I’ve long been in love with ice cream — I eat it almost every day. A couple of times I’ve even given it up for Lent, much to my children’s disappointment. Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing a few ice cream-centric posts, starting with one of my favorites: Lime Sorbet.
Ice cream will always be near the top of my list of pleasures — after God, my husband, my kids, and family, of course. But for everyone else, ice cream is a close second. I include sorbet and sherbet in my personal definition of ice cream: if it’s frozen, smooth, and spoonable, it qualifies. Italian ice and granita are a different category for me since they’re grainier and more icy.
And hey — today is officially the first day of summer. What better way to celebrate heat and humidity than with a cool, bright scoop of sorbet? My Lime Sorbet is simple and refreshing: just lime juice, lime zest, sugar, and water. The flavor is light, sweet, tangy, citrusy, puckery, and silky smooth. One bowl of this will revive you on the hottest day.
While enjoying a bowl and sipping a beer on a hot afternoon, I had a tasty idea:
Add Lime Sorbet to Lager or Pilsner Beer for a Summer Shandy Float!
I poured a super-chilled lager into a tall glass and spooned a scoop of lime sorbet into it. After stirring with a long spoon straw, I tasted it — it was like a shandy: bright, slightly sweet, and fizzy with a citrus lift. My husband was skeptical at first — he prefers his beer unaltered — but after a tentative sip he was converted. The sorbet softens the beer’s edge and transforms the drink into a surprisingly refreshing summer float.
*A shandy is a mix of beer and lemonade or lemon-lime soda, and it’s delicious when done right.
Would you try a Summer Shandy Beer Float if someone handed you one and said, “Sip”? It’s a playful, low-effort way to refresh a warm afternoon. And if you’d rather skip the beer, the lime sorbet is delightful on its own or served with other frozen treats.
Summer Shandy Beer Float Notes:
Despite the name “float,” the sorbet tends to bob a bit and then settle toward the bottom of the glass. That’s why a long spoon or spoon straw is handy — you can scoop and stir as you sip. Alternatively, use the spoon to enjoy spoonfuls of sorbet between sips of beer. It’s your float — serve it however you like.
If you don’t have the exact beer I used, no worries. Choose any well-chilled, light-bodied beer that stands up to cold: pilsners, lagers, or wheat beers work especially well. Examples include pilsners and many easy-drinking lagers or wheat ales.
P.S. If you’re in the market for an ice cream maker that consistently turns out sorbets, sherbets, frozen yogurts, and ice cream, a sturdy, easy-to-clean machine makes the process simple. (I own and recommend the model I use — it’s durable and delivers great results.)
Pure Sweet and Puckery Lime Sorbet and Summer Shandy Beer Floats
Rebecca Lindamood
Ingredients
For the Pure Sweet and Puckery Lime Sorbet:
- 2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon lime zest taken from the limes before you juiced them
For each Summer Shandy Beer Float:
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup scoop frozen lime sorbet
- 1 well-chilled light-bodied beer lagers, pilsners, and wheat beers are good choices.
Instructions
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Combine water and sugar in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and the syrup becomes clear and steamy—no need to boil. Remove from heat and stir in the lime juice and zest. Pour into a heatproof container, cover tightly, and chill in the refrigerator until completely cold.
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When fully chilled, freeze the mixture in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After churning, transfer the sorbet to an airtight container and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.
To Make the Summer Shandy Beer Float:
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Pour beer down the inside of a tall glass to minimize foam. Add a scoop of frozen lime sorbet and gently stir with a long spoon or spoon straw. Let sit 3 minutes, then serve.
Notes
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Calculate nutrition with the exact ingredients you use if needed.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @foodiewithfam on Instagram and use #foodiewithfamily so I can see your creations!
DISCLOSURE: This post is NOT sponsored by Amazon or The Southern Tier Brewing Company. There are affiliate links in the original post for items I personally own and recommend. If you purchase through those links I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.