Monteiths Radler

[MrDave]

Picked up a couple of Monteiths' brews last night including a bottle of the Radler.
This isn't intended to be much of a review, just a couple of observations.

Monteith's Lemon and Lime Flavoured Radler is refreshing fruity lager, based on the original style brewed in Bavaria in the 1920's. In search of an invigorating brew, locals developed an easy drinking lager bier with a citrus twist - flavoured with lemon and lime. Monteith's Radler faithfully recreates the experience, brewed to full strength with distinctive hoppy notes, a hint of natural lemon juice and a zesty citrus finish.

Its a 4.1% alc/vol shandy.
I haven't tried any Bavarian Radlers to compare it against but this brew is like 50:50 Hahn Premium and 7-up with a dash of lime cordial. Any hoppy notes as are best described as diminutive rather than 'distinctive'.
It helped me wash down the thai food I had for lunch. The lemongrass and chilli probably helped disguise some of the lollywater factor, but it was cold and vaguely beerish, so it was kinda refreshing.

Strictly a novelty. Gets a 9th percentile rating on ratebeer.com.
Wish I'd seen that before I grabbed it out of the fridge

Anyone else had the pleasure?

[BierMeister]

Where's Monteith from? It's interesting that they make a Radler as in Germany a Radler is a shandy. Walk into any Kneipe (pub) or beer garden and ask for a Radler and the barman will give you a 50%50% mix of lemonade and the cheapest lager on tap. Diesel is the equivilant but with Coke stat Lemonade. If made with a Wheat beer they are called a Russen(lemonade) or a Negger(Coke). (Russian or a Hmm.. better not use the N word so Black man)

I seem to remember seeing Radler premix in the bottle but it wasn't common and definatly not as high as 4.1%. I wonder if the lemonade is added before fermentation. That gives me and Idea

FYI: Radler means Cyclist. It was commonly drunk by cyclists in germany going for trips in the country side in the late 1800s early 1900s and the drink gained its name from that.

[MrDave]

New Zealand. Check out http://www.monteiths.co.nz.
Its the first of their offerings I've tried, but I'm willing to give it all a go despite the Radler

Interesting that it appears to be a generic term for a shandy, rather than a distinct style of beer as they contend on their website.

Cheers!

[Pale_Ale]

Monteiths are pretty good. Try the black beer.

[BierMeister]

Interesting that it appears to be a generic term for a shandy, rather than a distinct style of beer as they contend on their website.

Yes, but a distinct style sounds better and will probably sell better than "It originates from a shandy that we have perfected into a new style"

[corks]

tried the red and the black, they are passable, but no more than that.
dam i wish there were more good reds out there. if anyone is planning on starting a microbrewery soon, i demand you make a red. or else.