Specialist flavour house I.T.S has launched a range of natural fruit flavour mixes developed especially for brewers to create Radlers.

I.T.S’ new Radler flavour mixes are available in the on-trend flavours of lemon, passionfruit, peach, grapefruit, dark fruits and ‘flavour-of the-moment’, watermelon. Lemon was the fastest growing flavour in the UK beer and cider category Oct 2023 – Sep 2024 while peach is one of the top 5 flavours for beer in USA and Canada (source: Innova Market Insights).

According to The Times, fruit flavoured beer consumption has risen by 250% in a year, driven by Gen Z consumers who are after lighter, fruiter and lower ABV beers.

Easy to use, brewers simply make up the super-concentrated mix with water (40% water to 10% mix) and add to 50% of a brewed beer base – either an existing or new recipe. The result is a refreshingly light Radler-style beer, with an appealing not-too-sweet fruity flavour and an ABV of around 2% (depending on the beer ABV) – ideal for summer drinking, the company said.

Alternatively, full strength beer can be used or a lower ABV beer can be brewed and the concentrate added, so no need to dilute. 

The new Radler flavour mixes are cost effective too as brewers are not dependent on the seasonal availability and price fluctuations of real fruit puree, often used in fruit beers.

The flavours offer great flexibility as they are added in at the end of the brewing process meaning several different lines of beer each with a different flavour can be created using the same base. This allows brewers to offer seasonal or limited-edition flavoured Radlers to their ranges without additional cost or increased production time.

Radlers have grown in popularity in the USA and Canada due to their lower alcohol level. Indeed, I.T.S highlights Innova Market Insights’ data that Gen Z and Millennials in the USA and Canada have chosen beer with a lower alcohol percentage more often in the past 12 months and that there has been a +29% growth of beer launches with low/no alcohol claims across those countries.

Lower alcohol beers, around the 2.5% mark, such as Radlers can therefore offer a significant opportunity.

Briony Rideout, beverage innovations specialist at I.T.S explained: “Lower alcohol beers are a good ‘halfway house’ for those consumers who wish to cut back on alcohol without cutting out completely, and they appeal to a generation of drinkers with FOMO (fear of missing out).

“It’s this ‘best of both worlds’ mindset that has helped fuel the popularity of Radlers and many brewers, both large and small, are looking at flavoured low alcoholic beverages as a perfect summertime refreshment. 

“Lagers and pale ales at around 2.5% cut with citrus flavours such as lemon, grapefruit or passionfruit are growing in popularity as they offer more flavour than regular low alcohol beers and, as a result, are widening the market for beer, especially among younger drinkers. 

“I.T.S’ new Radler flavours offer a simple, easy to use solution for drinks manufacturers to expand into these markets.”