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So Radler

Perhaps one of the most effortless and refreshing cocktails out there, a radler is composed of a blonde lager mixed with equal parts lemonade or citrus-flavored soda.

In place of the more traditional lemon, this radler recipe involves a simple grapefruit syrup that’s built from fresh grapefruit juice, grapefruit zest, honey, water, and a hint of rosemary. Since you add the grapefruit juice last, it ends up tasting like fresh juice, with sweet notes of honey and a mild herbal undertone thanks to the rosemary.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    1 serving

Ingredients

1 bottle (375 ml) sour beer, such as Almanac Citra Sour, chilled
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup honey
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 piece (3 inches by 1 inch) grapefruit peel
1 1/2 cups fresh grapefruit juice (from 2 grapefruits), strained to remove pulp and seeds

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine the water, honey, rosemary, and grapefruit peel in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the syrup has reduced by two-thirds, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.

    Step 2

    Remove and discard the rosemary. Pour the syrup into a glass jar, then add the grapefruit juice. Cover and shake to incorporate.

    Step 3

    Fill a pint glass three-quarters full with the sour beer (feel free to drink the rest!). Add 3/4 ounce (or more to taste) of the grapefruit-rosemary syrup and stir gently to combine. Add ice cubes to fill the glass.

  2. Do Ahead

    Step 4

    Grapefruit-Rosemary Syrup will keep, covered and refrigerated, for about 1 week.

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From Day Drinking: 50 Cocktails for a Mellow Buzz, © 2017 by Kat Odell. Reprinted by permission of Workman Publishing Company. Buy the full book from Amazon.
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