Lemon Ginger Radler
Karbach Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When rating a Radler, you’ve got to grade it as a Radler, not a beer. And if you’ve stayed or lived in Germany long enough, you’re going to have and eventually like Radlers. Sometimes nothing else will do - especially on a HOT day. A Radler (cyclist in German) is a mix of citrus soda and beer, and they are hugely popular throughout Germany and Austria in the summer. The idea is to provide cyclists and hikers with something of lower alcohol (for safe riding) and higher sugar for refreshment after high exertion.

So how is this one? It would be just OKAY in Germany - middle of the Bahn. It tastes a little artificial and a tiny bit over sweet. And German Radlers usually use a Weißbier as a base, so the “beer flavor” comes through stronger. But this is the US of A - you can’t just go find a Radler anywhere and a shandy IS NOT THE SAME, so we’re grading on a curve. If you NEED a Radler in the US, this is probably the best you’ll find!

Pours a very cloudy yellow color with a small carbonated head with very minimal retention and mild lacing. Artificial lemon aroma with definite ginger. Not much else. Taste follows the same way. Tastes more like ginger ale with lemon added. Drinkable and may be refreshing on a very hot day but not what I would call a beer. Light bodied with moderate carbonation.

 

 

Very light yellow color with a large bubbly cap that rapidly diminishes.

Aroma primarily of lemon and ginger.

Tastes like a very mild light beer that has been flavored with lemon and ginger along with some sort of sweetening agent. If that was the goal they succeeded. It actually works very well in that regard.

Light texture with balancing carbonation.

I honestly believe that those who don't like any beer at all would find this palatable.

 

 

Too gingery for my tastes but the lemon does do a good job at blending them together so it's not as an intense ginger flavor like some other beers out there.

 

 

 

 

Pours out semi cloudy golden in color. Head is white and soda pop like and is gone in just a few seconds. No lacing.
The nose has ginger and lemon as advertised but not much else.
The taste is sweet like a ginger ale with lemon.
The mouthfeel is that of a well carbonated ginger ale. Is this a pop?

"No sir I don't like it" -Mr. Horse-