Radler

Radler belongs outside, with the table in the garden, the grill cooling down, and the glasses sweating in the shade. In Bavaria and the south, it is Radler: Helles or a clean lager cut with clear Zitronenlimonade, lemon soda. In Hamburg and the north, the same idea is Alsterwasser, often sharper with Pils. Im Norden anders, im Süden anders. The drink has no single national version, and that is the point.

I make the lemonade myself because the bottle decides too much for you. Nicht aus dem Glas. Lemon peel gives the scent, lemon juice gives the edge, sugar gives body, and sparkling water gives lift. Keep the pith out, because white pith turns bitter fast and a Radler should finish clean, not medicinal.

The rule that decides it is temperature. Chill the glass, the lemonade, and the beer hard, then pour gently and don't stir it to death. Cold liquid holds carbonation; warm liquid throws foam, loses sparkle, and makes the beer taste flabby. Build it half and half for the old cyclist's measure, or a little more beer if your lemonade is sweet. Taste once. Then leave it alone.