One of the most popular drinks of the summer is radler, and the lemon version is the most popular. It is an excellent cooler in the summer heat and the non-alcoholic version can be enjoyed all day long without any consequences. We were curious about where the market for this drink is heading, so we blind-tested the non-alcoholic version!
RADLER
Radler is a drink made from a mixture of light beer and carbonated lemonade. The origin of the name is obscure. It was probably a joking reference to cyclists in German-speaking countries who ride their bikes even after drinking beer. Although not “purely”.
Shandy, a favorite drink of English soldiers, became known in other countries at the end of the 19th century. According to some sources, members of social democratic-influenced cycling clubs were already drinking it at the turn of the century. In Germany, the first production of such a drink is attributed to Franz Xaver Kugler, from 1922.
On a hot afternoon in June 1922, Franz Xaver Kugler, the owner of the Kugler-Alm restaurant in the highlands of the Alps, sadly realized that he was running out of beer and had to come up with something to entertain the cyclists, climbers and tourists who came by. He decided to pour his remaining beer with lemonade and soda, in an attempt to quench the thirst of the visitors. He followed up the idea with a shovel and gave his invention a name (after the German word for bicycle), and Radler was born. To the inventor's great surprise, the bicycle beer was a great success, and from then on, hikers began to seek out this strange beer mix.
The resulting new juice is a particularly refreshing, refreshing, and pleasant drink, with an average alcohol content of between 2.0 and 2.6%. Nowadays, it is not only made with lemon, but also with many other fruit flavors, e.g. raspberry, elderberry, orange, apple, grapefruit. And so that breweries that satisfy the needs of the masses after athletes suffering from thirst and lack of energy can also please a wide range of drivers, it also happens that if the beer used as a raw material is non-alcoholic, the alcohol content of Radler also comes out to 0.00%.
(Source: kocsmablog.hu)
Big lemon radler test
One of the most popular drinks of the summer is radler, and the lemon version is the most popular. It is an excellent cooler in the summer heat and the non-alcoholic version can be enjoyed all day long without any consequences. We were curious about where the market for this drink is heading, so we blind-tested the non-alcoholic version!
TEST PROCEDURE
For the test, we purchased non-alcoholic, lemon-flavored radlers available nationwide.
As before, the tasting was conducted by members of the Hungarian Price-Value Ratio Research Association, this time 11 of us.
We chilled the radlers and tasted them one by one so that we could experience and evaluate the foam and carbonation level when freshly filled.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Smell: we expected a natural lemon and pleasant beer smell. If the smell of beer or lemon was predominant, we did not deduct points, this ratio was evaluated when evaluating the taste.
Texture: We did not evaluate the amount and texture of the foam, as we believe it is not as relevant for this product as for unflavored beers, but we did describe the amount of foam, for those who may find it important. The flavor intensity, concentration, and carbonation were important. With less carbonated radler, the experience of freshness is lost, while with a diluted product, the taste of the beer disappears. We gave higher scores to radlers that were sufficiently carbonated and produced an intense flavor.
Taste: the ratio of lemon and beer is the most important, because if you can't taste the beer, it doesn't matter if you drink a plain lemonade, but if you can't feel the lemon, it won't appeal to those who crave a fresh citrus taste. So it's important that the natural lemon and beer flavors appear, and that they aren't overpowered by an overly sweet taste. All of this should be accompanied by a flavor intensity that doesn't feel too watery when you drink it.
THE RESULT OF OUR BIG LEMON RADLER BLIND TEST
8. Kőbányai non-alcoholic lemon radler, unit price: 398 HUF/L Score: 5.7/10 points
A noticeable lemon scent. It foams a lot. The lemon flavor is less noticeable, and the beer has a more bitter taste, less flavor.
7. Dreher 24 non-alcoholic lemon radler, unit price: 458 HUF/L Score: 6.9/10 points
A milder lemon scent, we didn't notice much of the beer's characteristic scent. It foams heavily. The beer's bitterness is evident in the taste, the amount of lemonade was a bit too much for us, so we didn't feel it was concentrated enough.
6. Borsodi Fresh non-alcoholic lemon radler, unit price: 438 HUF/L Score: 7/10 points
A distinct lemon scent, we didn't feel the characteristic smell of beer. It foams heavily. A pleasant lemon lemonade, it could be more carbonated, the level of sweetness is appropriate. We felt the taste of beer minimally.
5. Sopron non-alcoholic lemon radler, unit price: 458 HUF/L Score: 7.2/10 points
Mild lemon scent. Adequate foam. The lemon flavor is accompanied by a sour taste on its own. Minimal beer flavor is also noticeable. The carbonation and sweetness levels are adequate.
4. LIDL Argus alcohol-free lemon radler, unit price: 358 HUF/L Score: 7.3/10 points
A noticeable lemon scent. It foams a lot. The lemon flavor is not dominant, but it is noticeable, and the aroma of the beer also appears. The sweetness and carbonation are appropriate. The concentration is lighter than expected.
3. PENNY Golden Jug Lemon Radler, unit price: 358 HUF/L Score: 7.4/10 points
Pleasant lemon scent. Sufficient foam. You can feel the natural aroma of lemon and the mild taste of beer. Sufficiently carbonated, not too sweet, only the aftertaste has a stronger sugar taste than the fruit taste.
2. Gösser non-alcoholic lemon radler, unit price: 498 HUF/L Score: 7.6/10 points
A distinct lemon scent. Low foam. Natural lemon flavor, less noticeable beer flavors. The amount of carbonation could be higher. The intensity of the flavors is adequate.
1. Pécs non-alcoholic lemon radler, unit price: 418 HUF/L Score: 7.9/10 points
Intense lemon aroma. Adequate foam. The lemon flavor, the sweet taste and the characteristic aroma of beer are in the right proportion. And the pleasant amount of carbonation gives a truly fresh drinking experience.
SUMMARY
The test-winning radler is available in REÁL, TESCO, CBA, Auchan, and SPAR stores.
