I need a savoury, summery drink as an alternative to beer

It's a hot summer afternoon. I'm sitting down on a hot afternoon, with a burger, and a cold beer.

What I'm looking for is something to replace that cold beer with. I want it to be crisp and fresh, but also not sweet. I love tart and bitter flavours. Unfortunately, my options are either cold and sweet, cold and alcoholic or hot and non sweet.

So threadiverse, what alternatives am I missing?

Tereré is great, but it's a bit of a pain to source in Australia. What else is there?

36 points · 32 comments · view on lemmy.world

32 Comments

mrsemi@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 291d (4 replies)
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ada@piefed.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 291d (3 replies)

Alas, I'm allergic to black tea!

I'll add the others to the list though. Thank you :)

threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 291d (2 replies)

allergic to black tea

What about green tea? It's also good iced.

null@piefed.nullspace.lol · 1 pts · 291d (1 reply)

It's the same plant, just harvested sooner, so I'd imagine it's the same issue.

ada@piefed.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 291d

A single black tea doesn't do me any harm, but if I have a couple in a day, or if I have black tea for 2 or 3 days straight, my throat starts to tighten up. It's mild, but it's concerning enough that I haven't pushed it any further and don't drink it anymore.

Green teas have never given me the same reaction, but to be fair, I don't think I've ever had 2 or 3 green teas on the same day...

Get_Off_My_WLAN@fedia.io · 7 pts · 291d (1 reply)

In Japan, barley tea is a popular summer drink.

massive_bereavement@fedia.io · 2 pts · 291d

And provides better hydration than plain water, so less chance of wet bulb issues (allegedly).

That said, keep those mouth pearls brushed regularly.

thefluffiest@feddit.nl · 6 pts · 291d (1 reply)

Tinto de verano, or summer wine in Spanish. Chilled red wine, mixed (1:1 or however you like it) with 7up, tonic or bitter lemon, served with ice and a slice of orange or lemon. Cheap wine will do nicely.

Perfect summer beverage, not too high in alcohol, mostly bitter and tart. Use a bitter non-sweet version of tonic or bitter lemon to add almost no sugar at all.

Dasus@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 290d

I second this. Also dry/medium apple ciders. There's even hoppy ciders if one is looking for a drink reminiscent of beer.

And if those are still too sweet, perhaps a dry white with just soda water?

As far as I'm aware, according to the internet, OP has never tried a Dickens Cider

kindenough@kbin.earth · 6 pts · 291d

I like water Kefir, and as a kid drank it often. (Not to be confused with milk base Kefir). Water Kefir grains are normally available online but seems sold out in Australia.

Witchfire@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 291d

Seltzer with bitters

snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 291d

Ginger Beer.

lvxferre@mander.xyz · 5 pts · 291d
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thr0w4w4y2@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 290d

Kombucha?

I_am_10_squirrels@beehaw.org · 4 pts · 290d (1 reply)

If you're OK with less alcohol instead of no alcohol, try a raddler. Half beer, half lemonade. You could even do an NA beer.

christopher@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 290d

I didn't think beer and lemonade would taste good but I was wrong. Glad I tried it

bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de · 3 pts · 291d

Just water?

cerement@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 291d (1 reply)
  • Yerba Mate – it’s in the holly family rather than the camellia family, can brew like tea, either hot or iced
  • Posca
  • lemon or lime soda/seltzer – normally club soda (or sparkling water) with lime or lemon juice (an unsweetened version of lemonade or limeade) – La Croix makes a Lime Sparkling Water (avoid the Key Lime flavor though)
  • iced coffee and cold brew coffee
  • (I’m assuming lemon-lime-and-bitters would still be too sweet – but nothing stopping you from adding a dash of Angostura to sparkling water)
ada@piefed.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 291d

Tereré is a special style Yerba Mate, and it's absolutely amazing with ice cold fruit infused water!

hedge_lord@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 290d (1 reply)

One of my favourite summer drinks is just some carbonated water mixed with a few drips of lemon or lime juice. It is crisp, a little tart, cold, and not sweet. Otherwise unsweetened refrigerated tea (maybe with a bit of lemon) is delicious as well, but perhaps not as crisp.

ada@piefed.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 290d

One of my favourite summer drinks is just some carbonated water mixed with a few drips of lemon or lime juice

Oh, I like this one! Simple too, which is a bonus!

zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev · 3 pts · 291d

Tomato juice. Or V8 or something like that if available.

gazter@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 290d

Tonic and lime. Ginger beer. (Might have to try a few before finding one that's not too sweet) Non alc apple cider, same as above for sweetness.

Drusas@fedia.io · 2 pts · 291d (2 replies)

Dry apple cider, if it's available in your region.

ada@piefed.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 291d (1 reply)

I can get alcoholic versions of it, but I don't know that I've seen a non alcoholic version. They all tend to be sweet, even if they're dry. But a crisp dry cider could be perfect if I can find one! I'll go searching :)

Drusas@fedia.io · 1 pts · 287d

Good luck! It's becoming a thing in the Pacific Northwest, but I don't know if it is anywhere else.

jordanlund@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 291d (3 replies)

Brazilian Lemonade

Maybe too sweet for what you're looking for, but you can adjust the sugar and limes to taste:

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/54083/brazilian-lemonade/

2 limes
3 cups water (710ml)
½ cup sugar (100g)
3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (45ml)
ice cubes

Directions

Wash limes thoroughly. Cut off the ends and slice into eight wedges.

Place limes in a blender with water, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and ice; pulse 5 times, or until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove rinds. Serve over ice.

MourningDove@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 290d (2 replies)
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jordanlund@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 290d (1 reply)

I've done it with both limes and oranges, good stuff!

MourningDove@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 290d
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LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 290d (1 reply)

Isn't it springtime in Australia right now? Your summer doesn't begin until December 21st.

ada@piefed.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 290d

Our summer begins on the 1st of December, so it's only a week away.

But it was 34C (93F) yesterday, and it will be 35C tomorrow!

It's going to be a hot summer!

rozwud@beehaw.org · 1 pts · 291d (1 reply)

A non-alcoholic shrub might be a good choice!

ada@piefed.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 291d

I'd never heard of a shrub before, but that sounds amazing!

JillyB@beehaw.org · 1 pts · 291d

Kombucha? It will be very fizzy and tart. Some of them are sweet and some aren't so pick one that isn't as sweet.

omgboom@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 290d

Make yourself some Skeeter Pee! It's delicious and highly alcoholic!

https://www.winemakingtalk.com/threads/original-skeeter-pee-recipe.44283/