Summer Shandy is bad, nationwide / Hot rats, Fat Tire in a can!

Leinenkugel’s prepares for countrywide expansion of Summer Shandy

Chippewa Falls, Wis. – This summer, the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company is sharing its twist on a European recipe with craft beer lovers across the country. Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, which was initially introduced in Upper Midwest markets in 2007 as a seasonal summertime brew, quickly became the 141-year-old craft brewer’s best selling seasonal of all time.

As the craft beer market continues to thrive, Leinenkugel’s is delivering its refreshing summer seasonal to Leinie loyalists and craft beer lovers across the U.S. this April.

A relatively untapped offering in the United States, the “shandy” (which is short for “shandygaff”) as it’s called in England and Germany, is typically a mixture of beer and soda or lemonade which has been enjoyed across Europe since the 17th century. Another variation of a shandy is the “radler” which is a German term for cyclist.

In September 1922, Franz Xaver Kugler developed the radler, when approximately 13,000 cyclists visited his tavern in Munich. His beer supply started to run out, so he cleverly mixed the remaining beer with lemonade and pretended he created the blend especially for the cyclists. Available April through August, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy is an adventurous blend of select malted wheat and barley, lemonade flavor and a hint of Wisconsin honey.

“Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy is a unique and invigorating summer brew that was embraced last summer by our loyal fans and new beer drinkers alike in the Upper Midwest,” said Dick Leinenkugel, Leinenkugel’s vice president of sales and marketing and fifth generation brewer. “We’re excited to introduce our popular new seasonal to craft beer lovers across the country who are seeking a new way to satisfy their taste for adventure this summer.”

Today, Leinenkugel’s continues to look for ways to quench the adventurous spirit of its dedicated fan base of nearly 200,000 Leinie loyalists living throughout the U.S. Leinie loyalists are a group of devoted fans of the specialty brewer who stay in touch virtually throughout the year via
Leinenkugel’s newsletters and gather for the Leinie Lodge Family Reunion in Chippewa Falls every June. This April, Leinie loyalists will be among the first to seek out the refreshing summertime seasonal in new markets.

Brewed in small, high-quality batches at Leinenkugel’s brewery in Chippewa Falls, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy features a tangy and citrus character. Its tart lemon flavoring complements spicy and robust summertime grilling recipes and brings an unexpected flavor twist to beer mixes created though the growing trend of beer mixology.

Summer Shandy contains 4.2 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

It will be available where Leinenkugel’s is sold in 6 and 12 -pack bottles and on draft in 1/2 and 1/4 barrels. Summer Shandy retails for approximately $7.99 a 6-pack.

Leinenkugel’s Candied Ginger Shandy
(Created by Las Vegas-based Master Mixologist Tobin Ellis)
Candied Ginger Shandy
½ glass Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy
½ glass real ginger beer (non-alcoholic)*
Top with ginger lemon foam
Garnish with candied lemon slice

Ginger Lemon Foam
2 oz. ginger liqueur
4 oz. fresh lemonade
4 oz. egg whites
5 dashes lemon bitters
Add all ingredients to a dessert whipper and charge with NO2. Shake well,
refrigerate. Makes 12 drinks.

Candied Lemon Slices
Boil 1 cup sugar in 1 cup water. Add thin lemon slices, boil until slices become slightly transparent. Remove and coat in fine sugar while still warm. Let cool.

*Ginger beer is not “beer” as in hops and alcohol, but it is an authentic and flavorful non-alcoholic beverage, such as root beer or apple beer, which is made with fresh herbs, roots, spices and fruits.

Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy-Infused Salsa
2 large chopped onions
1 ½-2 minced garlic cloves
7-8 chopped tomatoes
1 healthy handful of chopped cilantro
1 chopped green bell pepper
1 chopped yellow bell pepper
1 chopped red bell pepper
1 chopped orange bell pepper
1 ½ cups of Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy
1/3 cup of black beans
½ can of garbanzo beans
½ can of corn
2-3 jalapenos
1 tablespoon of salt

Mix and let the adventure begin!

About Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Leinenkugel’s, brewed in Chippewa Falls, is the leading craft brewer in the upper Midwest. Leinenkugel’s year-round offerings include Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat, Honey Weiss, Berry Weiss, Leinie’s Red, Creamy Dark, Original and Light. In addition to Summer Shandy, Leinenkugel’s offers three other limited-release beers including Big Butt Doppelbock, Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest, and fall favorite Leinenkugel’s Apple Spice. For more information on the rich history of Leinenkugel’s, visit www.leinie.com.

~Image and information courtesy of Leinie’s

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In other beverage news: New Belgium to roll out Fat Tire in Cans

Fort Collins, Colo. – New Belgium Brewing today announced that it will be packaging and distributing its flagship Fat Tire Amber Ale in aluminum cans to limited markets this summer. New Belgium, known for its commitment to quality and sustainability, will begin distributing a short run of cans in June, just when concerts, camping trips and other outdoor activities are in full swing.
“Introducing cans was a natural choice given that they are outdoor-friendly, light for transport and readily recyclable,” said Bryan Simpson, spokesperson for New Belgium. “In addition to the lighter carbon footprint, Fat Tire can now travel to places where glass is not an option.”
Distributing cans will continue to help lessen New Belgium’s footprint by saving fuel during transport to other states by lightening the weight of the trucks. New Belgium has begun this process by using biodiesel in its Ft. Collins distribution trucks and in the trucks used during the Tour de Fat traveling events.
The cans, which are 100 percent recyclable, will feature Fat Tire’s original watercolor artwork. And for those beer lovers worried about Fat Tire’s taste changing in the can, fear not.
“We took a unique can-conditioning approach and its flavor was not compromised in any way,” added Simpson. “We ran a series of tests using our friends at Oskar Blues canning line and there was virtually no flavor differential.”

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Amber Ale and other Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces seven year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

~Information courtesy of New Belgium Brewing Company