Is It Lemonade? Is It Beer? What Is Mind Haze Rage And A Turbo Radler Anyway?

Fizzy, citrusy, delicious. 

We know you love every sip of our Mind Haze Rage Turbo Radler, but do you know just what makes a radler a radler, and Mind Haze Rage a Turbo Radler? We didn’t think you did, either. 

Does lemon make beer a radler? Does beer make a radler a beer? Is a radler a beer or is a beer a radler? 

The answer to all those questions above is, of course, yes. But we know you’re still probably scratching your head between sips. Thankfully, we’re not just in the business of brewing great beer. We’re also in the business of educating others about just what makes the beer they love enjoying so great. So, grab a backpack and maybe pack a sack lunch and toss a few Mind Haze Rages in there, because it’s time for us to take you to school. 

Let’s learn all about radlers.

Right, so, you’re probably thinking, “So, it’s half beer? And half lemonade? That sounds crazy.” Well, you’re not going to believe this, but the history behind the radler is even crazier. Yeah, seriously. 

Fun fact: “Radler” is actually the German word for “cyclist,” and it originated with a drink called a radlermass, which literally means “cyclist liter.” Even funner fact, the story goes that apparently the first radlermass was created by a German innkeeper named Franz Kugler in the small town of Deisenhofen, just outside of Munich, around 1922. 

As the tale goes, Kugler came up with the drink on one beautiful day when 13,000 cyclists made their way through his establishment. Yes, you read that number right. Apparently, there was a massive cycling boom in the roaring 20s in Germany, which doesn’t really explain why that number is so big but at least it provides some context. Kugler also created a bicycle trail from Munich through the woods that led directly to his drinking establishment. So, this is on him too.

Anyway, very understandably overwhelmed with visitors, Kugler quickly began to run out of beer. In a moment of brilliant resourcefulness, however, he began cutting his pilsner with overstocked lemon juice. Everyone loved it, and the rest is history. 

History can neither confirm nor deny this narrative, but it’s certainly a fun story. And what we do know for sure is that after Kugler’s efforts, the style began to take off around the world. You had Russ, which was a mix of 50% Weißier and 50% lemonade in other parts of Germany and Austria. There’s the Shandygaff, which often incorporated ginger beer instead of lemonade in England and the Lager Top, which is merely a dash of lemon on top of lager foam, in Wales and Scotland. 

Then there’s the Panache in France, Switzerland, and parts of Italy, the Clara in Spain, and the ever-popular Shandy here in The States. We could go on and on about the variations throughout the Czech Republic, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and more, but then we’d be here all day and your Mind Haze Rage would get warm. 

We know our breathless, century-long history lesson above was a bit much. Thankfully, we’ll simplify it here. 

When it comes to radlers, just mix equal parts beer and citrus-flavored soda. Seriously, if you have both of those things in your fridge right now, give it a try. Half beer, half lemonade (or exchange lemonade for something just as good and citrusy) and that’s it. Now you have a radler. 

The beer by nature is light and refreshing and the lemonade (or other citrus) is sweet. That’s a trifecta of flavors you really can’t go wrong with ever. Think of that incredible lemonade your grandma would always make for you by the lake right now. Okay, now imagine adding it to a cold, crisp, and delicious glass of Mind Haze. See? Now you’re following us.

Since you’re adding juice, a radler normally lightens up a beer. On average, your standard radler is hovering around that 4% ABV mark or even lower. And we’re sure you’ve noticed that Mind Haze Rage is at an 8% ABV. 

Now that you’ve read that out loud in your head, you probably are starting to understand why we call Mind Haze not just a radler, but a turbo radler. It’s got just a little more octane than what everyone’s sipping off the bike path. 

If a radler is a beer with a twist, then Mind Haze Rage is radler with a twist. See? Now you’re starting to get it. 

As we said before, we’re already using our Mind Haze Hazy IPA as the base with Mind Haze Rage, so you know you’re already set for a good time. 

Let’s hear it from our Brewmaster, Matt Brynildson, though, who always knows just what to say. With Mind Haze Rage, he says it’s, “Our way of turning up the classic shandy, blending fresh lemonade and fruit flavors with the bold, juicy punch of our classic Mind Haze beer.”

“I was inspired by a perfect summer day in Europe,” Matt continues. “Sipping lemonade in the sun, and I wanted to bring that back to The States with a twist – at 8% ABV, this one’s got a little more bite! The whole Rage lineup is refreshingly tart and sweet with just the right kick to keep things interesting.”

So, there you have it. With Mind Haze Watermelon Rage, Mind Haze Grapefruit Rage, and Mind Haze Lemonade Rage, we’re going from classic to contemporary, and all are completely delicious. 

A unique twist on the summer, or cycling, staple, Mind Haze Rage is built to be ultimately refreshing and deliciously drinkable. You can learn about all the different beers throughout our website now, and you can find it by you with our Beer Finder today.