Lemon Shandies

As I said before, last week we were in California visiting the Grands. It was about 104 and sunny outside; a good day for a pool day! However when in the pool, one needs a pretty drink with a pretty umbrella in a pretty glass. Unfortunately, we were out of pretty umbrellas. So I had to be satisfied with pretty drinks in pretty glasses. Since the house is just as full of boys as girls, it couldn't be too fru-fru. So, I made Lemon Shandies, which is basically sugar syrup and lemon juice in beer. It is a great by-the-pool drink or BBQ Party drink. You can make it with only a splash of sugar syrup or if you're like me, you can make it incredibly sweet and lemon-y. It's delicious!


Lemon Shandies


1 cup sugar

1 cup water

6 lemons

6 pack of Sam Adams Summer Ale, Blue Moon or another light beer


In small saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water and stir. Heat on medium high heat until sugar has fully dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Meanwhile, cut and juice 5 of the lemons. Strain to remove any seeds. When sugar syrup has cooled, add lemon juice to sugar syrup.

In a tall glass, pour 1 - 3 tbsp of lemon sugar mixture (depending on your sweet tooth). Add one beer to glass. Garnish with a lemon slice or if you are so fortunate as to have them, a pretty umbrella. Go sit by the pool and enjoy!

 If you do have a pretty little umbrella, that would make it nice too.