The Shandy
Last weekend Kitchy took to the beach with some friends we hadn’t seen in awhile. We used to get together every 4th of July and I’d always make my fried chicken, so I promised to make it again. We also always had a cocktail. Most of the time it was margaritas. But truth be told I’ve never really believed that margaritas go with fried chicken. So, this time around, I thought I’d try something new. Unfortunately, the only drink I could come up with that goes with fried chicken is beer. There’s only one problem: beer isn’t a cocktail.
So there’s the rub, is there an alcoholic drink that pairs well with fried chicken that isn’t just a plain old bottle of beer? Could there maybe be a classic that uses beer? Well, believe it or not there is. There are actually several. I’ve already posted the Black and Tan, but turns out there are quite a few others. While the Black and Tan is a very good drink, it’s also very heavy. (It is made with Guinness after all.) No one wants heavy during the summer, especially at the beach. We want light, fruity, fizzy drinks. I found just the thing: it’s called a Shandygaff.
Turns out the Shandy (the name it goes by today) is not a new drink the beer companies have created to satisfy our love of citrus. It’s actually been around for centuries. While the recipe has changed, the idea of combining beer with something else, has been around forever. As with most of these older drinks we don’t know the exact origins of the cocktail. We do know where it originated, though. Like most of these beer cocktails it was first consumed in England, we just don’t know when. Some believe it was Henry VIII who came up with the Shandy. Others believe it came from the 18th century novel, Tristam Shandy. Wherever it came from, one thing is certain, it gained popularity back then (and probably today) because it was a way of enjoying a beer (or two) without having the effects.
The original Shandy, and the one I’m sharing, was made with equal parts beer and ginger beer. Today that ginger beer has been replaced with lemonade or citrus sodas. I’ve tried it both ways and both are lip-smacking good. I know lemonade is considered the classic summer drink, and so may be the more popular choice. But the ginger beer adds a nice spicy kick that the lemonade just doesn’t have. No matter which you choose, this cocktail is the ideal choice for summer whether you’re at the beach, having a picnic on a mountaintop, or hosting a few friends in your backyard for a barbecue. And guess what? It goes well with fried chicken, too.
The Shandy
Ingredients:
- 6 oz. beer (a pilsner or ale are best)
- 6 oz. ginger beer
Directions:
- Pour the beer into a pilsner glass. Top with ginger beer and serve immediately.
