Stiegl Radler Grapefruit

By Eric Cioffi

 

The Stiegl Brewery is privately owned and operated in Salzburg, Austria, where brewers combine tradition and innovation, forming a concept for success that makes Stiegl the strongest beer brand in Austria. The secret of this success is using the highest quality raw ingredients and Europe’s most modern brewing technology and production facilities to produce a supreme product. Stiegl has been brewing beer since 1492, using glacial spring water from the local Untersberg mountain, as well as continuing the time-honored tradition of delivering the beers locally via horse-drawn carriage.

 

The brewer describes this beverage as “The fruity one”- A mixture of grapefruit, orange, and lemon juice that gives the Stiegl Radler a distinct, tart aroma and natural cloudiness. Mixing Stiegl’s signature Goldbräu lager with 100% real fruit juice produces a refined bitterness, with a soft and pleasing fruity flavor. With only 180 calories per can and 2.5% ABV, the Stiegl Radler Grapefruit is an ideal drink for those looking for a light malt beverage. In fact, the German translation of “Radler” is “cyclist,” and the beer is often referred to as a “bicycle beer” because bicyclists prefer this style of beer as they bike the Alps.

A Radler is similar to an English shandy; blending full-flavored lager beer and real fruit juice, creating a sublimely refreshing summer drink low in alcohol and full of flavor.

The Radler pours a spritzy and zippy cloudy pale yellow with a thin white head that vanishes as it settles. The aroma is lush grapefruit along with some lemon, slightly sweet and tart. The first sip was dry and reminded me of Orangina and Squirt grapefruit soda.  It is refreshing and tasty with a touch of sweetness that does not overreach and a crisp refreshing blast of acidity to balance it all out.

I like this radler.  It doesn’t really seem like a beer, more akin to a wine cooler, but it is a very tasty and refreshing beverage for when you are in the mood for something different.

Radler | 2.5% ABV

Rating: 25 as a Beer | 75 as a cool refreshing beverage