When it's hot outside, cool drinks are an essential part of successful summer living. The Shandy, which is a 50/50 mix of beer and citrus soda, provides the perfect balance of refreshing and light alcoholic content, allowing you to sip all day long without overdoing it.

The lemon shandy is most common, but I'm including grapefruit because it's my personal favorite and also completely delicious. Other popular flavor options are ginger beer and orange soda.

Le't prepare for cool off!

Step 1: Supplies

This recipe makes two drinks.

one 12oz can of light beer (wheat, hefeweizen, or lager)
one 12oz bottle of citrus soda made with real juice (lemon, grapefruit, or orange)
sliced and quartered citrus fruit and fresh mint to garnish
optional: citrus powder and salt for the rim of the glass
ice

You can either mix the drinks right in the serving glasses or pre-mix them ahead of time in serving containers.

Step 2: Salt From the Sea

A friend told me that in Trinidad they add a bit of salt to their shandies in honor of the sea, so I decided to try mixing some sea salt with some of the citrus powder I made last month and salted the rim of the serving glasses. It was pretty delicious! Next time I would add a higher citrus powder to salt ratio, but I think the combo was a good flavor addition.

To try this, mix 1 tbsp of citrus powder with 1 tbsp of sea salt and spread it on a small plate.

Then use a piece of citrus to wet the rim of the glasses and press the rim of the glass into the salt/powder*.

Set aside.

*A citrus sugar would also taste great!