Here's why Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy is back in stores earlier than ever

It may be the dead of winter across Wisconsin, but Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy is back in stores earlier than ever.

“It doesn't matter that it’s called Summer Shandy, in Wisconsin summer is a state of mind and drinking Summer Shandy is a pretty good way to get to that state of mind during any time of the year,” said Leinenkugel’s president Tony Bugher.

Why is Summer Shandy coming back so early?

Typically making its return in March, Bugher said the decision to bring back Summer Shandy early was simply a matter of demand.

“We have winter beers but our customers and distributors were telling us that people were asking for Summer Shandy, even in the winter, so we figured it’s a natural reaction to listen to what people want,” Bugher said.

Last year Leinenkugel’s tested selling Summer Shandy in the winter and found that it was doing as well, or better, than most of the brand's winter seasonal beers. This made the decision to bring back the beer, which produces more than 50% of the company’s sales, pretty easy, Bugher said.

When will Summer Shandy be back in stores?

Summer Shandy should already be back in your favorite beer aisle. Leinenkugel's brewed batches of the beer early this year to have it back on shelves by the start of January.

Bugher said that if the beer hasn’t already found its way back into your local store it should be coming within the next few weeks.

Other out-of-season beers are coming back too

Bugher also said that Leinenkugel’s Honey Lemon Light, a spring and summer seasonal, will be making its debut this winter.

Previously branded as Sunshine Light lager, Bugher said they wanted to create a light beer with a more familiar taste for consumers.

“Honey and Lemon are flavors that our drinkers know really well so we wanted to have those flavors present in our light beer,” he said.

Fans can also keep an eye out for the company's Juicy Peach sour beer, introduced last year, after higher-than-expected sales meant that the company will be expanding its production for the burgeoning fan favorite.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why is Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy back in stores earlier than ever?