Grapefruit Shandy

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 04/22/21
Refreshing, Made-From-Scratch Grapefruit Shandy
S&C Design Studios
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
595 Calories
1g Fat
138g Carbs
9g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 595
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 12mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 138g 50%
Dietary Fiber 16g 58%
Total Sugars 89g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 333mg 1,666%
Calcium 234mg 18%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 1496mg 32%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The grapefruit shandy is an amazing mixed drink for beer. It takes everything that's great about the original shandy (a simple mix of beer and lemonade) and gives it a grapefruit twist. And while you can buy grapefruit shandy from a number of beer companies, there's something extra-special about the flavor when you make it from scratch.

This recipe is very easy and quick to mix up. You'll start by shaking up a grapefruit-ade, which is just like lemonade but with grapefruit juice. Top it with half a bottle of your favorite beer and this refreshing summer drink is ready for you to enjoy! A grapefruit shandy is perfect for a barbecue or picnic, especially if you make a large batch of grapefruit-ade and keep a six-pack on ice.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces grapefruit juice

  • 1 1/2 ounces simple syrup

  • 3 ounces water

  • 6 ounces beer

  • Grapefruit slice, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for a Grapefruit Shandy
    S&C Design Studios

  2. Pour the water, simple syrup, and grapefruit juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well.

    Mixing Grapefruit Ade for a Grapefruit Shandy
    S&C Design Studios

  3. Strain the grapefruit-ade into a beer glass, filling it half-way.

    Making Grapefruit Ade for a Grapefruit Shandy
    S&C Design Studios

  4. Top with beer.

    Pouring Wheat Beer for a Grapefruit Shandy
    S&C Design Studios

  5. Garnish with a grapefruit slice. Serve and enjoy.

    Grapefruit Garnish for a Grapefruit Shandy
    S&C Design Studios
  • Wheat beers, such as Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale and Blue Moon, are preferred, offering a crisp, bright flavor for the grapefruit. Pilsners and pale ales work well, too.
  • Make as much grapefruit-ade as you like. Simply follow the lemonade formula of 1:1:2 (1 part each grapefruit juice and simple syrup mixed with 2 parts water). For a little more grapefruit flavor, replace 1/2 ounce or so of water with extra juice.
  • The average grapefruit yields between 5 and 6 ounces of juice. If you were to use all of that for your grapefruit-ade, mix it with the same amount of simple syrup and about 10 ounces of water. You should end up with around 20 ounces of grapefruit ade, or enough for three or four grapefruit shandies.
  • Grapefruits are big, so the average slice or half-moon is going to be an over-sized garnish for the typical beer glass. The best option is to cut each grapefruit slice into quarters.
  • The shandy is an English drink, while the radler has German roots. They're nearly identical (and the names are often used interchangeably), though the radler sometimes uses a citrus soda instead of lemonade. To make a grapefruit radler, split the water in the grapefruit-ade with club, lemon-lime, or grapefruit soda to create a sparkling grapefruit-ade.
  • Though it's enjoyable without booze, some people like to add it to their shandy. For the grapefruit shandy, try a shot of grapefruit vodka or white rum.
  • Use this recipe as inspiration for other flavored shandies. Try it with citrus fruits like orange or lime. Or, muddle a few strawberries or raspberries in the shaker while making the ade.
  • If you want to take a break from the beer or need a quick non-alcoholic drink, top the grapefruit-ade off with tonic water or a citrus soda.

How strong is a grapefruit shandy?

The grapefruit shandy will cut the alcohol content of your beer in half. For instance, if you're using a 4.7 percent ABV beer, the finished drink will weigh in around 2.35 percent ABV.

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