All new look for Mr. Pineapple!!!!

Although most of the country is waist deep in snow, and staring at temps hovering around the wrong

side of 0, we here in Arizona are lucky enough to avoid all that. I lovingly refer to temps in the 50's as "chilly" now. Here, we are already thinking ahead to sunshine, warm weather, bikini's and pool parties. Of coarse, for any good pool parties, you need a great beer. Again, we here in Arizona are lucky enough to claim SanTan Brewing as ours, and with them we can also claim Mr. Pineapple as our own, one of the best summer beers for pool parties, golfing, barbequing, you name it.

Set to hit shelves in just a few weeks (February, just in time for the big game!), Senor Pineapple has undergone a few exciting changes this year. First of them being, SanTan Brewing Company has teamed up with Chiquita to use Rainforest Alliance Certified Pineapple Juice for a more sustainable, socially conscious and tasty can of craft beer. Founder and Brewmaster Anthony Canecchia says

 

“We’re also very excited to be partnering with Chiquita to improve the quality of our beer by using a premium juice that allows us to support sustainable agriculture and to be more social responsible.”

The other change, and certainly the most obvious, is Mr. Pineapples new look! SanTan gave Mr. Pineapple a new can, a cooler, more laid back look, Anthony has this to say about the new can....

“Mr. Pineapple knows how to get the party started. We wanted to give his can a new look, something exciting that’s going to make you smile from the first sip to the last drop,”

 

 

 

 

So, anyone that has read this blog for more then 15 minutes, knows I am a HUGE fan of this beer! I have 3 staple summer beers that I turn too when the weather warms up. Bell's Oberon has been my go to summer beer since I first had it at my wedding reception back in 2008. Recently, Hanger 24's Orange Wheat has muscled its way into my top 3 as well. However, the one I turn to most often, is this one, the one that is brewed 6 miles down the road from my house. To me, its just a perfect summer beer. It tastes like summer. A traditional German Wheat Ale, this is a very flavorful, yet easy to drink beer. I guess its technically a "fruit" beer, but the pineapple is more subtle then a lot of fruit beers. It has a fruity aroma, and a light, refreshing citrus/pineapple flavor that goes well a lot of great summer dishes.

 

I am not the only one that loves this beer however.....winner of many awards, and SanTan's top selling seasonal beer, and I have no data to prove it, but I would venture a guess that this is the best selling seasonal beer brewed in Arizona (if this is not that case, if someone could please correct me....thanks!).

 

Here is a little beer geek info on Mr. Pineapple

Style:   Pineapple Wheat

Malt:    2-Row, White Wheat, Caramel, Munich

Hops:   Columbus

Yeast: German Wheat

OG:     13 Plato

ABV:    5%

Color: Hazy Straw Gold

IBU:     15

 

 

 

 

So, be on the look out in the coming weeks, I am told Mr. Pineapple will be hitting shelves come Feb (less then 2 weeks away...). Need to know where to find it? Check out SanTan's beer finder here....

 

So, break out the swim trucks, fire up the grill, and get the cooler ready to throw in a few six packs of Mr. Pineapple....

 

Until next time

Bottoms up my friends

 

The Beer Czar

 

About SanTan Brewing Company

Open since 2007 under the leadership of founder and brewmaster, Anthony Canecchia, SanTan Brewing Company has established a strong reputation as one of Arizona’s favorite craft breweries. In addition to brewing, SanTan features a friendly neighborhood brewpub in Downtown Chandler, which has quickly become one of the top local food and beer destinations in the Phoenix metro area.  

 

All SanTan Brewing Company craft beers are Southwestern Style Ales. SanTan’s brews are fermented to completion and carbonated higher than traditional American beers for a more effervescent, crisp and refreshing hand crafted beer – perfect for quenching your thirst in the hot Arizona sun and throughout the southwestern region of the US.

In 2009, SanTan Brewing began distributing their Southwestern Style Ales throughout the state of Arizona, operating with a mission to pair craft beer with craft food that would inspire great conversation and good times. 2014 marks the beginning of taking this journey throughout the Southwest and California.  

SanTan beers have won numerous national and statewide awards including two medals at the US Open Beer Championship: bronze in 2013 and gold in 2011. SanTan Brewing also took home a silver medal at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival and won Best Brewery in Arizona, selected by the Phoenix New Times and the Arizona Republic, in 2013 and 2011.

Visit them on the web at www.santanbrewing.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SLIF XIII

Well, according to the calendar hanging on my wall, we have reached another weekend my friends!!! So, grab a beer, sit down, and enjoy this weekend edition of Sorry Liver, its Friday!!! Here is what's up....


Fill her up! (your growler that is!)
You can now get your growlers filled at the gas station! At least at some of them here in the valley! Check it out!

Beer On Tap at the Gas Station (3TV)

Is it Ale, or a Lager?
One of the most frequently asked questions I get, is "what is the difference between ale and lager?". Its really not something that most people, even a casual beer fan knows, well, a friend of mine sent me this article, that not only sums it up pretty easily, but also dives into the "science" of it.
Check it out here...



Hop Shampoo and Shave Kit!
Fathers Day, is sort of coming up, so, here is a little gift idea to get for the dad in your life. Shampoo and Shave cream made with hops!! I bet this smells SO good, check it out here......

Mr. Pineapple is almost here!!!
OK, its no secret, I am a HUGE fan of SanTan's Mr. Pineapple. One of my all time favorite beers to sip at the beach, or poolside. Well, its just a week and a day away! Next Saturday, March 22nd, is the official release date for Mr. Pineapple!! It also happens to be the same day as SanTan's Great American Beer and BBQ Festival, featuring Blues Traveler!!!! (more info here)....











Send Us your St Patrick's Day pictures!
St Patrick's Day is this coming Monday. Will you be attending a party this weekend, or Monday? Ithebeerczar@gmail.com, or tag us on Facebook.
f so, please, we would love to see and share your St Patrick's Day photos! So, send us your best pic's of you, dressed in your finest greenery, drinking green beer!!  Email you pic's to us at






So, there you have it my friends! Now, go out, and have a great St. Paddy's Day weekend! As always, please, have fun, but be smart, and stay safe!

Until next time
Bottoms up my friends!

The Beer Czar

The Great American Barbeque & Beer Festival, you need to be there!!!

Where else can you get Smoked tri-tip, skirt steak, brisket, BBQ chicken, pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, brats, wings, grilled corn, BBQ nachos, BBQ burritos, BBQ bacon wrapped fried Alligator, (yes you read correctly, that said BBQ bacon wrapped fried Alligator) mother klucker kabobs, BBQ sundaes, or redneck tacos, all in one place? As if that wasn't enough, you can wash it all down with a nice cold Mr. Pineapple? Downtown Chandler, that's where! In just a few short weeks, on Saturday, March 22nd, SanTan will be hosting the  annual Great American BBQ and Beer Festival, one of the valleys greatest festivals in my (and many others) opinion.

OK, aside from the amazing food already listed above, and access to as much Mr. Pineapple as you want, there is also some other great reasons to attend this event. Among some of them are.....

Over 60 pit masters showing us how its done....

Over 200 kegs of beer to wash it all down....(including Mr. Pineapple, did I mention that?




BBQ not your thing, how about Pea & Pa’s Kettle Corn, Frost Gelato, Paletas Betty, Sugarlips deep fried oreos, pickles, cheese, funnel cakes and ribbon fries....

Cakery, Kool Twist, Campfire Concessions, State Fair Lemonade, and Rita’s Italian Ice,

There will be wing, pie, brat and BBQ eating contests.....

How about a Tailgater’s Lawn, Ultra Star March Madness Lounge, Chester’s Harley Davidson Pavilion, Porkopolis VIP Quarters, Dickel Hoedown Rodeo Zone, Bulleit Bourbon BBQ Pit Row, DC Farmers Market, and an expanded kid’s play zone....

Still not sure you want to go? Did I mention there was live music? Not just any old live music, but music from Grammy Award winning Blues Traveler!



Opening up for Blues Traveler, fans can also enjoy  Craig Campbell, Laura Walsh, and Georgia Chrome.




Oh, and one more thing, TICKETS ARE ONLY $10!!!
(presale at Bashas' is only $8!! VIP for $125)


OK, if that doesn't get your ass there, then I am sorry, I can not help you. For those of you that realize that this is one of the greatest, most fun (and might I add best smelling) events in the east valley every year, I really hope to see you there!!

Gates open at 12pm, with BT hitting the stage at 8 for a 2 hour set.

For more info on where to get tickets, event schedule and everything else, check out the full press release from the HDE Agency here....

Official event website here....
Facebook page here....



So, I hope to see you all there! If you see me, say hello!

Until next time
Bottoms up my friends

The Beer Czar

Mr Pineapple is everywhere!

Just wanted to drop a few props to San Tan Brewing. Mr Pineapple seems to be popping up everywhere
these days! This is probably the 3rd or 4th such list I have seen it appear on, this is by far on the largest publication however, so I wanted to share it with you. Check it out.....


       10 Craft beers now in cans and why you should drink them


Seems Mr Pineapple is getting quite popular  No doubt helped by the wonderful review I gave it!!! (OK, totally joking, I can dream.....)

Congrats again to San Tan, this can only help the beer community here in the east valley, as well as Arizona, keep it up guys!

Until Next time
Bottoms up my friends

The Beer Czar

San Tan's Mr Pineapple, is it the perfect summer beer?

a tad warm

OK, I am sitting here, its March 14th, 10 am, all the windows and doors open, and sun is already warming up to a comfortable 71, on its way to around 93 today. Yup, this is what we call "spring" in Arizona. In just a few short months, the temp will be climbing an additional 20 degrees or so from today's forecasted high (last summer, we hit 118 I believe, officially, my car thermometer read 122!). So, while most of the country is still butt deep in the chilly white stuff, longing for temps that don't start with "minus", we here in Arizona are already in shorts and flip flops, and contemplating turning on the A/C. This is exactly why I moved here!

Bells Oberon

This brings about thoughts of beers for summer, at least it does for me. Now, for the last 5 years, my standard, go to summer beer has been Bell's Oberon Ale, from Kalamazoo, MI (I first had it at my wedding reception, where we had a keg of it). Well, I may have found a beer that will compete for my fridge space this summer! Who could possible take the place of that golden beer with the smiling sun on the label? Well, Mr Pineapple, that's who! The best part, its brewed less then 10 miles from my house!!

I was lucky enough to receive a couple of can's of San Tan Brewing Company's Mr Pineapple the other day. Now, if anyone has been to their pub during the summer months you may have tried this already. They started making it for their annual Luau celebrations. Well, I guess it received such deserved praise, they decided to make it a staple summer seasonal beer in their pub. Now, since San Tan has decided to launch Arizona's first seasonal canned beer campaign, we will now be lucky enough to grab a six pack of this treasure to enjoy anywhere!

This award winning beer (Silver Medalist at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival) is a traditional German Wheat beer using white wheat, two row and Munich malt. They add fresh pineapple ( I read 130 oz per barrel) during the primary fermentation  then crushed, and cooled to infuse those pineapple flavors with the traditional flavors of the German Wheat beer. Its a very session-able 5% ABV, with a light 20 IBU's.

It pours a cloudy, dark golden, almost orange color. With a fluffy white head, that looks almost like frosting on a cupcake! The aroma is fresh, wheat/bread, typical of a wheat beer, but also with a fruity character, and not just pineapple, more like a fruit salad. You can pull the pineapple aromas out of it however. The aroma is very refreshing on this beer!

Now, when you take a sip, the pineapple is much more pronounced then in the aroma, but there is still that hint of other fruit (apple mostly), but again, you mainly get the pineapple, that mixes well with the fresh wheat flavors. Now, this isn't one of those over the top, sickening sweet fruit beers. While the fruit flavors are pronounced, they don't over power and take over the taste of the beer, which I just love! The pineapple flavor is more then a hint, but still subtle enough for you folks that like beer that still tastes like beer. Over all, this is a very drinkable, smoothly pleasant beer to drink. It just seems like all the aspects of this beer are so very well balanced  Not one aspect over powers and takes over, they all seem to mingle, and work perfectly together to produce a near perfect summer/poolside beer!

Will Mr Pineapple take its place in my fridge as my go to summer beer? That remains to be seen, but I will say this, there will be plenty of it, along side my beloved Oberon in my fridge this summer!

Mr Pineapple will be available in stores starting after the BBQ and Beer festival in Chandler next weekend (March 23rd). Find it where every you find San Tan beers.

Thank you Jennifer P and folks at HDE for the "sneak peak"!

Learn more about San Tan on their website here..

Follow them on Facebook 

Follow them on Twitter

San Tan Brewing is located at 

8 S. San Marcos Place

Chandler, AZ 

Opened 

Sun - Thur 11 am to 1 am

Fri and Sat 11 am to 2 am

Until Next Time

Bottoms Up My Friends

The Beer Czar