Noidish Pancake

The Noidish Pancake is a straightforward two-ingredient build, essentially a beer mimosa with a quirky name. It is a light, refreshing option for those who want something a little more interesting than a straight beer but less potent than a traditional cocktail. Expect to see this ordered at casual brunches, daytime gatherings, or by anyone looking for an easy-drinking, slightly fruity beer cocktail. It is low effort for the bar, a simple stir and serve.

Noidish Pancake

4.69 from 16 votes

Calories: 78kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 5

Ingredients

▢ 3 oz Larger Beer
▢ 3 oz Orange Juice

Instructions

▢
Stir ingredients together in a highball glass filled with ice cubes. and serve.

Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 78kcal (4%)Carbohydrates: 9g (3%)Sugar: 9g (10%)

Where it came from

The Noidish Pancake’s exact origin is murky, like many simple two-ingredient beer cocktails. It likely emerged from casual home mixing or as a variation on the popular Beermosa, which itself is a riff on the classic Mimosa. This style of drink tends to appear in settings where a lighter, less boozy option is preferred, often during daytime events or brunches where heavy spirits might be too much too soon.

It sits squarely in the beer cocktail family, alongside drinks like the Michelada, Radler, or the aforementioned Beermosa. The Noidish Pancake is simpler than a Michelada, lacking the complex spices and savory elements. It is also less sweet than many Radlers, which often use lemonade or lemon-lime soda. Its defining characteristic is the straightforward combination of lager and orange juice, making it a direct cousin to the Beermosa.

You would typically find the Noidish Pancake served at a casual brunch spot, a backyard barbecue, or a low-key daytime gathering. It is not a sophisticated bar order but rather a relaxed, easy-drinking option. It is the kind of drink you mix up when you have a fridge full of beer and some leftover orange juice, perfect for a relaxed afternoon.

What it tastes like

The Noidish Pancake offers a refreshing interplay of sweet and malty notes. On the front palate, you get the bright, tangy sweetness of orange juice, which quickly transitions to the crisp, slightly bitter character of the lager. The finish is clean, with a lingering hint of citrus and the characteristic bready notes of the beer, leaving a light and thirst-quenching impression.

Given a typical 5% ABV lager, the Noidish Pancake clocks in around 2.5% alcohol by volume. This makes it significantly lighter than a standard beer, which is usually 4-6% ABV, and far less potent than most spirit-based cocktails, which can easily hit 20% ABV or higher. It is a genuinely low-ABV option, suitable for extended drinking sessions without heavy intoxication.

The technique

Building a Noidish Pancake is as simple as it gets. Start with a highball glass, fill it generously with fresh ice cubes. Pour in the specified amount of chilled lager, then follow with the orange juice. Give it a gentle stir to combine the ingredients, ensuring an even mix without over-agitating the beer and losing too much carbonation. Serve it immediately while still cold and fizzy.

The most crucial technique here is a gentle stir. Aggressively stirring a beer cocktail will quickly kill its carbonation, leaving you with a flat, lifeless drink. A soft, circular motion with a bar spoon is enough to integrate the orange juice without turning your lager into a still beverage. Preserve those bubbles; they are key to the drink’s refreshing quality.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Lager Beer

Use: A light, crisp lager works best here. Think a standard American light lager or a clean European pilsner. Brands like Budweiser, Coors Light, or Stella Artois are good choices. Avoid anything too hoppy or dark, which will clash with the orange.
Skip: IPAs or stouts. The assertive bitterness of an IPA will fight the orange juice, and the roasted notes of a stout will make for a muddy, unappetizing mix. Keep it light and clean.
Why: The lager provides the base volume, the carbonation, and the characteristic malty backbone that grounds the sweetness of the orange juice. Its crispness is essential for the drink’s refreshing profile.

Orange Juice

Use: Freshly squeezed orange juice is always preferred for its vibrant flavor, but a good quality store-bought 100% orange juice will work in a pinch. Pulp-free is generally cleaner for cocktails.
Skip: Orange juice concentrate or anything with added sugars or artificial flavors. These will make the drink overly sweet and give it an unnatural, cloying taste that detracts from the fresh beer notes.
Why: Orange juice provides the primary sweetness, acidity, and fruit flavor, transforming the beer into a brighter, more cocktail-like experience. It is the defining non-alcoholic component.

Three Variations

Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.

Beermosa

The classic beer and orange juice mix.: This is essentially the Noidish Pancake’s closest relative. Some call this exact combination a Beermosa, particularly when served at brunch. The name often implies a direct swap for a Mimosa.

Grapefruit Radler

A tart, refreshing citrus beer mix.: Swap the orange juice for fresh grapefruit juice for a tarter, more sophisticated profile. This leans into the Radler family, offering a bitter citrus kick that pairs well with lighter lagers.

Shandy

Beer mixed with lemon or lemon-lime.: For a different kind of sweetness and tang, replace the orange juice with lemonade or lemon-lime soda. This creates a classic Shandy, a popular low-alcohol thirst quencher, often lighter and brighter than the orange version.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Lager Beer?

A light pilsner or even a wheat beer can work, but avoid anything too dark or hoppy. The flavor profile will shift, but it will still be drinkable.

No Orange Juice?

Grapefruit juice or even lemonade can substitute, though you are essentially making a different drink at that point. The overall character will change significantly.

No highball glass?

Any tall glass, like a pint glass or even a large tumbler, will do. The highball is standard for presentation and volume, but any vessel that holds 6 ounces and ice is fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.

What is in a Noidish Pancake?

A Noidish Pancake is made with 3 ounces of lager beer and 3 ounces of orange juice, stirred together over ice.

Is the Noidish Pancake alcoholic?

Yes, it contains lager beer, so it is an alcoholic beverage. It is a low-ABV drink, typically around 2.5% alcohol by volume.

What kind of beer is best for a Noidish Pancake?

A light, crisp lager or pilsner is ideal. Avoid heavy, dark, or overly hoppy beers as they will overpower the orange juice.

Is this drink like a Mimosa?

It is similar to a Mimosa, but instead of sparkling wine, it uses beer. Some people refer to it as a Beermosa for this reason.

Can I use pulp-free orange juice?

Yes, pulp-free orange juice is generally preferred for a cleaner mouthfeel in cocktails, but any good quality 100% orange juice will work.

Is the Noidish Pancake a brunch drink?

It is often enjoyed as a brunch drink due to its low alcohol content and refreshing, fruity profile, similar to a Mimosa.

Should I stir or shake a Noidish Pancake?

You should stir it gently. Shaking will cause the beer to lose its carbonation, making the drink flat.

How strong is a Noidish Pancake?

It is a very light drink, typically half the strength of a standard beer and much less potent than most spirit-based cocktails.

From the Drink Lab catalogue

Drink Lab has been collecting cocktail recipes since 2013. Some we wrote ourselves, plenty came in from readers, and the rest got passed across a bar somewhere along the way.

Last updated May 8, 2026 · 1 min read