Official Press Release
CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (March 23, 2010) – Summertime adventurers, outdoor enthusiasts and beachgoers rejoice! The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company has announced that popular summer seasonal brew, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, will be introduced nationwide in 12-ounce cans for the first time in 2010, making the brewer the first to offer a canned “shandy” style brew, which as originally developed in Europe as a thirst quencher for parched cyclists, to U.S. drinkers. Available April through August nationwide, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy’s new canned offering will provide the ideal warm weather refreshment partner for beer enthusiasts enjoying summertime activities. The brew will also continue to be available in bottles and on draft across the U.S.
Initially introduced in the upper Midwest in 2007, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy – an adventurous blend of select malted wheat and barley, lemonade flavor and a hint of Wisconsin honey – has quickly become the 143-year-old brewer’s best selling seasonal of all time. In response to national demand, Summer Shandy was rolled out in bottles nationwide in 2008, followed by the addition of the brew on draft in 2009 and now, after great interest from craft beer adventurers, especially in waterfront areas, Summer Shandy will next take its zest to the can.
“Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy is a refreshing summer brew that has been embraced by our loyal fans and new beer drinkers alike over the last several years,” says Jake Leinenkugel, fifth generation brewer and president of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company. “We’re delighted to introduce Summer Shandy in cans nationally in 2010. There are places that bottles simply cannot go and Summer Shandy’s canned offering will provide craft beer fans with an ideal, lightweight way to take Leinenkugel’s summer refresher along with them on all of their outdoor summer adventures.”
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.
Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy features a tangy and citrus character. Its tart lemon flavoring complements spicy and robust summertime grilling dishes and brings an unexpected flavor twist to beer mixology recipes. See drink and food recipes below.
Summer Shandy contains 4.2 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). It will be available where Leinenkugel’s is sold in 12-pack 12-oz. cans, 6 and 12-pack bottles and on draft. Summer Shandy retails for approximately $6.99 to $7.99 a 6-pack.
March 23rd, 2010
Barry M said:
The term Shandy is certainly used in the UK and Ireland, but I’ve never heard it used in Germany. Generally it’s called Radler or Alster here, depending on where you are (along with other named variations involving Cola or Fanta *shudder*).
4.2% seems pretty high for a shandy!
Never heard the term shandygaff before, but apparently that’s a mix of beer and ginger ale. I’ve learned something today! :D