‘Radler’ style beers hit the shelves

Coincident with the staging of cycling’s Tour Down Under in South Australia in January, a range of citrus flavoured (Radler) beers have become available.

Radler (German for cyclist) became a beer style in the 1920s when Bavarian cyclists, asking for a less debilitating beverage at pub stops, were offered a beer with lemon soda added.

Available in Adelaide for the first ProTour cycling event to be staged outside Europe, are Barefoot Radler (brewed by Lion Nathan), Carlton Dry Fusion (Foster’s), Miller Chill (SABMiller) and Monteith’s Radler Bier from New Zealand. Barefoot Radler – promoted as the original Australian Radler Beer – is produced under licence to Barefoot Beverages at South Australian Brewing’s Adelaide brewery, owned by Lion Nathan. Unlike most German Radler, which have about 2.5% ABV, Barefoot Radler has 4.2% ABV.

Among Australia’s beer aficionados, Barefoot Radler did not rate too highly. However, the coolness of the product’s web site was appreciated – because it’s basically a Corona Extra rip-off.