On Tap is a regular column featuring our recommendations on the most unique new draft beer offerings from local pubs.
Our Recommendation: Unique Version of a Shandy
Where: The Whip Tavern, 1383 North Chatham Road, West Marlborough, PA 19320
We recently took a Sunday drive through the rolling hills of Chester County and ended up stopping in at the classic British pub, The Whip Tavern, for brunch. Since I was driving, I was looking to enjoy a single, low-alcohol beer with my meal. Looking over the menu, an interesting choice caught my eye – a shandy.
If you haven’t heard of the term “shandy,” it’s typically known a pour consisting of half wheat beer and half lemonade, though there are many variations. I first heard of the shandy when cycling with the West Chester Cycling Club a few years ago. After a long ride, members often returned to Iron Hill WC to enjoy the refreshing lemon-flavored concoction. Most people today know of Leinenkugel’s Shandy, which is a slight variation of this drink.
The Whip Tavern offers their own interesting take on a Shandy – half Wells Bombardier Bitter Ale and half Sprite. Yes, Sprite – the lemon lime soft drink. This was an interesting mix. The Sprite’s carbonation and lemon/lime dominates the first sip, with only slight hints of the bitter ale in the finish. When my date took a sip, she was surprised at the sweetness of what looked like an ordinary ale. It turned out to be a nice early afternoon beverage to have with my cheesesteak quiche.
Bombardier, brewed by Wells Young Brewery, is often considered the “Beer of England.” I reviewed a pour of this classic English Bitter on a previous trip to the Whip, which you can read here.
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