Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy - Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

stephenjmoore

Maryland

2.98/5  rDev -4.8%
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 -29.7%
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 -13.7%
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

Signal1

3.6/5  rDev +15%
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 -11.2%
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 +44.7%
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 -12.8%
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 -10.5%
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 -33.5%
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 +6.4%
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

bump8628

Oklahoma

2.88/5  rDev -8%
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%
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 +19.2%
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

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.05/5  rDev -2.6%
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%
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

DasPuma

Virginia

2.78/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a stein glass.

Even with an aggressive pour, only a thin head is obtained. Head dissipates VERY quickly, with no lacing at all.

Has a hazy lemonade appearance, just with a slightly darker cooler and some light carbonation.

Slight lemon smell, kind of sweet.

Sweet taste with a hint of tangyness at the end. Finishes fairly clean, but does leave the mouth a little puckered without a sour aftertaste. After the first one, the sweetness tends to build, bordering on overpowering. With the low ABV though, I could see how some reviewers have said it has high drinkability.

Overall not really impressed, and probably won't try this type of beer again. I've tried a few different types of fruit/vegetable beers, and I've yet to find one I really like.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 00:56:29 | More by DasPuma

GuyNamedSid

3.83/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Smell- Strong citrus

Looks- Dirty blonde and cloudy

Taste-Right from the start you get a strong lemon zest that progresses into a thirst quenching brew.

Overall - Not the best summer beer by far, but worth trying. I'd say give it a go. It's a great summer beer to complement a summer BBQ or day at the pool/lake/beach.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 15:17:41 | More by GuyNamedSid

jonnybsn

3.15/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

this beer is a great summertime beer. easy to drink and very refreshing.. the only thing bad I have to say about the beer is the very low alcohol content of only 4.2%. its half lemon-aide and half beer. the color reminds me of carbonated lemon-aide. You can easily drink a 6 pack of these on a hot summer day.. just wish the abv was around 6%

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 03:50:51 | More by jonnybsn

JackieTH

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

If you're drinking this you know it's a shandy as clearly stated on the label summer shandy. Smell is lemony certainly. Refreshing. Taste is lightly malty wheat beer with a refreshing dose of lightly tart lemonade. It's just about right for sweetness in terms of the lemonade flavor. I wouldn't want more than a couple, but it's one of the better flavored mass produced beers I've had.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 21:29:44 | More by JackieTH

SometimesIfart

Michigan

4/5  rDev +27.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Picked up a 6 pack of this because I didn't feel like having the taste of regular beer in my mouth the next morning. Easy to drink, Smells nice, Tastes like Lemons as everybody else has said. Though with the low alcohol content it doesn't really get you drunk. A good beer to pick up if you want to have some ladies over who can't handle any other beer. Something I'd drink from time to time if I needed a filler to keep my buzz going

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 03:52:28 | More by SometimesIfart

gabedivision

New York

2.7/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

poured from a 12 oz can to a pint glass.

Pours a hazy nontransparent straw yellow, rolls about a 1 finger head that forms to a lace around the top of the glass, carbonation is visible at the top. The most dominate flavor on the nose(and pretty much the only flavor) is that of powdered lemonade mix, very sugary with a lemon exctract. Hints of wheat maybe? not sure if it is brewed with wheat or if my brain just wants to think so. Sugar water with a slice of lemon on the side, a grainy corn is on the after taste. Medium carbonation, tingles when entering the mouth, light bodied, very 'soft drink' like. Overall; this is pretty terrible, even the fruit like flavors taste off and generic, stay clear of this unless you really, really like lemonade mix.

Serving type: can

06-10-2012 18:12:36 | More by gabedivision

UCLABrewN84

California

2.98/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Best by 7/2/12.

Pours a murky light yellow with a 1/2 inch foamy off-white head that quickly fades to nothing. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is pretty much solely of lemon-lime soda and lemonade mixed together. Taste is the same with a grain flavor that comes out on the aftertaste. This beer has a prickly level of carbonation but it's a bit thin. Overall, this is not exactly good but it's not too bad for what it is. On the very edge of not being beer in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 05:01:09 | More by UCLABrewN84

Celtics76

Rhode Island

3.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bought a 12-pack of cans - easy drinking for a tailgate party prior to the Radiohead show in Mansfield. I have a few left over in the fridge so I thought I'd put a review in.

About a half inch of head right after the pour into a Harpoon IPA pint glass. Cloudy as hell appearance, medium yellow color. Tastes like half lemonade, half beer..sugary aftertaste. It's not so bad. I don't think I would get many complaints if I had it available for a cookout.

At 4.2% ABV, it's very easy to pound a few without even thinking about it. Very refreshing, outdoor beer but not one I would recommend if you have a crew of craft beer lovers coming over.

Serving type: can

06-08-2012 21:46:56 | More by Celtics76

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.93/5  rDev +25.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy has a thick, fluffy, white head and a very cloudy, pale yellow appearance. The aroma is of lemonade and just a touch of white bread. Taste is of lemonade, white wheat bread, sugar, and a very low bitterness. Mouthfeel is light to medium, and Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy finishes mostly dry, tart, and refreshing. It’s not really a beer. It’s a flavored malt beverage. I think it’s very good, for what it is.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 16:00:07 | More by RonaldTheriot

jsisko01

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours an extremely pale, straw yellow color with a centimeter thick head that dissipates instantly. Has very nice lacing..

Smell - Strong scent of lemon zest and lemonade. The wheat is feint.

Taste - Lemon zest, lemonade, and citrus. The beer is very watered down.. I don't even really taste any wheat or grains.

Mouthfeel - Light bodied with high carbonation.

Overall - This beer is pretty good.. Although I can't drink this because it's a killer for people with acid reflux.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 04:00:12 | More by jsisko01