Panache Recipe ｜ The Easy 2-Ingredient Beer Cocktail

Name: Panache Recipe: The Easy 2-Ingredient Beer Cocktail
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1 drink
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: Lemon soda — 1/2; Beer — 1/2

Golden Panache beer cocktail being poured into a glass mug with foam rising, on a rustic wooden table

Japanese version・日本語版へ

Panache is exactly what its name says: French for “mixed,” a drink grown from the simple idea of layering equal parts beer and lemonade. Today, the version made with carbonated lemon soda has become the most widely loved style.

Pour the soda into a well-chilled glass first, then beer slowly on top, and fine bubbles fizz up as pale gold catches the light, toasted malt meeting bright citrus and a light sweetness.

Pour one tonight, a beer cocktail as light as a summer afternoon.

Table of Contents

Recipe & Method

Ingredients

Multiple rows of spirit bottles on backlit bar shelves against an exposed brick wall

Recipe no.053

Lemon soda — 1/2
Beer — 1/2

Instructions

A bartender in a black apron stirring a cocktail in a mixing glass with a long bar spoon

Step

Prep

Chill the beer, lemon soda, and glass thoroughly beforehand.

Step

Combine

Pour the lemon soda into the glass, then fill the rest with beer.

Step

Stir in the carbonation

Stir lightly and slowly to finish. Dip the bar spoon in gently and give it just 2–3 slow rotations (a muddler works nicely for this too).

How to Stir

Technique ｜ Stir
Glass ｜ Pilsner glass
ABV ｜ Roughly 2–3%
Best Enjoyed ｜ Daytime / Before dinner
Style ｜ Ade / Cider

Panache in Detail, with Video

Origins & Characteristics

Whole lemons and freshly cut lemon slices arranged on a wooden cutting board

“Panache” is French for “mixed,” and the drink itself grew out of a simple idea: layering equal parts beer and lemonade. Today, the version made with carbonated lemon soda has become the most widely loved style.

The two ingredients are everyday staples on their own, but together they create something genuinely more dramatic than you’d expect. Beer brings toasted malt aromas and a gentle bitterness, while lemon soda contributes bright citrus and a light sweetness. Pour the soda into a well-chilled glass first, then beer slowly on top, and you’ll get fine bubbles fizzing up as pale gold catches the light.

The first sip delivers lemon’s crisp freshness, followed quickly by hop bitterness rounding out the edges. The finish goes down light, with a faint sweet aroma lingering afterward. I’d say this genuinely doesn’t feel like drinking beer at all — it works just as well at a midday brunch as it does watching the sunset by the sea. If you’re on the fence about your first round, this is an easy, unpretentious choice that’s genuinely delicious.

Points, Twists & Food Pairings

Crispy breaded fish and golden fries served on a white plate with tartar sauce and a side salad

Points — A common mistake is pouring the beer in too fast, which kills the carbonation before you’ve even finished mixing. Pour it slowly down the side of the glass over the lemon soda to preserve that light, fizzy texture.

Twists —

Monaco Style — Add a dash of grenadine for a pink hue and extra sweetness, a popular French variation.
Wheat Beer Version — Use a wheat beer instead of lager for a softer, fruitier character that pairs beautifully with the lemon.
Mint Lift — Add a few fresh mint leaves for a cooling, aromatic edge.

Best Pairings —

Fish and chips — the lemon soda’s brightness cuts through the fried richness, echoing the classic squeeze of lemon over fish.
Grilled sausages — the beer’s malty depth complements the smoky char, while the citrus refreshes between bites.
Caprese salad — the drink’s light sweetness and acidity mirror tomato and basil’s freshness, and I’d genuinely serve this pairing on any warm afternoon.