When the sunshine hits, there’s nothing better than cracking open a fizzy, refreshing Lemon Shandy. The store-bought versions can be overly sweet, though, so if you’re looking for something you can control and will taste exactly the way you like it, you’re in the right place.

A Lemon Shandy Is The Perfect Summer Cocktail

Summer is for beaches, boating, and relaxing, and what better way to do that than enjoying a beer with lemonade?

Lemon shandy beer has exploded in popularity in the last few years, with a lot of commercial options available, like Shock Top Lemon Shandy and Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, but those are just too sweet for my taste. I get halfway through a bottle, and I’m about done.

That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a crisp beer lemon shandy at home!

By whipping up a fresh batch of sparkling lemonade to mix with your favorite beer, you can easily control the sugar content and final result and have a whole batch of shandies to enjoy with your friends and family.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe For Lemon Shandy Beer

  • Lemony but not too sweet. You won’t get heartburn from a drink with too much sugar!
  • Made with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
  • Easy to prep in advance. Make the simple syrup ahead of time and you’re all set to stir up your shandies whenever you’re ready.
Ingredients in front of a patterned blue wall, including a bottle of beer, citrus juice, sugar and simple syrup.

Lemon Shandy Ingredients

A full recipe card, including exact ingredient amounts, appears at the bottom of this post.

  • sugar – regular granulated sugar is what will add sweetness to the shandy.
  • water – please note that you’ll need regular still (tap) water AND a bottle of sparkling water to make this lemonade shandy.
  • lemon juice – freshly squeeze it from real lemons, none of that bottled stuff!
  • wheat beer – you’ll need four 12 ounce bottles of wheat beer for this beer and lemonade beverage. More on this below.

How To Make A Beer Lemon Shandy At Home

A three part photo showing the process of making a beer cocktail.

1. MAKE SIMPLE SYRUP. Heat sugar and water to a boil in a sauce pot and cook until all sugar is dissolved. Transfer the syrup to the fridge to fully cool before making your shandies.

2. ASSEMBLE. Stir together the simple syrup, sparkling water and fresh lemon juice. Pour one bottle of beer into each pint glass, then divide the lemon mixture over the beers.

A pint glassed filled with lemon beer, garnished with mint and lemon slices.

Beer And Lemon Home Chef Tips

  • Feel free to experiment with sweeteners. Instead of granulated sugar, try an equal amount of honey or agave nectar in the sugar syrup for a twist.
  • Try a flavored sparkling water to add another layer of flavor to beer with lemonade. Stick with lemon flavor, or try it with lime or grapefruit sparkling water.
  • If you can, chill your pint glasses in the freezer for a couple of minutes before serving your shandies so you have chilled glasses.
  • Serve the shandies garnished with lemon wedges and mint sprigs for color if you want (but totally not necessary).
Three glasses filled with lemon shandy beer in front of light blue wallpaper.

How To Store Leftover Beer And Lemonade Beverage

If you have leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator up to 2 days. 

The simple syrup can be made and refrigerated up to 1 week before serving.

Because sparkling water loses its fizz quickly, don’t stir up the pitcher of sparkling lemonade until just before serving.

Can You Freeze A Lemon Shandy?

These don’t freeze well on their own, unless you want to make lemon shandy popsicles, which – we won’t judge. But a better option if you’re into frosty drinks is to pick up a Slushy Machine for your kitchen. They aren’t cheap, but they are so worth it!

A pint glass filled with beer and lemonade, garnished with mint and lemon, with hot dogs in the background.

Save This Recipe!

Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe to your inbox.

Lemon Shandy FAQ

What is a shandy?

A shandy is beer-based cocktail where beer is combined with a non-alcoholic beverage like lemonade or citrus soda. This beer with lemon concoction originated in Europe but has gained popularity in the United States thanks to how delightful it is!

Can I use Meyer lemons?

If Meyer lemons are in season, they are perfect for a lemon shandy beer! Their sweet and slightly floral flavor pairs nicely with wheat beer.

What beer is best for lemonade shandy?

This really isn’t the time to experiment with dark beers like porters or stouts, or heavily hopped or complex-tasting beers. Our favorite is wheat beer (Weihenstephaner Hefe is one we prefer), but pilsners and saisons are also great choices for a lemon shandy.

Can I use lager beer?

Shandies are best with a wheat beer, but a lager will work for beer and lemonade in a pinch!

Do I serve lemon shandy over ice?

Some recipes call for serving lemon beer over ice, but we don’t think it’s needed, as long as your beer, sparkling water and simple syrup are all well chilled before you stir them together.

A tall glass of beer and lemonade, garnished with a citrus slice and fresh mint sprig.

Eat These Snacks With Your Beer With Lemon

Who doesn’t love an ice-cold beer with some salty snacks? Even better when there’s a splash of lemonade involved.

Our Favorite Snacks To Serve With Lemon Beer Are:

A tall glass of lemonade shandy, garnished with a lemon slice and fresh mint sprig.
Glasses of lemon shandy garnished with lemon wedges and fresh mint in front of a patterned blue background.

Lemon Shandy

When the sunshine hits, there's nothing better than cracking open a fizzy, refreshing Lemon Shandy. The store-bought versions can be overly sweet, though, so if you're looking for something you can control and will taste exactly the way you like it, you're in the right place.
5 from 4 ratings

Save This Recipe!

Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe to your inbox.

Ingredients

  • cup granulated sugar
  • cup water
  • 1 ⅓ cups chilled sparkling water
  • cup fresh lemon juice
  • 4 bottles chilled wheat beer (12 ounces each) (we used Weihenstephaner Hefe)

Instructions

  • In small saucepot, heat sugar and 1/3 cup water to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. When all sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and let cool. Transfer to jar and refrigerate until chilled.
  • In small pitcher, stir together sparkling water, lemon juice and sugar syrup until well combined.
  • Pours beer into chilled pint glasses and top each glass with sparkling lemonade. Serve immediately.

Notes

Our favorite is wheat beer (Weihenstephaner Hefe is one we prefer), but pilsners and saisons are also great choices for a lemon shandy.
Calories: 69kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 0.1g, Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.01g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 22mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Vitamin C: 8mg, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 0.03mg
This website provides estimated nutrition information as a courtesy only. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?Leave a Review below or share a photo and tag me on Instagram @foxeslovelemons with the hashtag #foxeslovelemons.