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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A nice refreshing "beer cocktail"

Mixing it up poolside....

OK, so, yesterday was the summer solstice, and I guess that means the "official" start to summer, however, for us here in Arizona, we've been in the triple digits for weeks now, giving the pool temp a chance to climb to a very comfortable 85 degrees (for us its comfortable) and leading me on the search for the ever perfect summer beer or beer cocktail.

Well, while sitting at the pool with my family, and my parents, this past weekend, my dad asked if I wanted a "shandy"? Thinking he was referring to a Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, and wondering why he would have that in his fridge, let alone be offering me one, I just answered him "A shandy?"

Its photogenic if nothing else!

He told me this story of our next door neighbor, Elian, we had when we were growing up (I was about 4 or 5). She was from Ireland, and always seemed to have a pint of Guinness handy for anyone that expressed the slightest bit of interest in a beer. Well, one afternoon, my father and a few of the other neighborhood dads were putting up a fence along the back of the property. It was a typical hot, humid New Hampshire afternoon in the middle of the summer, when Elian came out and asked the guys if they wanted a beer. Not really in the mood for, or thirsting for a Guinness, they politely declined, thinking that was what she was offering them. She assured them, this was not Guinness, and was much more refreshing, and would most certainly hit the spot. So they all reluctantly accepted. Dad said she brought out 4 glasses of what looked like any light lager, or pilsner, with the exception of the extremely foamy, thick head at the top of the glass. Dad took one small sip, and then downed nearly the entire glass in the next one. What he tasted was a light, crisp, sweet, almost lemony concoction. What was this???

Dad taking a sip....

Elian explained that what she gave them, they referred to as "shandy's" in her homeland. Just a 50/50 mix of a light beer (in Ireland, they used Harp or Smithwick's normally) mixed with Ginger Ale, or sometimes ginger beer.

Now, I did a little research, and learned, that Biermischgetränke ("beer-based mixed drinks") are most popular in Germany. Most commonly the Radler (translation "cyclist") is a 50/50 mix of beer, and a German style lemon drink (more like a lemon soda). The "Mazout" is a mixture of beer, and Coke.  These cocktails vary slightly from region to region throughout Germany.

The British version however, is a 50/50 mixture of a lighter beer, and ginger ale, or sometimes ginger beer, called a "Shandygaff". The earliest references to this drink date back to about 1853. It was referred to an the HG Wells comic novel "The History of Mr. Polly" as ""two bottles of beer mixed with ginger beer in a round-bellied jug"."

Dad tested, Beer Czar Approved!

Well, dad and I each had a couple of these wonderfully refreshing, easy to drink flavorful beverages. I would be certain that there was lemon in this drink, but there was not, it just tastes like there is. Just a 50/50 mix of a beer (my dad was using Stella, but any lighter lager or pilsner would probably work just fine) and cold ginger ale. It has a light, perfect taste for summer, and being that it is cut 50% by the ginger ale, there isn't a great deal of alcohol in these, so you can drink quite a bit of them. They do fill you up rather quickly however. So, if you want a quick, easy beer cocktail, try the Shandygaff, or the Shandy, whatever you want to call it. It tastes great on a hot summer day, pool side....

Until next time
Bottoms up my friends

The Beer Czar

Refreshing summer Beer "cocktails".

Who isn't ready for this???

I understand that most of this fine country is still knee deep in the fluffy white stuff. However, those of us in sunny warm Arizona are in the throws of a fantastic midwinter heat wave that has us prepping our pools and dusting off the flip flops. As a result, my craving for refreshing, crisp, citrus-y laden summer beers has started a bit earlier then years past. Because of that, I was on a quest to find a few ways to enjoy summer beers in different ways, and make sitting by pool with a beer something everyone, even those that don't always drink beer, can enjoy. I found a list of beer cocktail recipes on First We Feast, that they put together from other blogs. I found a few that stood out, and wanted to share with you. These cocktails sound amazingly refreshing to drink by the pitcher around the pool this coming summer. (I even included one 'warm" cocktail for those of you still struggling with Old Man Winter)

Quick and Easy Margarita Shandy

I am no fan of the currant wave of "shandy's" on the market, but this one, looks, and sounds quite tasting! Easy recipe to make, and one that most of your pool party going guests are bound to enjoy!
(recipe and photo from Serious Eats).

 

Ingredients

• 1 (12 ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate
• 8 ounces reposado tequila
• 12 ounces water
• 1 lime, thinly sliced
• 24 ounces lager or pilsner, chilled
• Optional: kosher salt for rimming glasses

Recommended Beers: Modelo Especial, Corona

Instructions

1.In a large pitcher, combine limeade concentrate, tequila, and water. Stir until limeade is dissolved. Chill if desired, up to 6 hours, or proceed immediately to next step.

2. Just prior to serving, fill pitcher with ice, lime slices, and beer. Serve in salt-rimmed glasses if desired



 

   Southern Shandy

Another Shandy recipe, this one sounds fruity, refreshing, and again, perfect for sitting around the pool, and this one I think would be prefect for folks that aren't "into" beer.
Recipe from Pretty Plain Jane

Ingredients

• 3 12 oz bottles of ice cold beer (not dark)
• 4 cups of lemonade chilled
• 1/2 cup peach brandy

Beer suggestion: Harp Lager, Amstel Lager

 

 

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients and stir.
2. Pour into glasses filled with ice.

 

 

 

 

 

Mother Redneck

This might just be the most refreshing beer cocktail of them all! Check out this fun, tasty beer cocktail.

Recipe from Backyard Bartender

 

Redneck Mother

Ingredients1 oz  ruby red grapefruit juice (fresh-squeezed!)
.75 oz sloe gin (preferably Plymouth brand)

12 oz beer
Ginger beer

 

Beer recommendation Lone Star, or other light American adjunct lager

Directions

Add the sloe gin and grapefruit juice to the bottom of a pint glass (or mason jar). Fill the remaining portion of the jar halfway with beer and top with ginger beer

 

Hot Beer Flip
Here is a contemporary take on an old, traditional drink recipe that dates back to colonial times. Recipe from DraftMag

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces pale ale
• 1 1/2 ounces lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 ounce brandy or dark rum
• 1 egg yolk (optional)

Beer suggestion: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Dale's Pale Ale


Instructions:
1. Heat 4 ounces of the ale with the lemon juice, sugar, ginger and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar has fully dissolved. Remove from heat.

2. In a large bowl, vigorously beat the brandy or rum with the egg yolk. Add the beer mixture and whisk thoroughly to combine. Transfer to a large glass or beer mug and top with the remaining ale, stir well and serve.



So, there you have it. A few refreshing, cool new ways to enjoy your beer by the pool (and one to enjoy thawing out sitting by the fire). Let me know if you try any of these, and let me know what you think. I will be mixing up a few pitchers of these this summer no doubt!
So, break out the Hawaiian print shirts, bikinis and plastic cups, summer will be here before you know it!

Until next time
Bottoms up my friends!

The Beer Czar