Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy - Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

Billolick

New York

3/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle without freshness information.

Pours light, cloudy and lemony. Larger near white head slowly shrinks. Leaves decent tongues of thicker stickage.

Nose of lemon pledge (you know the cleaning product)

Lemon theme is bold and continuing. Lemon note is kinda artificial tasting and off putting.

Only time I could see enjoying this would be on a very hot day and if I was very thirsty. Definitely not something I will likely try again

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 17:35:58 | More by Billolick

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.03/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a hazy, opaque, clouded-yellow coloring that is pale and murky, with a thin, filmy coating of white head along the top. Aromas of roasted wheat are drowned out by a tart, sweet lemon zest bouncing out of the glass. Flavors are very lemon heavy, with a tart, effervescence that hits the sides of the tongue and the roof of the mouth like someone poured a Fresca into a wheat beer. Smooth, roasted wheat backbone that supports the lemondrop sweet main palate. The aftertaste is tangy and syrupy sweet, like you just ate a bag of lemon Jolly Ranchers. The finish is smooth and light, with a slight effervescence to it, as well. All in all, I can see how some people like this, but it is definitely not my mug of beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 00:33:11 | More by GarthDanielson

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.35/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Bottle: Poured a light bright yellow color ale with a small bubbly head with minimal retention. Aroma of light sweet malt with sweet lemonade notes. Taste is also a mix between some sweet lemonade notes with sweet malt. Body is light with average carbonation. Refreshing drink though it is almost alien to beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 17:03:37 | More by Phyl21ca

dogfishandi

New York

4/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz twist-off bottle at fridge temp poured into a pint glass. best before oct 29, 12.

pours out a very cloudy, very light straw yellow color with a nice big tight, pure white head. very good retention as well as some nice thick lacing. lots of carbonation bubbles rushing to the top as well.

the aroma is pretty much straight up lemons. a little one dimensional, but theres no second guessing and nothing really fake about it.

again, some nice authentic lemon citrus is all over this with some grains and maybe even a touch of wheat as well.

smooth, somewhat creamy, good amount of carbonation. mega refreshing! mega drinkable!

call me crazy, but this is a really solid summer beer. so chugable. overall, it is a bit one dimensional with the lemon and all, but il definatly be drinking more of this. great ABV as well.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 21:22:36 | More by dogfishandi

etop8222

Pennsylvania

2.65/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Saw this on the menu at The Pike here in Reading, PA. I normally don't go for fruity beers but this one was interesting. First noticed the color and the abscence of any head. Probably not one of the big movers and that is why the lack of head. Leinenkugel makes many good brews, but for my taste, this is not one of them. I am a Dogfish addict.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2012 17:06:53 | More by etop8222

Lemke10

Wisconsin

3.43/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I tried this on-tap at a small local bar in Janesville, WI. This summer seasonal pours a hazy pale yellow color with a foamy white head. Mild scent of lemons and straw. Smooth lemony flavor with cheap straw grains. A little too watery but still a great refreshing drink for a hot summer day.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2012 20:01:37 | More by Lemke10

stephenjmoore

Maryland

2.98/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Cloudy grapefruit juice looking body with a frothy bone white head.

S- Lemonade definitely comes through along with a sweet malt note.

T- The sweet lemonade taste hits immediately, but last briefly, followed by an extremely faint malt note. Aftertaste is like lemonade made with dirty water.

M- Crisp with high carbonation. Very thin body.

O- One of my wife's friends left this and I figured I would give it a try for the review. Actually better than I expected, but I didn't expect much. Passable as an outdoor summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 00:26:08 | More by stephenjmoore

harrymel

Washington

2.2/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Best by 20SEP12

Pours yellow and diaphanous with a etched white surface. Some spotty residuals on the rim. Smells like lemon juice, and a bit of detergent - really not much else going in the nose for me. It's ceratainly lemony, but in a antibacterial sense. Taste is empty wheat water with a bit of artificial lemon flavor - like the innards of a lemon head candy (not the sour part). Very commercial to me, in a bad way. Water body with moderately hi carb and an unobtrusive finish. I can see why many folks dig this, and why my WI buddy asked me to find some for her - and why she also loves The Beast outta Milwaukee.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 04:22:06 | More by harrymel

FreshHawk

Illinois

2.7/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Slightly cloudy, dark lemonade color. Medium sized, smooth, creamy, white head. Head disappears pretty fast leaving only a slight patchy lace.

S - Lemon juice/lemonade dominates the nose to a point where it really just smells like lemonade. And more lemonade concentrate than fresh squeezed.

T - Also dominated by the lemonade flavor but there is at least some malty flavor mixed in. Finished with a strong malted wheat flavor with the lemon dying off at the end. More malt comes out as I drink more but it isn't really exciting. Two note beer with them coming and separate times.

M - Light body with slightly above average carbonation. Slight spritzy feel. Refreshing and crisp finish.

D - Easy to drink on a warm summer day. Refreshing and a nice way to beat the heat, but it isn't enticing enough for me to want it more than the fact that it is a cool beverage.

Notes: Two notes hit you at different times and neither is all that great or complex. It does its job of being a nice summer beverage. Not overly tart or sweet. A good alternative to lemonade without being overly sweet. As a beverage, it has its place, but as a beer it is sub par.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 03:21:18 | More by FreshHawk

thekevlarkid

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap this beer was a light golden color with a fluffy white head. It reminded me of a lemon meringue pie. The retention was only so-so though it did stick around as a collar and the lacing was scattered.The aroma was of lemons with hints of floral hops behind that. The flavors too were dominated by lemons but as it warmed up I tasted some crystal malt and a light note of bready malt. It started sweet but finished dry helping it to be a highly refreshing beer/shandy. The body was medium/light, the mouthfeel average and the carbonation a bit prickly.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2012 14:46:28 | More by thekevlarkid

Signal1

3.6/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

For me it has nice carbonation. The fragrance below average, it should have a much stronger fragrance of lemon since its lemon the beer touts as one of the selling points. Needs a stronger lemon up front not just the hint on the after taste. An above average summer cook out beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 04:12:45 | More by Signal1

BigPlay1824

New York

2.78/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Enjoyed in a pint glass

A: pours a very hazy golden color with a slight off white note to it, pours with two fingers of very fizzy pure white head which dissipates almost immediately, leaves virtually no lacing
S: i pickup the wheat note up front and then a nice lemon note which is sugary sweet but also sour, reminds me of the fresh brewed lemonade i get during the summer time at the saratoga race course
T: begins with a spritzy lemon note up front, less reminiscent of fresh lemonade and more of what i would call a lemon seltzer, the blanket of wheat is just barely discernible at the end of the sip, leaves lemon on the palate, pretty much dominated by the lemon note, refreshing and nice for a phenomenally hot night
M: tight carbonation up front, leaves the mouth feeling just slightly dry almost like the seltzer note has robbed the wetness from the mouth with its tiny bubbles
O: its nice for a hot day, drinks smoothly and light, wheat note is lacking, lemon can seem a bit fake like lemonade made from powder and sugar, decent

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 23:31:12 | More by BigPlay1824

BobatHTBN

Washington

4.53/5  rDev +44.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I really liked this beer. Very refreshing. Lemonade is nice complement to the wheat. I could drink several of these on a hot summer afternoon or evening.

I would recommend that you try it. I think many of the reviews just missed the point of this beer.

My wife says it has a beautiful color (lemondrop). Very nice head. Lemon smell. Wheat beer initial flavor and nice lemonade finish.

Keep in mind that the kind of glass you use does make a difference in head, head retention, how it releases the aroma and ultimately how much you will enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 08:45:38 | More by BobatHTBN

Enish266

California

2.73/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Purchased for $1.49 from BevMo. Poured aggressively into a shaker pint.

A - light yellow golden with some cloudiness. Head disappears after a few minutes leaving zero lacing.

S - lemon cough drops with a touch of menthol.

T - very similar to the nose. Tastes of days old lemon juice with a light tartness and minty herbs. Has some potential as an easy summer drinker but flavor is not as natural as advertised.

M - bubbly and effervescent. Thin and has a watery finish that disappears immediately from the palate.

O - I enjoy lemonade but the flavor of this beer does not agree with me. Buy this beer if you like watery lemon cough drops.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 07:14:54 | More by Enish266

minnesotaryan

Minnesota

2.8/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This was the first beer, I was able to drink, and thus was the gateway to enjoying other much better beers.

Poured from a bottle into a snifter to give it a good evaluation. pours a hazy pale yellow with a slight white head.

Smells of lemon cough drops, smells slightly artificial, also has slight nots of spice.

Heavy dose of lemonade up front, gives way to some slight wheat. this is pretty much all I taste. I can see this being thirst quenching on a hot day.

Easy drinking, super light body, adequate carbonation.

This is pretty one dimensional and doesn't have much substance to it sadly. As said earlier, this would be great for a hot day at a bbq, but that is about it.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 01:28:03 | More by minnesotaryan

davecavemaster

Ohio

2.08/5  rDev -33.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

It's almost 100 degrees where I am today, so here is a review of a summer beer. This one is from Leinenkugel, a brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

Now in my experience, there are two kinds of "seasonal" beers... The first is an honest attempt to bring a seasonal characteristic to a well made beer, in order to give the consumer something interesting and enjoyable. The second kind of seasonal is one that is just a gimmick. A beer made to capitalize on the time of year, and the impulse buy of the customer. This beer clearly falls in the the second category.

leinenkugel's summer shandy

Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, is a self described "beer made with natural lemonade flavor." The brew pours with a thick creamy head (so I thought I was in for a treat,) and is a yellow, opaque color.
It presents with a lemony aroma, and has the bubbles of a carbonated bottled water. When you take your first sip, your mouth fills with the lemon taste, but there is very little beer taste to it at all. In fact, the more you drink this beer, the less lemon you taste, and the more it just feels like your drinking a watered down lemonade. No matter what flavor the brewery is trying to infuse, I still like to be reminded that I am drinking a beer. The alcohol content is only 4.2%, the same as a Bud Light, so there is no kick or burn at all.

There is no shortage of summer beers out there, I would suggest putting this one very low on your list of ones to try. If you don't like beer, and prefer wine coolers and spritzers, this may appeal to you.

It should be noted that not everything this brewery puts out is crap...They actually make a decent Imperial Stout and IPA, don't know what happened to this recipe.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 00:53:44 | More by davecavemaster

SpeedwayJim

New York

3.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Screw top bottle into a pint glass.

Pours cloudy pale yellow with a frothy 1 finger white head. No lace.

Nose is sweetened lemonade. Not bad but this one doesn't have any beer characteristics at all.

Sweet lemonade with a bit of a bitter hop presence way in the back. Finishes clean with little to no aftertaste. Quenching.

Light bodied with ample carbonation. Lively in the mouth and refreshing going down. Clean finish with no aftertaste. A great way to beat the heat.

This beer's not gonna win any complexity or flavor awards but for what it is (an Arnold Palmer with beer instead of iced tea), it gets the job done. Great on the beach during a hot summer day!

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 21:53:12 | More by SpeedwayJim

emerge077

Illinois

2.58/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

07-13-2012
It was either this, Old Style, or MGD at Lawrel Liquors Tap, and I went with the lesser of 3 evils. I was on mile 10 of a bike ride and was thirsty. Coors Light pint glass filled to the brim with a razor thin line of foam across the top. Pale opaque pastel yellow color. Aroma was faintly of lemonade, but the packet mix stuff... artificial. It was virtually flavorless, flashes of lemonheads candy and club soda, dull papery aftertaste. Slugged about 5 sips and was on my way. Not much better than in the bottle, though it has a time and place if simply thirsty and presented with limited options.

07-07-2008
a/s/t/m/3.5/d/4

On tap at Pizzeria Uno in Madison, WI.

This was served in a Weisse glass with a lemon wedge. Color was an opaque pastel yellow with an orange glow to it. Thin cap of foam, partially killed by the lemon.

Some lemon juice and wheat aroma, fairly faint. I'm just glad it doesn't smell like overly sweet lemonade.

Prickly, natural lemon tartness at first, backed up by seltzer-like carbonation. Light wheat in the aftertaste, with the citrus lending a slight pucker. Light bodied and really quenching in the 80º weather. This isn't something i'm running out to buy cases of, but i'd order it again to pair with dinner on the patio.

Shandy = Beer + Lemonade... know what you're getting into, it's a pre-mixed beer cocktail, and obviously not solely a beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2012 01:52:08 | More by emerge077

bump8628

Oklahoma

2.88/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

These things tend to show up at July 4th parties so I thought I'd give it a go. Pours like a cloudy American wheat with a quickly disappearing head. Aroma is pure lemon while the flavor incorporates a bit more beer - pretty standard light wheat with little hop character. The lemon character is exactly like lemon drop candy. I guess it's decent for a bottled shandy. I'd rather just make my own with a better quality lemonade and beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 15:51:16 | More by bump8628

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.1/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I've always wondered about these beers - how to pronounce the brewery name, if they ARE beers, etc. Luckily my pseudo-curiosity now may be quenched thanks to this lovely addition to a series I like to call...Free Beers From Work! Brewed with honey and natural lemonade flavor...what the?

Can pours into a pint a foggy yellow/blondish color..certainly looks a lemonade weiss. White head starts big, retains pretty well as a thick ring and spotty cap, leaves some lace.

Scent is straight up lemonade, lemon candies, slight cough drop vibe. Kinda amusing but not bad.

Taste resembles lemonade as well, that combined with the honey certainly makes it sweet, but not Mike's Hard Lemonade sweet. Tastes of wheat and bread give away the weiss base and remind you it's a beer. Some lager-like graininess, a bit tangy. Flavor is definitely light and kinda one-dimensional, but it's refreshing.

Decent mouthfeel, it's light but an alright body for 4.2%. On the foamy side carbonation-wise, small hints of alcohol.

Eh, not bad, but probably not the beer lover's kinda beer..has more in common with the fruity alcoholic drinks (mike's and such). Decent for a summer refresher though.

Serving type: can

07-02-2012 14:17:12 | More by Chico1985

sommersb

Tennessee

3.73/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 06-30-2012
Freshness: Best by 10-01-2012
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle, twist-cap
Glassware: Perfect pint
Purchased: 6-pack from Kroger

Appearance is cloudy yellow - it looks like lemonade. The head is 3 fingers, white, with a creamy consistency. The lacing and head retention are both good.

Aromas are big on lemons and citrus - it smells like lemonade, with a slight beery presence.

The taste features more lemon and citrus. It is tart, but not overly so. Its like a lemonade mixed with a light beer, which I think is the goal since it is modeled on a German radler. No bitterness. The flavor is good, but lacks depth.

Mouthfeel is somewhat prickly with high carbonation and the citrus notes. Body is light and the aftertaste is mainly of lemons.

Overall I found this to be an enjoyable and easy drinking summer beer. It does taste less beer-like than many brews, but if the radler is a part-beer and part-lemonade mix, then I think this may be spot-on.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 23:02:20 | More by sommersb

Kooz

New York

3.65/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Tried this at a Mets game; had it again last night so I could rate it.

Pours to a nice cloudy straw color. Love unfiltered beers and love how they look--no exception here--can't wait to dig in.

Smells slightly sweet--lemon and wheat.

Tastes really good. It's slightly sweet, but it has a shandy taste. I clearly taste lemonade as though mixed with a good wheat beer.

Mouothfeel is nothing exceptional, but not bad. There's no bite, but there's not much body either.

Overall, it's an enjoyable, refreshing beer and nice for a hot night outside.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2012 03:58:32 | More by Kooz

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

22 oz pour from Wild Wings, Grand Forks. Delivered with a lemon wedge.

Hazy pale straw body with a nice head that laces well. Never had a shandy before, nor a lemon beer and I am now fairly sure I don't want another one. Lemon on then nose. Lemon in the body. Surprisingly, I can tell this is a beer thigh with a fairly viscous body that feels like a beer. I guess this could be seen as a great summer beer by some, but I don't like it. Half way through the pour, I figured "What the hell, let's add the lemon", and it made it even less palatable for me... Meh.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2012 22:15:31 | More by kjyost

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

L - hazy dull yellow color with a fizzy white head that thinned to a ring.

S - lemons, lots of lemons.

T - the lemon dominates with just a slight hint of mild wheat midway through.

F - light/medium bodied with a crisp feel.

O - different and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 20:09:07 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

Nfl1991

2.88/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Had it at a Restaurant, enjoyed it, picked up a 6 pack. Pours a hazy, yellow. Almost looks like pear juice. Pretty nice head, maybe 2 inches, with decent retention and very little lacing. Smells predominantly of lemons, and a bit of malt and hops. Taste compliments the smell. Not bad, but definitely a summer beer. Not something I can drink all the time. Carbonation was off, and the taste was on the "watery" side. Someone said they should just call this "Bud Light with Lemon", but I think it's a bit better than Bud Light, but not by much. If you're outside working or having a BBQ on a hot day, this is the right beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 19:54:34 | More by Nfl1991