Short's Soft Parade Shandy 6Pk

Short's Soft Parade Shandy 6Pk is a 4.2% ABV fruit shandy made by blending Short's flagship Soft Parade berry ale with homemade lemonade, sold in a six-pack of 12 oz cans. Scoring an 87 on BeerAdvocate and holding a 3.8 out of 5 on Untappd across more than 14,000 ratings, this Michigan-brewed shandy has earned a loyal seasonal following for its distinctly berry-forward take on the style.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.2%  |  Origin: Elk Rapids, Michigan, USA  |  Style: Fruit Ale Shandy  |  Brewery: Short's Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Short's Brewing Company operates a 30-barrel brewhouse in Elk Rapids, Michigan, where it produces its core and seasonal lineup. Soft Parade Shandy was born from a happy accident — the brewery had leftover homemade lemonade and decided to blend it with their flagship Soft Parade fruit ale, which is brewed with pureed strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Unlike most commercial shandies that start with a neutral lager base, this version uses a fruit-loaded ale as its foundation, giving the final blend far more depth and berry character than the typical lemon-forward shandy.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright lemonade leads the nose, followed by tart mixed berries and a faint undercurrent of sweet caramel malt. The overall impression is fruity and inviting without being cloying.

Taste: A punchy tartness from the lemon hits first, quickly layered with sweet berry fruitiness from the Soft Parade base. The mid-palate carries blueberry and raspberry notes that blend seamlessly with the citrus, producing a flavor profile closer to fruit candy than traditional beer.

Finish: Light-bodied and crisp, the finish is short and clean with lingering hints of berry sweetness and lemon zest. Highly refreshing and sessionable at 4.2% ABV.

How to Drink Soft Parade Shandy

This shandy is best served ice-cold straight from the can or poured into a pint glass to appreciate the pinkish-orange color and off-white head. It drinks well on its own and does not need embellishment, though a lemon wheel garnish complements the citrus character. For a beer cocktail twist, try a Shandy Spritz by topping it with a splash of prosecco for added effervescence. A Berry Radler Float — Soft Parade Shandy poured over lemon sorbet — turns it into a summer dessert drink. It also works in a Beermosa, substituted in place of a traditional wheat beer alongside fresh-squeezed orange juice for a brunch serve with more berry complexity.

Best For

• Backyard barbecues and cookouts where a light, fruity beer keeps the afternoon going
• Introducing non-beer drinkers to craft beer through an approachable, fruit-forward style
• Beach coolers and boat days that call for low-ABV, high-refreshment options
• Gifting to fans of fruit ales or shandies who want something beyond a standard lager-lemonade blend

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Soft Parade Shandy taste like? It delivers a tart lemon punch upfront followed by layered sweet berry flavors from strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, finishing light and refreshing with a faint fruit-candy sweetness.

How does Soft Parade Shandy compare to Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy? Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy uses a traditional wheat beer base with natural lemonade flavoring, producing a straightforward lemon-forward profile. Soft Parade Shandy starts with a fruit ale brewed with four real berry purees, resulting in a noticeably fruitier, more complex shandy with deeper berry character alongside the lemon.

Is Soft Parade Shandy good for beginners? At 4.2% ABV with a sweet, fruity flavor that leans closer to a fruit drink than a traditional beer, it is one of the most approachable craft offerings for people who typically do not enjoy beer.

Where is Soft Parade Shandy made? It is brewed at Short's Brewing Company's 30-barrel brewhouse in Elk Rapids, Michigan, a small town in the northwestern part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

What foods pair well with Soft Parade Shandy? Grilled chicken with berry glaze mirrors the shandy's fruit notes; fresh summer salads with goat cheese and berries create a complementary pairing; lemon bars echo the citrus backbone; fish tacos with mango salsa play off the tropical-fruity sweetness; and vanilla cheesecake provides a creamy contrast to the tart berry and lemon character.

What sizes does Soft Parade Shandy come in? The standard retail format is a six-pack of 12 oz cans.

Is Soft Parade Shandy worth the price? It positions as a craft shandy at a modest premium over mass-market options like Leinenkugel's, and the use of real fruit purees and homemade lemonade in the base ale justifies the step up for drinkers seeking more flavor complexity in the style.

Why Soft Parade Shandy?

What separates this shandy from the crowded summer seasonal market is its base beer — Soft Parade is already one of Michigan's most recognized fruit ales, brewed with four real berry purees rather than extracts or flavorings. Blending that ale with homemade lemonade produces a shandy with genuine depth that most lager-based competitors simply cannot match. With an 87 on BeerAdvocate and over 14,000 Untappd ratings averaging 3.8, the drinking public has consistently validated it as a standout in its category. For warm-weather sessions where flavor matters as much as refreshment, few shandies deliver this much character at just 4.2% ABV.