Lakefront Launches Gluten‑Free New Grist Grapefruit Radler Spring 2026

Lakefront Brewery announced the addition of New Grist Grapefruit Radler, a gluten-free, radler-style beer-and-juice brewed to be lower in alcohol and calories, and slated to hit retail in spring 2026. The release expands the brewery’s New Grist family and signals continued investment in accessible, health-minded offerings for people avoiding gluten.

Owner and president Russ Klisch said the radler expands the brewery’s long-running gluten-free program that began with New Grist pilsner in 2005 and grew with New Grist IPA in July 2024. The IPA’s sales more than doubled over the past 12 months, demonstrating market appetite for New Grist innovations and giving context for the brewery’s decision to add a flavored, lower-ABV option to the line.

New Grist Grapefruit Radler follows a broader trend toward fruit-forward, sessionable beverages that appeal to both craft-beer drinkers and those seeking alternatives to standard lagers and ales. As a radler-style product, it pairs beer base with fruit juice to deliver a tart, refreshing profile at reduced alcohol content, which can fit post-work pours, outdoor gatherings, and brewers’ seasonal taproom rotations.

Lakefront’s gluten-free program has accrued credibility: New Grist beers have earned multiple Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup awards, and the brand is distributed across 29 states as well as Canada and Ukraine. Those distribution footprints mean many readers will have regional access, though availability will vary market by market; expect initial shipments to prioritize existing New Grist channels and Lakefront’s established distributors.

For homebrewers and taproom operators, the radler’s arrival offers practical options for pairing and programming. Taprooms can use the radler to broaden accessibility on draft, rotate lighter offerings during warmer months, and program ballast cans for food-friendly sessions. Homebrewers interested in gluten-free techniques can study New Grist’s line as a model for using alternative grains and adjuncts while keeping flavor and drinkability front and center.

Look for New Grist Grapefruit Radler in stores and on draft starting in spring 2026, and monitor how the product performs in markets where New Grist has strong momentum. The launch reinforces that gluten-free no longer means niche; it is a competitive category where innovation, flavor, and lower-alcohol formats are increasingly mainstream.