Josephsbrau Grapefruit Radler

Apparently a "radler" is a mixture of beer and fruit juice, while a shandy is beer plus lemonade. Can't say they're really my thing, but a shandy can really hit the spot in terms of refreshment on a hot August day. I think Trader Joe's Grapefruit Radler is the first radler I've ever had, and it too is quite suitable for quenching one's thirst during these dog days of summer.

It's pretty grapefruit forward—sweet and citrusy like grapefruit juice. It's a little tart with a hint of grapefruit rind bitterness. Underneath the fruit flavor, there's a nice wheaty hefeweizen base. Hefeweizens tend to lend themselves to wedges of citrus fruits and this one blends pretty seamlessly with the grapefruit. I suppose you could add a wedge of ruby red or whatever you've got on hand to make the beverage even more fruitastic.

It paired quite nicely with Trader Joe's new Chicken Burgers (review upcoming) and Trader Joe's Deli Sandwich Potato Chips. The citrusy sweetness would go well with anything salty, spicy, smoky, or savory I think. It's perfectly suitable for backyard barbecues and picnic fare.

The Josephsbrau beers are brewed for Trader Joe's by Gordon Biersch. We've also looked at:

Josephsbrau Plznr

Josephsbrau Oktoberfest

Josephsbrau Winter Brew

Josephsbrau Spring Prost

Josephsbrau Drive Thru Red

$7.99 for a box of four pint cans. Would buy again. Eight and a half stars from the beautiful wifey. Seven and a half stars from me for Josephsbrau Grapefruit Radler.

Sonia's score: 8.5 out of 10.

Nathan's score: 7.5 out of 10.