Leinenkugel's Rolls Out Best Selling Summer Seasonal Beer Countrywide

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 U.S., 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, Wisconsin 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, WI, 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!

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.