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
