RADLER BEIR ORIGINS

Munich, Germany, 1922 on a squelching hot June Sunday, a number of German Radler (literally means "cyclist") came into town on their bicycles for a race. With the rapidly diminishing beer stock at the Kungleralm Restaurant, and all breweries closed on Sunday, the landloard (Franz Xaver Kuglar) mixed dark beer with sparkling lemonade water. Over time it became more and more popular, then at no time at all it became instantly accepted for it's thirst-killing taste. The result was a refreshing light beer containing less alcohol.

 

Radler Bier (cyclist beir) as it become known continued to grow for many years mixing draft bier with lemonade or lemon-lime soda at local brew pubs in Germany. Radler Bier popularity grew to Austria, Denmark, Hungary, Slovenia, and Yugoslavia. It wasn't until recently, 1993 that a brewery in Germany, (Ankerbrau Nördlingen) introduced their version of Radler Bier that they packaged in cans and bottles with a bicycle design label. Since then, Radler Bier has grown to over 400 breweries with various mixtures including lemonade, apple juice, lemon-lime soda and various berries. Radler Bier has also made its way to the USA (about 10 breweries), however, the Radler name and for the most part bicycle label has not carried over, as of yet. Only time will tell, what role Radler Bier will have in the USA.