Usually when talking about gastronomy, the main focus tends to be on food. However, drinking is also part of it, although sometimes it is not so important. Because pairing a good dish with a delicious wine can elevate the preparation to seventh heaven. But not only wine is a great option for pairing dishes, there are those who prefer to enjoy their food with a nice cold beer.
And the truth is that if we talk about beer, we can talk about an infinite number of different varieties. So many that there is usually great controversy when it comes to choosing which are the best beers in the world. For those who find beer too bitter or difficult to drink, there is a widely consumed alternative: beer with lemon. But… What exactly is this variety and what is its origin?
What is a beer with lemon?
For starters, a beer with lemon or a radler is the combination of beer and lemon. It is a mixture that offers a very special and refreshing flavor and is usually consumed during the summer months. And, although many people are unaware of it and think that it is a recent invention of the breweries, the truth is that its origins date back to almost a century ago.
The origin of this type of beer
The relationship between beer and lemon began at the beginning of the 20th century, specifically in the 1920s.. It was in the German town of Deisenhofen that it all came about: there were some busy country cycling trails and one day a local tavern was running out of stock. Faced with this situation, they decided to mix the beer with 50% lemon soda so as not to run out of sales. A combination that convinced the cyclists from the first sip.
The success was such that in a few weeks this new invention began to become popular in nearby towns. And soon after, it would reach Munich, the city that would serve as a catapult for the lemon beer to make the leap to the whole world.
Many names for the same beer
Because the success of beer with lemon is worldwide, in every corner of the planet it is called by a different name. For example, in Spain it is quite common to refer to it as ‘.clarain areas such as Madrid and Andalusia. While in other parts of the country such as Valencia and Bilbao it is called ‘.shampoo‘ y ‘pika‘ respectively.
Beyond our borders it also has multiple denominations. In the Netherlands it is called ‘sneeuwwitje‘, which means something like ‘white’ in Dutch. In France, Italy and Switzerland, it can be ordered as ‘.panaché‘, and in South American countries such as Uruguay and Colombia it is referred to as ‘cerveza cortada’ or ‘refajo’.
What to accompany a radler beer with
Now that you know the origin of this mixture of beer and lemon, as well as its name in different parts of the world, it is time to talk about the pairing. What is best to accompany it with? The reality is that it combines well with any type of dish, although its best partners are salads and fresh fish. In fact, The best way to enjoy it is on a sunny terrace in the middle of the summer with a good portion of fried fish..
