Thirsty Thursday Eve - Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy
I'm not a huge fan of most beer, but Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy is one I'll make an exception for more often than not, especially during a hot southern summer day when the beer is ice cold.
Name: Summer Shandy
Source: Leinenkugel's
Style: Weiss (Wheat) beer
ABV: 4.2%
IBU: 11
Price: $27.99 per 24 pack
Volume: 12 oz
Price per can: $1.166
The story behind the summer ale/shandy as a style is that an influx of cyclists through Germany influenced some bar owners to cut their standard wheat beer with lemonade. Whether this was to stretch the beer further or appeal to the tastes of the bikers seems to be up for interpretation, but the style was apparently a hit. It has since become a summer phenomenon worldwide.
I couldn't tell you when I first tried specifically Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy. I've enjoyed lemon-infused wheat beers for a while. Samuel Adams has a Summer Ale, a "crisp wheat ale with citrus," which I had at least as far back as 2018. And as much as I tend to prefer darker beers like stouts and porters, 95°F at 50% humidity needs something a little lighter and more refreshing.
The low IBU makes this Summer Shandy a stark contrast from something like a hoppy IPA. Plus, the low-ish alcohol content means they're great to sip on for a cookout or low country boil (which I can personally confirm).
My wife and cousin both agreed that the Summer Shandy tasted basically like Bud Light with lemonade. While I can attest that I understand where they're coming from, I do feel like there's more nuance here. Sure, a generic light lager and a bright wheat beer do share some similarities, but I swear it's more interesting on the tongue than that. Maybe it just depends on what you're looking for in a sipping beer.
I'm not sure what they run at standard grocery store prices, but Costco's $28 for a 24 pack is cheap for ANY beer, let alone GOOD beer. Obviously, 24 cans is a lot to commit to if you don't know if you'll like it. However, they tend to be a pretty big hit at parties and cookouts, and I can definitely go through that many and more over the course of summer.
Name: Summer Shandy
Source: Leinenkugel's
Style: Weiss (Wheat) beer
ABV: 4.2%
IBU: 11
Price: $27.99 per 24 pack
Volume: 12 oz
Price per can: $1.166
The story behind the summer ale/shandy as a style is that an influx of cyclists through Germany influenced some bar owners to cut their standard wheat beer with lemonade. Whether this was to stretch the beer further or appeal to the tastes of the bikers seems to be up for interpretation, but the style was apparently a hit. It has since become a summer phenomenon worldwide.
I couldn't tell you when I first tried specifically Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy. I've enjoyed lemon-infused wheat beers for a while. Samuel Adams has a Summer Ale, a "crisp wheat ale with citrus," which I had at least as far back as 2018. And as much as I tend to prefer darker beers like stouts and porters, 95°F at 50% humidity needs something a little lighter and more refreshing.
The low IBU makes this Summer Shandy a stark contrast from something like a hoppy IPA. Plus, the low-ish alcohol content means they're great to sip on for a cookout or low country boil (which I can personally confirm).
My wife and cousin both agreed that the Summer Shandy tasted basically like Bud Light with lemonade. While I can attest that I understand where they're coming from, I do feel like there's more nuance here. Sure, a generic light lager and a bright wheat beer do share some similarities, but I swear it's more interesting on the tongue than that. Maybe it just depends on what you're looking for in a sipping beer.
I'm not sure what they run at standard grocery store prices, but Costco's $28 for a 24 pack is cheap for ANY beer, let alone GOOD beer. Obviously, 24 cans is a lot to commit to if you don't know if you'll like it. However, they tend to be a pretty big hit at parties and cookouts, and I can definitely go through that many and more over the course of summer.
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