Stiegl Radler (Grapefruit) - Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg GmbH

CrazyMike

Alberta (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -29.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Cloudy pale yellow appearance with bubbly head that quickly disappears leaving no lacing, similar to pop. Smell consists of lemon, grapefruit, malt and sweetness.

Taste is similar to the smell, citrus and grapefruit with a sweet malty taste. Picked up a hint of grain as well. Light bodied with high carbonation. Very sour and dry finish, this is less of a beer and more of a fruit soft drink.

As stated before, this tastes nothing like a beer and more like a light grapefruit flavored pop. Overall; this is a simple and refreshing fruit beer, but the tartiness ruins it for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 03:22:48 | More by CrazyMike

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.08/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance. Pours a hazy yellow with just a ring of white head (and a couple small islands).

Smell. Wow! Fresh yellow grapefruit juice! Not getting much in the way of beer aromas, but the grapefruit is there in full force.

Taste. Lightly sweet and tangy yellow grapefruit juice. Again, not much going on for beer flavours, and a little watery. Not bad.

Mouthfeel. Lighter body with medium-strong carbonation.

Overall. Like one of those fancy, expensive grapefruit soda-water drinks. My wife said "Tastes like one of my drinks!" That's not a good thing.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 02:13:48 | More by Rutager

barnzy78

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

11.2oz green bottle, pours a fizzy, hazy yellow color with a thin white head that dissipates as quickly as a soda - maybe because it is half soda. Aroma is actually pretty good with a zing of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. Tastes are tart and refreshing with grapefruit juice being the dominant flavor. Some biscuity notes come through from the lager with some lager yeast present on the finish. Mouth-feel is thin and fizzy, overly carbonated. Overall, not my favorite by any means, but it is definitely refreshing. At 2.5% ABv and the price I paid for a 6 pack ($8.99), it's not worth buying it again....but my wife likes it, so you never know.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 03:23:59 | More by barnzy78

flagmantho

Washington

3.15/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from 330mL bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: light silvery-golden hue with a touch of haze; rather a lot like the appearance of a witbier, although without any kind of head at all. It's OK.

Smell: a very pleasant grapefruity aroma with a hint of chalky malt underneath. Pretty nice; the beer is as advertised.

Taste: grapefruit and malt work together much better in the aroma than in the flavor. At first the grapefruit is at the fore, but as the beer component edges in there's a bit of a dirty, wet-grainy, murky character that just isn't great. Not terrible, but not particularly pleasant.

Mouthfeel: light body with a decently prickly carbonation. Not too bad.

Overall: not exactly my bag, this radler. The aroma is pretty enticing, but once you get into the flavor it kind of falls apart. Perhaps it would be better on a really hot day or something.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 16:33:32 | More by flagmantho

WandaMarie

3.35/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This makes a delightful gelato.. nothing added just pour it into the ice cream machine and let it turn into a light fluffy refreshing low alcohol sorbet.

I can only review it in a frozen state so far since I accidentally froze the first one and just finished freezing the next two I bought into a delicious sorbet.

As a sorbet it is well balanced, light, fruity, not overly flavorful with an after taste that leaves you with just the thought of a light lager.

In my '80s Simac IL Gealtiao Magnum it goes from the bottle to a fluffy grapefruit snow with a perfect balance of bitter and sweet in under half an hour.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 19:12:43 | More by WandaMarie

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

An interesting find on-tap. A blend of the Goldbrau, and grapefruit soda. Served in an elegant tapering sail-like Stiegl glass.

This beer appears a pale cloudy yellow colour, with one thin finger of wispy white head, which evaporates rather quickly, leaving but a few specks of random soap spot 'lace' around the narrow glass. It smells strongly of tart grapefruit pith, and sweet pale malt. The taste starts off still fairly sweet, the grain jumping out ahead, before being overtaken by the sugary, pink grapefruit cocktail-like fruitiness. I also seem to get a bit of menthol warming. The carbonation is moderately fizzy, which aids in the fruit juice perception, as does the light, soda-like body. It finishes smooth and crisp, the tart fruit essence rounding things out.

A very refreshing mixed beer, the tart and sweet well balanced. The waitress proclaimed that it tastes like Orangina - I have to agree, but with the caveat of a citrus shift from orange to grapefruit. I can well see why this would be popular in a sweltering, humid climate - here, though, hard to say.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2011 21:27:17 | More by biboergosum

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Lovely palate cleanser. Real grapefruit flavour, on tap and served in a skinny glass. Carbonation right there. Reminded me of orangina, graperuit edition - yes there was such a thing. Grapefruit aroma. Some lace and head. Significant aspartame in this "soft drink" cuts calories cut also taste. Little in way of a beer, BTW.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2011 22:13:30 | More by northyorksammy

UCLABrewN84

California

3.48/5  rDev -7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Surly Goat in West Hollywood, CA.

Pours a murky light yellow with a foamy bone colored head that fades to nothing. Tiny dots of lace slolwy drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of grapefruit juice, sugared grapefruit, and some slight malt aromas. Taste is much the same with a slight sourness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is quite refreshing but not too beer like in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2012 16:12:36 | More by UCLABrewN84

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Pete and Anne for bringing this back from Austria for me.

Hazy light lemony color, light fizzy head

Nose tons of grapefruit juice, hint of wheat golden malt, citrusy rind.

Taste bitter rind, tons of grapefruit juice, light wheat and touch spices like and long bitter rind finish. Light dry.

Mouth is lighter bodied, decent carb.

Overall not bad. Very refreshing and fairly tasty but very little beer left. Not anything like I expected.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 00:19:37 | More by jlindros

WankelEngine

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from an 11.2oz bottle into a wine glass

A: Pours a pale, straw color. There is a tiny head that quickly appears then disappears, much like a soft drink.

S: Very fruity. I get big notes of grapefruit and citrus. There is a slight bready malt aroma in the background.

T: Sweet, citric and refreshing. Again, grapefruit is far and away the most prominent flavor. It's very sweet but a good dose of tangy and a little bit of sour temper the sweetness. I can taste the standard Goldenbrau in the background. That slight malty flavor is the only thing that indicates to me that this is somewhat beer and not just soda.

M: Fairly thin with fizzy, soda-like carbonation. Slightly syrupy.

O: A special hybrid between soda and beer. Drinks like a soda with a touch of beer. Somehow the two sets of flavors meld nicely. Much better than the standard lemon flavored one. Low alcohol and easy drinking make this one fantastic summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 20:37:59 | More by WankelEngine

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

33oml bottle poured into pint glass 8/7/11

A slightly hazy pale yellow with shitloads of massive bubbles quickly floating up to a noisy fizzy two finger fast falling head leaves no lace

S I pick up on lemon soda more then anything, some grapefruit but it's like a hard candy, smells pretty sweet

T a little orange crush to go on top of what I smell, more of a pop then a beer but I didn't mind it

M tangy and very well carbonated, very light and rather refreshing

O one for the old lady for sure, went down pretty quick and they can't hurt you at 2.5% it's something you could drink in the sun without getting hammered

Much better then I expected but still not something I can see myself drinking a whole lot of this summer, something refreshing and easy to drink but I'd need quite a few to even catch a buzz

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 02:15:08 | More by wordemupg

zeff80

Missouri

3.55/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a hazy, bubbly golden color with a one-finger, white head of bubbly foam. It left thin traces of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of grapefruit and not much else. Nice.

T - It tasted of grapefruit and a soda-like flavor. Slightly tart, too.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light to medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is a good radler. I don't really like grapefruit juice, but this was good.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 22:08:19 | More by zeff80

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.58/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Fruit and beer has a marriage that's as long lived as beer itself. Raspberries, cherries, lemons have all had their turn, but now it's the grapefruit's stage.

Looking just like red grapefruit juice, the beer's hazy golden hue carries mild shades of pink or mauve. Zest carbonation explodes with carbonation of the fizzy kind that doesn't yield much head character neither in formation, retention, or lace.

Grapefruit, grapefruit, and grapefruit is what the nose is all about. Delicious acidity with impressions of underlying sweetness seems powdered sugar- almost. Any pilsner or wheat support remains timid and never charges the olfactories. No hops, no herbal components, this beer celebrates the fruit like no other has.

Flavors are just as much grapefruity as is promised by the nose. And not the hop oriented "notes of grapefruit" kinda taste- this is absolute with the taste of the freshest, brightest, and ripest of all ruby reds. Unlike the aroma, the taste of barley malt and wheat play lightly on the palate and prevent the sharp acidity of the fruit from a full on assault of the taste buds. Mild breads, wheat, and crackers provide the carriage for taste and returns for only last beery hurrah in aftertaste.

Zesty, light bodied, and an absolute palate cleanser, this beer is build for summer with its buffered acidity on the sides of the tongue with bitterness, light sour acidity, and mild pithy astringency that all come together in a very snappy and pleasant march across the palate. Finishing with moderate acidic pang and fruit sugars, the beer is as refreshing and inviting as they come.

But to tell the truth, I absolutely love a well-balanced shandy or radler, but I love them for slightly different reasons than I love traditional beers.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2012 17:40:32 | More by BEERchitect

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a tumbler.

I knew I wouldn't turn down a free pour of this (hell, I'm one of the apparent few that actually likes the lemon version), but I didn't think I'd actually be offered said pour. Fair enough. This stuff pours a lightly hazy golden-straw topped by a finger or so of white foam. The nose is a dead ringer for a can of Squirt or something, though faint hints of barley and grass sorta try to get themselves implied as well (with varying degrees of success). The taste brings in more of the same, though the grapefruit actually is tempered by a general sense of malted grain, keeping things less sweet than they could otherwise have been. The body is a very light medium, with a fairly active carbonation and a sorta/kinda dry finish. Overall, it is what it is: a grapefruit-flavored pre-mixed radler. Yeah, it's sweet and carbonated like a soda, but it somehow doesn't overdo things too much (it definitely makes you rethink where the brink is/was/will be). I can say with some confidence that I (somewhat surprisingly) enjoyed this stuff.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 20:35:15 | More by TMoney2591

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Town Crier Pub / Halfway Beer House, in Toronto.

Served in what appears to be a Stiegl-branded test tube or beaker, this Radler does indeed look like some kind of science experiment on lease from the lab. Its head is bubbly and fizzing and its cloudy, lemon-juice body couldn't be made any paler even with all the skin-bleaching creams in India. It is quite an odd, unique looking concoction!

The aroma is remarkably like that of a white wine spritzer; it is pleasant although far more aesthetic than elegant. It boasts candid citrus and faint herbals, with a heavy residual sugary dryness. Beer is hardly detectable but is, I suspect, what's responsible for cutting out the acidity that would otherwise be sensed where grapefruit juice has been added.

The beer tastes as straightforward as it sounds: grapefruit, soda, herbs, sugar, Stiegl lager. I initially thought I was tasting lemon - the specific flavour of citrus isn't as perceptible as the general sourness and acidity. It also tastes a lot like soda water, however, clean, wholesome, bready malts secure the satisfaction of drinking a beer (not a soda or fruit cooler).

The beer's light acidity is balanced by a rich and bready continental maltiness and its light sourness is balanced by a liberal amount of sugar. But it's not something a child would like, there's too much beer flavour for that. It is light, however, and at only two and half percent alcohol, I had no reservations about ordering a second glass, err test tube.

Stiegl Radler was a tremendously refreshing, enjoyable patio drink the hot afternoon in June I skipped work to have it. And water is wet. Shocking, right? In all honesty though, I can't understand why more bars don't offer them. They're hugely agreeable and yet calling them a fruit beer is almost out of context: this one was every bit as gratifying as a 'real' lager.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2011 19:21:40 | More by biegaman

chi16brew

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into double old fashion glass. So my beer guy was right, he put me on this when I told him I had been experimenting with grapefruit in cocktails lately and this has grapefruit front and center.

A - Pours light in color with a quickly building white head which dissipates quickly.

S - Tons of citrus fruit, mostly lemon with a grapfruit hint, slight maltiness.

T - Previous reviews are correct, this is really a citrus soda with a maltiness on the back end. It's a grapefruit soda that is mellowed out with lager, nice.

M - It is crisp with plenty of carbonation, definately a warm weather "beer".

O - I enjoyed it. It is not the first thing I go to when I really want a full flavored beer, but it is light and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 22:47:20 | More by chi16brew

CookstLiquor

British Columbia (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 330ml bottle(?). Pours a cloudy orangey-white, like a hefeweizen. The smell is like fresh-cut grapefruit and grapefruit peel. Very natural smelling. It has mouth-filling carbonation which is nice and refreshing. There's not much typical beer flavour, but it has a nice tart finish to it. WIth the low alcohol content, it would be easy to drink a lot of these.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 20:09:56 | More by CookstLiquor

mfnmbvp

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 oz. bottle, no apparent bottling information, served into a wine glass. Got excited when I saw this six pack at my local beer store, my first experience with a radler.

A - Fairly gentle pour yields a thin white fizz on the top which quickly dies out. Has a cloudy murky lemon shandy appearance. Kind of a wine like appearance, I guess you could say. Some carbonation visible. Second, aggressive pour yields a finger of fluffy white head audibly fizzing away, which dies out quickly.

S - Smell is of fresh tart natural smelling grapefruit, rind, and some sugar.

T - Has a tart fruity taste to it. Natural grapefruit juice, some sugar, and maybe a vague hint of malt sweetness. Tastes similar to what I would imagine a genuine shandy would be like, although I could be wrong. Very real grapefruit taste. Some honey. Semi sour finish.

M - Feel is tart, bubbly, a bit sour. Carbonated soda like feel. Finishes pretty clean.

Overall, a nice natural tasting beer with an easy drinking 2.50% abv, this is definitely a solid summer sipping beer. My first introduction to this style of beer/soda hyrbid, and I am looking forward to trying more of these types. More soda than it is beer though.

Stiegl Radler Grapefruit ---4/5.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 19:51:17 | More by mfnmbvp

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enthusiastically shared by Darrrell recently.

The beer appears yellow with a mild haze and a small, fizzy head. The aroma offers grapefruit juice, a touch of lemon rind. Interesting...the beer drinks like a grapefruit spritzer. Nice and light on the palate. Refreshing and crisp. This is a tough beverage to review. On one hand, it's simple, easy, lacking depth. Almost like a soda. Mediocre. On the other hand, it's highly drinkable with a tasty grapefruit quality and it's especially suitable for the summer months. I could definitely make my way through several of these while playing bags, darts, watching football, or doing some equally distracting. I would certainly have this again.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 01:31:35 | More by Huhzubendah

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very bubbly, clean & light. Lots of grapefruit aroma and flavour. It doesn't have the sweetness of an alco-pop, but the beer-like flavour is certainly watered down. The grapefruit is a nice twist on the classic Radler. Really drinkable thirst-quencher.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 18:22:15 | More by Derek

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

4.2/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving type: 330 ml bottle. No freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. Not much head develops, but there is a thin, bubbly lacing and decent ring around the edge. The color is cloudy, light straw.

Smell: Strong and invigorating citrus — much like a freshly sliced grapefruit! The lemonade or lemon soda is also noticeable and becomes much more prominent as the pint warms. It definitely has a much more soda-like aroma.

Taste: Much like Squirt (or at least from what I can remember). The citrus is strong and very tasty. The lemonade/lemon soda quality takes over and grapefruit is almost nowhere to be seen except for hints in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is exactly what I would expect from a lemonade and 7-Up/Sprite mix.

Drinkability: Call me crazy, but I really like this stuff. It is very simple and straightforward, but it packs a powerful punch in terms of aromatics and flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 02:55:07 | More by TheQuietMan22

AleWatcher

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle into my Innis & Gunn tulip.

So I got to try a sip of this at a liquor store and was impressed. Very impressed. Especially when told that it was under 2.5% abv! I have always wanted to find a super low abv beer that was enjoyable and refreshing...

Anyway, my initial reaction to that first sip was to rate this beer a 4.75 as a "had," but now in reviewing it I have realized that it is a little too much like soda--- and there is no trace of beer underneath. The sparkling sweetened grapefruit soda is still quite refreshing anyway.

It looks like a slightly carbonated lemonade-- little hazy, yellowish pale color, small white head of loose lazy bubbles that fizzled away quickly and left no sign of ever existing.

Smells like hard lemon candy-- maybe lemonheads? with some big grapefruit notes. Really sweet... Sugary sweet. The crisp citrus flavors are refreshing and tasty, but there is no bitterness. There is no beer flavor at all. This really is a grapefruit soda blended with beer, but it tastes like something make by Mike's hard Lemonade.

The body is thin and light, the low carbonation is actually pretty nice because it doesn't leave me feeling bloated and gassy.

Overall--- a little more beer, a little less soda, this could be wonderful! As it is, unless I find this in cans (most unlikely!), I won't be grabbing it very often. For what this is: a low ABV refreshing summertime beer/soda, it is quite tasty.

This is classified as a fruit beer, which I suppose might be where it belongs, but in comparing this to other Radlers I've had, I must say that this is EASILY the best one.... So my numbers represent a rating compared to other Radlers, and not necessarily to fruit beers in general.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 16:42:29 | More by AleWatcher

Brent

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Perhaps the most pleasantly surprising beer I've ever had. In the past I've had shandys disliked them all. I love grapefruit, and grapefruit hops notes, but the few grapefruit juice infused beers I've had have been terrible. Here, the light, almost airy beer married very well with the grapefruit. Exceptionally hazy, like a super-yeasty hefeweizen. Clean grapefruit juice aroma. Moderately sweet, balanced nicely by the grapefruit bitterness and slight acidity. A nice example of a low alcohol German quaffer - it cries out for a hot, lazy day.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2012 12:53:23 | More by Brent

TerryW

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I liked pretty much everything about this one. A good quality fruit beer, nice and light, easy to drink, flavourful and aromatic.

Big white head on a hazy soft looking pale yellow brew, like a yellow hefe. Lots of grapefruit in the nose, some sweetness, but all very clean and natural, not artificial. Appetizing.

Good clean fruit taste, followed by nice grainy beer. The combination works and I can see seriously enjoying this on a summer day. Not overly sweet, a hint of tartness. Just a nice balance of good things happening. Carbonation just right, not aggressive like a pop.

Worth a drink or two. Or three. Wish I could get this regularly in my neck of the woods.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2013 21:03:00 | More by TerryW

jgurley

Florida

4.86/5  rDev +29.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I had this on tap at my local Wine World PCB. Hung around the store while they cleaned the line and set it up, then had the first one from the keg. It's a hazy yellow with a snowy white, soap sudzy head. I'm rating this for what it is, and it is EXACTLY what it's meant to be, a cold, fruity refresher. The first thing to hit you is the fresh grapefruit smell. Just like slicing a grapefruit in half and sticking your nose right in. It's summertime in a glass. I got the sensation I get when I bring a gin and grapefruit to my nose. It's amazing how much this smells like real grapefruit. The taste is light, sweet, very intense grapefruit (without the sourness) and a nice, extremely light beer finish. The aftertaste is light and short and leaves you wanting more. I'm just sorry that this stuff is rarely available here. It would be GREAT for a day at the beach.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2013 17:32:31 | More by jgurley