Leinenkugel’s Brewing
Leinie’s Plans Oktoberfest In Cans
Leinenkugel sees the potential in cans. Summer Shandy, Honey Weiss, and Sunset Wheat made can appearances last year. Tack on Oktoberfest. According to the brewery, the next brew of Oktoberfest will include 12oz cans.
Availability: September – October, Seasonally.
5.1% ABV, 20 IBUs
Leinenkugel Summer Shandy Arrives On Leap Day
Ahead of schedule, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, is coming out of hibernation early. The beer that usually hits in March, will arrive weeks early, on Leap Day -February 29th.
About Shandy:
An adventurous blend of select malted wheat and barley, lemonade flavor and a hint of Wisconsin honey, Summer Shandy is available nationwide in cans, bottles and on draft. Leinie’s Summer Shandy, the first shandy-style brew in the United States, experienced an impressive 80 percent growth in 2011. When autumn rolled around, many Shandy fanatics stocked up on as much as they could for the off-season. Since then, Leinie fans have anxiously awaited its return.
Style: Fruit Beer
Availability: 12oz bottles, Draft.
4.2% ABV
“Summer Shandy has captured the imagination of fans who want a refreshing light-bodied beer — the ultimate combination of craft beer and refreshment,” said Jake Leinenkugel, fifth generation brewer and president of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company. “We’re excited to celebrate this leap year by giving our fans an early taste of summer.”
Wee Heavy Is The Next Big Eddy
Leinenkugel’s Wee Heavy Scotch Ale will be the next release in the Big Eddy Series. The series started years ago with a draft only imperial IPA. Then last year, Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout arrived. In 2012, the brewery will expand the line to include Wee Heavy Scotch Ale, A Baltic Porter, and another new style they are still deciding on. There is also some barrel aged Big Eddy experiments. (And they are some damn tasty experiments.) Per John Leinenkugel:
1st Official Brew Date for “BIG EDDY Wee Heavy Scotch Ale” will be next Tuesday, December 20th at the Leinie’s 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee. We are hoping for successful brews with a release of it sometime in February after Valentine’s/President’s Day. Then on to the Imperial IPA which was last brewed back in 2007 (draft only for Milwaukee & Madison, WI) rounding out next year (2012) with a few brews of a Baltic Porter next fall after Labor Day.
Style: Scotch Ale
Availability: 12oz bottles, Draft
Arrival: February, 2012
9.5% ABV
Leinenkugel Nixing Fireside Nut Brown
Leinenkugel’s Fireside Nut Brown Ale is the brewery’s current seasonal. This nutty brown ale makes an appearance each year from November to February. In 2012, it won’t. John Leinenkugel says “we can’t get enough nuts!” In reality, Leinkugel is changing their lineup some, and bringing new offerings next year.
John says -“hibernating” because the brewery does’t like the term “retired.” Because you never know if they’ll bring it back. What will replace Fireside? “We aren’t sure yet, but we have been experimenting with everything from IPA’s to stouts.” Barrel aging is on the docket for the brewery – who is already experimenting with Barrel Aged editions of Big Eddy.
Leinenkugel Building A Barrel Aging Program
Leinenkugel is experimenting with a barrel aging program. The first experiments have been with Big Eddy Imperial Stout. Eddy has spent time in bourbon and rye bourbon barrels. Here’s the kicker, these releases don’t really exist. Well, they do – but they don’t. These little 7 oz bottles are just testers. The brewers at Lenie’s took the first release of Big Eddy (2010) and aged it in (2) Heaven Hill for a full year. The flavor of this beer is incredible. (More on that in a minute.)
Also on the way are 2 NEW beers from Leinie’s:
Wee Heavy Scotch Ale. New style for Lenies. 2012 will see the release to 30 key accounts. There will also be a barrel side project for Wee Heavy. More rye bourbon & bourbon.
IPA. The brewery has been itching to release a hoppy offering. April 2012 will see this release.
There are other styles in development, and Leinenkugel’s expands their lineup.
So where does this leave the barrel aging? First public release is about 2 years away. It will take time for the brewery to build up a barrel inventory to move forward with the program.
How does it taste? Lovers of barrel aged beers should already start drooling over this release. Caramel, Raisins, vanilla, molasses, rye & oak. I found myself trying to get the last drops out of the bottle (I had to share 7ozs!) 2 years is too long to wait for more.
Below are pics of of the barrels at Lenies
Big Eddy and it’s Barrel Aged sibling
Leinie’s Oktoberfest Back For Year 10
It’s almost Octoberfest season again. Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest arrives again in late August.
CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI (Aug 2011) – For the 10th year, Leinenkugel’s is rolling out barrels of its seasonal Oktoberfest brew in time for crisp, cooler temperatures. Celebrating a decade of brewing Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest, the brewer will again bring the traditional German Marzen-style flavor to bottles and draft across the U.S. beginning late-August through October.
First introduced in 2001 to honor company namesake, Jacob Leinenkugel, who came from Germany and started Leinenkugel’s in 1867, Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest is brewed with Munich, Caramel and a blend of 2-row Pale malts. These barley malts give Leinie’s Oktoberfest a rich, hearty character and deep amber color, while four hop varieties provide an aromatic and smooth, well-balanced lager.
“Each year craft beer fans look forward to specialty autumn brews that enhance the flavors of the season,” said Jake Leinenkugel, president of the 144-year-old Upper Midwest brewery. “Over the 10 years, Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest has grown into a fan favorite and we’re delighted to share our festive autumn brew with Leinie loyalists year after year.”
Available nationwide in six and 12-pack bottles at supermarkets and liquor stores and on draft at bars and restaurants, Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest pairs well not only with bratwurst and sauerkraut, but is also an excellent complement to full-flavored hors d’oeuvres and hearty soups and chili. Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest retails for approximately $6.99 – $7.49 a six-pack.
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 Leinenkugel’s Classic Amber Lager. In addition to the Oktoberfest, Leinenkugel’s offers three other limited-release seasonal beers including summer favorite Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, Fireside Nut Brown and 1888 Bock. For more information on the rich history of Leinenkugel’s, visit www.leinie.com or join virtual Leinie loyalists at www.facebook.com/leinenkugels.
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Leinenkugel’s Big Eddy
Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout was first brewed by Lenies in 2007. It’s inspired by the Big Eddy Spring that has been the water source for the brewery since 1867. The beer is reminiscent of the 18th century Russian Imperial Stout style that contained extra malts and hops to act as preservatives during long voyages from England to Russia, where it was served in the royal court. This is the first in a line of Big Eddy releases.
Beer Rundown:
Hops: Glacier, Warrior, Summit, Glacier
Malts: 11 Malts, including Munich, Caramel, Chocolate, & Pale
Taste Expectations: From Lenie’s — Deep mahogany hue and a complex, yet balanced, flavor, offering dark fruit, espresso and mocha character, and finishing with toffee and molasses notes.
Availability: 12oz/4 pks. Draft.
9.5% ABV
