If you're OK with less alcohol instead of no alcohol, try a raddler. Half beer, half lemonade. You could even do an NA beer.
this post was submitted on 23 Nov 2025
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I didn't think beer and lemonade would taste good but I was wrong. Glad I tried it
One of my favourite summer drinks is just some carbonated water mixed with a few drips of lemon or lime juice. It is crisp, a little tart, cold, and not sweet. Otherwise unsweetened refrigerated tea (maybe with a bit of lemon) is delicious as well, but perhaps not as crisp.
One of my favourite summer drinks is just some carbonated water mixed with a few drips of lemon or lime juice
Oh, I like this one! Simple too, which is a bonus!
Isn't it springtime in Australia right now? Your summer doesn't begin until December 21st.
Our summer begins on the 1st of December, so it's only a week away.
But it was 34C (93F) yesterday, and it will be 35C tomorrow!
It's going to be a hot summer!
Tonic and lime. Ginger beer. (Might have to try a few before finding one that's not too sweet) Non alc apple cider, same as above for sweetness.
Kombucha?
In Japan, barley tea is a popular summer drink.
And provides better hydration than plain water, so less chance of wet bulb issues (allegedly).
That said, keep those mouth pearls brushed regularly.
Tinto de verano, or summer wine in Spanish. Chilled red wine, mixed (1:1 or however you like it) with 7up, tonic or bitter lemon, served with ice and a slice of orange or lemon. Cheap wine will do nicely.
Perfect summer beverage, not too high in alcohol, mostly bitter and tart. Use a bitter non-sweet version of tonic or bitter lemon to add almost no sugar at all.
I second this. Also dry/medium apple ciders. There's even hoppy ciders if one is looking for a drink reminiscent of beer.
And if those are still too sweet, perhaps a dry white with just soda water?
As far as I'm aware, according to the internet, OP has never tried a Dickens Cider
Just water?
What about barley tea? It's only slightly sweet, the main flavour is bitter. And it goes great with some lime or lemon juice.
Also, regarding tereré: if you happen to have an easier time finding yerba mate for the hot beverage, note it's the same yerba; as long as unflavoured and coarsely ground you can use it interchangeably.
I like water Kefir, and as a kid drank it often. (Not to be confused with milk base Kefir). Water Kefir grains are normally available online but seems sold out in Australia.
Seltzer with bitters
Ginger Beer.
Tomato juice. Or V8 or something like that if available.
- Yerba Mate – it’s in the holly family rather than the camellia family, can brew like tea, either hot or iced
- Posca
- lemon or lime soda/seltzer – normally club soda (or sparkling water) with lime or lemon juice (an unsweetened version of lemonade or limeade) – La Croix makes a Lime Sparkling Water (avoid the Key Lime flavor though)
- iced coffee and cold brew coffee
- (I’m assuming lemon-lime-and-bitters would still be too sweet – but nothing stopping you from adding a dash of Angostura to sparkling water)
Tereré is a special style Yerba Mate, and it's absolutely amazing with ice cold fruit infused water!
Brazilian Lemonade
Maybe too sweet for what you're looking for, but you can adjust the sugar and limes to taste:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/54083/brazilian-lemonade/
2 limes
3 cups water (710ml)
½ cup sugar (100g)
3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (45ml)
ice cubes
Directions
Wash limes thoroughly. Cut off the ends and slice into eight wedges.
Place limes in a blender with water, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and ice; pulse 5 times, or until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove rinds. Serve over ice.
This sounds amazing!
I've done it with both limes and oranges, good stuff!
Yeah. I’m doing this. Thanks!!
A non-alcoholic shrub might be a good choice!
I'd never heard of a shrub before, but that sounds amazing!
Dry apple cider, if it's available in your region.
I can get alcoholic versions of it, but I don't know that I've seen a non alcoholic version. They all tend to be sweet, even if they're dry. But a crisp dry cider could be perfect if I can find one! I'll go searching :)
Kombucha? It will be very fizzy and tart. Some of them are sweet and some aren't so pick one that isn't as sweet.