This summer, the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. 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.
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, Wis.,
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
Leinenkugel’s
Chippewa Falls, Wis.
