How to Make a Classic Shandy (2-Ingredient Summer Drink)
Looking for an easy, refreshing drink to serve at your next summer gathering? This classic shandy recipe is your answer! Made with just beer and lemonade, a shandy is the ultimate thirst-quencher for warm-weather entertaining.
It’s light, bubbly, and incredibly simple to whip up for a crowd—perfect for backyard BBQs, pool parties, or lazy afternoons on the patio. Plus, you can batch it in advance, making hosting even easier. Your guests will love this refreshing twist on regular beer!
Can’t make it now? Save it to Pinterest for later
Equipment You Will Need
A shandy is one of the easiest cocktails to mix as it requires no special tools! The only thing you really need are tall, beer-style glasses and a good knife to slice the lemon, to decorate the glass.
If you want to make it extra cool, you can serve it in glasses you have previously chilled in the fridge: always a nice touch that adds a little sophistication to your party!
How to Make the Perfect Shandy
How to make a delicious shandy, the perfect thirst-quenching beer cocktail for summer.
This simple recipe is perfect for making yourself or serving to a crowd and requires no complex measuring.
Whether you are making a glass or a jar, mix the same amount of good-quality beer and lemonade, and you are guaranteed a perfect result.
Ingredients
- Beer
- Lemonade
Instructions
Get your ingredients ready and start pouring your beer into a glass or jar until half full.
Top up with the same amount of lemonade
Garnish with a slice of lemon and serve
The best beer for a shandy
A shandy is very easy to make, but the results vary greatly depending on the type of beer you use.
There is no set-in-stone rule for a shandy; however, a light summer beer with a refreshing taste tends to complement citrus flavors better and usually yields a more pleasing result.
Pilsner works great, as do some lighter craft beers: the only thing that tends not to work great with a shandy is a strong-bodied, dark beer and stouts: those work best savored on their own.
The best lemonade for a shandy
When you make a 2-ingredient cocktail, you want to make sure both ingredients are as good as they can be, so after you have chosen your favourite beer, you also want to pay attention to the quality of the citrus drink you add to it.
There are two main approaches to lemonade in shandy: some prefer a homemade lemonade, freshly squeezed from whole lemons and mixed with water and sugar (my recommendation), while others opt for a carbonated lemon/lime soda such as Sprite or 7UP.
If you opt for a commercial carbonated drink, choose a low-sugar option for the most refreshing result.
If you enjoy this recipe, you may also want to explore our collection of the best summer cocktails.
Little Party Pixie advocates quality over quantity. Always drink responsibly!
© Little Party Pixie 2026
