Traveller's Tales #4: Frankfurt

Not so much a review, but instead a recommendation. Whilst in Germany I came across two beer drinks not normally found in the U.S.: the Radler and the Diesel.

The Radler was ubiquitous; not a pub in town didn't serve it. The taste tended to vary from pub to pub (I'm assuming this is due to slightly different proportions and different types of beer being used), but the basic recipe is a fifty/fifty mix of beer and Sprite (or 7up).

I don't drink a lot of soda anymore, in fact I find most carbonated drinks to be over-sweetened and cloying. On a gorgeous, clear-skied, seventy degree day in Frankfurt, however, the Radler was light and refreshing. It was easy enough to duck into a pub, have a Radler pint and then move on without feeling bloated and sluggish (which is not something you can say about all German beer experiences).

The Diesel is simply a fifty/fifty mix of beer and cola. This is more of an acquired taste, one it took a couple of tries to appreciate.

I've included a link to the Wikipedia article in the title of this post for those who may want to know more about these drinks and others of their type.

Also of interest was the German twist on the Snakebite (beer over cider). Once made, the bartender drizzled grenadine over the foam, which gradually worked it's way through the pint as you drank it. I found the kiss of sweetness that it added quite welcome and the bizarre pinkish color that developed was pretty neat.