and Modifications
There are plenty of modifications you can make to this summer brew recipe! Here are a few ideas:
- Use Diet 7Up or any diet lemon-lime soda to save calories!
- Substitute ginger ale for some or all of the lemon lime soda
- Add a few extra ounces of vodka for a stronger mix
- In place of the lemon lime soda, you can use lemonade, orange juice or even a bit of lime juice!
- Add a tablespoon of lemon juice for an extra lemony drink
What type of beer should I use for Summer Beer?
The perfect summer beer is light with a crisp finish, so keep that in mind. You will definitely want a lighter beer for this, and you definitely don’t have to spend your hard earned money on craft beer since this is a punch. Here are a few beers that I’ve successfully tried with this great drink recipe:
- Busch Light (or any light body pilsner)
- Blue Moon or Boulevard Wheat beer
- Samuel Adams Summer Ale
- Allagash White
- A light Mexican lager, like Corona Light
You can also use a pale ale or IPA, but it will add more of a hoppy flavor!
Serving Suggestions
Summer barbecues are ideal for refreshing cocktails like this Easy Summer Beer. Or you can make a batch of this summer beer for a picnic or day at the beach! If you need more cocktail ideas for warm beach days, check out this list of Frozen Cocktails for Beach Day.
And, if you’d like to make a refreshing homemade drink that everyone can enjoy, I love this Orangeade Recipe!
For snacks, try pairing this refreshing drink with a batch of Poolside Dip and veggies, or fresh Hatch Chile Salsa Verde and tortilla chips!
If you are looking for more refreshing cocktail recipes, I recommend my Pineapple Moscow Mule!
Saving Leftover Summer Beer
You can store leftover summer beer in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days. Since the beer will have been exposed to oxygen, it will start getting stale tasting and the carbonation will evaporate. This is a recipe that will not be as delicious as time passes, but it’s certainly drinkable. Just make sure to stir it up first!
If you think you might have leftovers, refrain from adding ice to the mixture until it’s in the glass for serving! This will make sure it doesn’t get watered down as the ice melts.
I hope that you enjoy this Easy Summer Beer cocktail recipe, and get to spend a lot of time with friends and family this summer. Cheers!
Easy Summer Beer
Ingredients
SUMMER BEER FOR 1:
- 12 ounces light beer 1 bottle or can
- 9 ounces 7UP
- 1-½ oz. vodka
- lemon slices and/or lime slices for garnish
SUMMER BEER FOR 8:
- 96 ounces light beer 8 bottles or cans
- 72 ounces 7UP
- 12 ounces vodka
- lemon slices and/or lime slices for garnish
Instructions
- Single Cocktail (Serves 1): In a 24 ounce cup, fill it halfway with ice. Slowly pour in the beer, allowing the foam to settle. Slowly pour in the 7UP, again allowing the foam to settle. Top with vodka and citrus garnish, give a vigorous stir.
- Large Batch (Serves 8): In a container or large pitcher that can hold at least 2 gallons, add 3-4 cups of ice. Slowly pour in the beer, allowing the foam to settle. Slowly pour in the 7UP, again allowing the foam to settle. Top with vodka and ffresh citrus garnish, give a vigorous stir.
Nutrition
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Oh yeah!! Just found my go to summer drink!! It is so good!! Who needs all those calories!!
I had that in Germany growing up.It is called a Radler or Radlermas depending what region you live in.You can have it sweet with 7up.or sauer with seltzer water.
I love to drink beer, but I’ve never heard of summer beer before. Sounds like a yummy treat to enjoy! Thanks for sharing.
Sounds so delicious and refreshing! We normally don’t drink beer, but this recipe is calling my name!
A good way to have a boozy good summer. i gotta share this with some of my friends and sip this by a pool!
I have never made my own beer before. This actually looks really good! Easy too!
This is awesome! Would be a perfect summer drink! Love that you have a recipe for 1!
7 up and Diet 7 up really do taste similar. I can see how one could be substituted for the other and you wouldn’t even be able to tell!
This is the first I’ve ever head of Summer Beer, but now I’m itching to try it at our next BBQ. Looks like a refreshing drink for those hot summer days!
Drinking a beer after yard work is one of the best parts of summer. I like this recipe for after working outside or at a bbq.
Yummo! This is so perfect for summer. I think I’ll be serving this at our backyard barbecues!
This sounds like a deliciously refreshing cocktail that is perfect for summer. I can see myself enjoying a glass or two poolside for sure.