🍻 Cerveza Clara: Spain’s Summer Beer

All the fruity fizz without the fancy fuss

I’ve been trying—genuinely trying—not to be such a drama queen about the heat. Summer happens every year, and yet I still take it personally when the temperature climbs above 30°C (86°F) and stays there with no plans of coming down. But I’m making an effort, which mostly means sticking to the shade, embracing the linen trouser trend, and figuring out which drinks help me embibe and hydrate so I don’t end up heat stroked.

Last week, I went on a girls’ trip to Valencia with friends from Oregon who spent 10 days hiking the Camino de Santiago, a series of famous hiking trails. They were ready for a beach day, so we set up a sand and sea day camp with a parasol, lounge chairs, books, smoothies, and snacks. We had an open-door policy on ocean dips, phone calls to loved ones, and naps. We ate all of our meals at one beach bar, which served strawberry daiquiris so fresh I don’t think I’ll ever order one anywhere else.

For the first time in years, I enjoyed being at the beach. A sunscreen-stained towel, salty air, cold and fruity drinks in hand—it felt effortless, like the version of summer I’d only ever heard other people gush about.

Beer or Soda—Why Not Both?

Drinks are a quintessential part of all seasons in Spain. More often than not, you’ll be seated and immediately asked what you want to drink without looking at a menu. This wasn’t the drink of the Valencia trip (that honor goes to the strawberry daiquiri, obviously), but cerveza clara is one of my all-time favorites—one I’m not sure many Americans know about. I first learned about it from an American friend who’s lived on Spain longer than I have, and generously shares her insights.

This drink is also known as a shandy—which sounds like a highfalutin British or Belgian beer. I promise you it’s not. It’s just pale lager and lemon soda. That’s it. If it sounds unappetizing, that was my first reaction too, but give it a try anyway. It’s light, fizzy, and just citrusy enough to make it feel like a treat without ruining the rest your afternoon.

Even better: it’s totally customizable. Want zero alcohol? Order it with a sin (alcohol-free beer). Want it sugar free? Order it with Fanta Zero. Just want something cold and festive without next day regrets? Done. Cerveza clara understands that we want to have fun without spiraling into heat-induced tipsiness.

Listen, I want you to have some drink options in your pocket when visiting Spain so you can order like a smooth-talking local and spend less time making drink decisions and more time cooling off on a terrace. Last year we celebrated the summer solstice with a simple five-ingredient tinto de verano recipe—this year’s pick is even easier with a two-ingredient beer-and-soda combo.

Ingredients

1. A pale lager

2. Lemon soda (think Fanta Limón or a lightly sweetened sparkling lemonade)

3. A chilled pint glass or Mason jar

How to Make a Cerveza Clara

• Chill your glass in the freezer at least an hour before serving—while you’re at it, put this on your “best practices for summer” list.

• Pour equal parts lager and lemon soda to the glass.

• Enjoy, ideally in the shade, in the company of those who refuse to leave until closing time.

Sip and savor all summer long.

¡Salud! (Cheers!)

---

💬 Leave a Comment

By the way, I realize that me writing about the newness of shandy might leave some of you reeling. Like Gen Z discovering “new” things, I’m a late-comer to the shandy party. If you’re reading this and screaming, “Shandy is not! A new! Thing!” you’re right and also I’m late to the party. Let’s laugh about it over a pint, shall we?

Have you tried cerveza clara (shandy)? Do you have any other simple summer beverages? Share them in the comments or tap the heart—happy summer solstice!

---

⏮️ Last Week

I wrote about how to make friends as an adult living abroad: