Leinenkugel’s: The ultimate summer refresher — Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy — takes it to the great outdoors

– Leinenkugel’s to introduce best-selling seasonal brew in cans nationwide this summer –

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.

MEDIA CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION, ARTWORK OR SAMPLES: Rebecca Skinner, 952.401.0125 ext. 4 or rskinner@leumpr.com


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 Shrimp Skewers

24 medium shrimp, shells on, deveined

2 lemons, cut into wedges

8 skewers

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

½ cup salad oil

¼ cup tarragon vinegar

½ cup Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy

4 cloves garlic, minced

¼ teaspoon Tabasco sauce

2 teaspoons salt

¼ teaspoon dry mustard

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon paprika

½ teaspoon pepper

1/3 cup honey

Fresh chopped tarragon leaves

Combine olive oil, salad oil, tarragon vinegar, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, garlic, Tabasco sauce, salt, dry mustard, sugar, paprika and pepper. Reserve ¼ cup of the marinade for basting. Place shrimp in a large resealable storage bag. Add marinade to bag and refrigerate for 4 hours, turning occasionally.

Place the shrimp and lemon wedges on 8 skewers, alternating them. Add 1/3 cup of honey to reserved marinade to create basting sauce. Place skewers on the barbeque, baste as they cook. Sprinkle with fresh chopped tarragon leaves to finish.

About Leinenkugel’s

Leinenkugel’s, brewed in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is the leading craft brewer in the upper Midwest. Year-round offerings include Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat, Honey Weiss, Berry Weiss, Leinie’s Red, Creamy Dark, Original, Light, and most recently Leinenkugel’s Classic Amber Lager. In addition to Summer Shandy, Leinenkugel’s offers three other limited-release seasonal beers including Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest, Fireside Nut Brown and 1888 Bock. Leinenkguel’s has a 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, Wis. every June. For more information on the rich history of Leinenkugel’s, visit http://www.leinie.com or join virtual Leinie loyalists at http://www.facebook.com/leinenkugels.