The Beer of the Summer - Shandy

People know that I am a beer enthusiast, so when I show up places and all they have to offer is a Miller Lite, they often apologize. I make a big deal out of saying that I like beer in all forms, I just usually buy the more exotic, expensive stuff. That said, there is a beer now making a big impression and I can't seem to get away from it. Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy is the beer of the summer. 

Every party I go to it is being served and every boat in the park is hauling a case. And I sort of get it. It's like a lemonade with a bit of beer in it. Low in alcohol (4.2%), with decent carbonation and a light wheaty flavor. This is like Blue Moon with a lot of lemon squeezed into it and less booze. In reality, it's a Zima with a touch more beer. That doesn't mean it doesn't taste good. When its 95 degrees out, I'm a heck of a lot more likely to grab one of these than heavy-bodied stout. Leinenkugel is a Wisconsin brewery and they have a good selection of session beers. I like their Honey Weiss more than this one, but I'm not the target audience.

Just for reference, a Shandy is a beer mixed with a citrus soda. People have been making beer shandies forever. You can mix Sprite or 7-UP with Corona and it tastes pretty good. Citrus complements wheat beers particularly well, which is why bars will usually plunk an orange in your Blue Moon or Oberon even without asking. Corona or any other Mexican beer comes with lime. A side note, lime makes all lagers taste pretty good. I used put a lime in Milwaukee's Best in college so I could choke it down--try it some time. 

This brings us back to Summer Shandy. It's fine. It will be remembered as the "Beer of '11," along with its sinister sister booze--the Skinny Girl margarita. Drink it. Don't apologize for offering it to me, I'll drink it too. But you could save yourself some money by mixing The Beast with a can of Sprite.