Summer Shandy
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

Summer ShandySummer Shandy
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From:
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Fruit and Field Beer
Ranked #382
ABV:
4.2%
Score:
73
Ranked #27,728
Avg:
3.19 | pDev: 22.88%
Reviews:
717
Ratings:
3,952
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 28, 2023
Added:
Mar 23, 2007
Wants:
  80
Gots:
  1,277
Our own unique take on Franz Kugler’s original Munich tavern tradition. Leinenkugel’s® Summer Shandy® is our traditional weiss beer with refreshing natural lemonade flavor that makes it the perfect summer beer.

11 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Beertron:
Photo of Beertron
Reviewed by Beertron from Wisconsin

1.22/5  rDev -61.8%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1
First things first...

I've already had this "beer" and abhorred it. I'm reviewing it to detail exactly why its so bad.

Additionally, how is one to review this thing? It's listed under the category of American Pale Wheat Ale but it doesn't seem to fit in there. It's so unlike anything I've ever drank (anything alcoholic at least) that it should be in some other category -- probably Fruit/Vegetable Beers or something. Anyhow, I looked through some of the other beers in this category and saw Capital's Island Wheat and Bell's Oberon (uh oh), so I guess I'll have to review it with those in mind...

This comes from a sample bottle from the distributor. No information on it whatsoever (except that I'm not to resell it). We begin...

A - This poured 1" of pale white head that disappeared in less than 5 seconds, leaving a thin white covering. Extremely cloudy (couldn't even see my fingers through this stuff when held to light!!) soft straw hue, not unlike the color of lemonade. Pretty dang carbonated.

S - Light yeasty scent of sourdough which is pleasant until the end, when a battalion of artificial lemon smells invade. Lemonhead candy, Country Time Lemonade instant-mix powder, lemon Jolly Ranchers, etc. Not unpleasant, but not what I want my beer to smell like.

T - Unreal. This tastes like carbonated water with a small splash of artificial lemon in it -- like if you poured generic lemonade out of a can over ice and let it sit until it was fully watered-down. Carbonation is fierce and if there's any malt flavor in here, the bubbles have effectively destroyed it. Considering how overbearing the artificial lemon scent is, I find it hard to believe how subdued the lemon flavor is. I've honestly never had a beer with this little beer flavor before -- I can't taste malt, wheat, hops or even alcohol...it's fascinating in that regard.

M - Light and mega-effervescent. Sparkling mineral water.

D - Difficult to judge. I'd be willing to bet that I could drink a case of this stuff without acquiring either a buzz or a discernible flavor, but you'd have to put a gun to my head first. For the average BA, the only reason you'd even take a fourth sip is out of sheer disbelief.

This "beer" is so bad that its amazing on a number of levels. It makes you wonder exactly how this became a product. Its staggering to think that someone tasted this and decided that it was good and that it should be marketed. I'm pretty sure that this beer was created exclusively for people that hate beer. Occasionally, I could find a benefit to that -- like that it might help folks who normally don't like beer make the switch -- but anyone who likes this stuff will never like good beer.

My continuing fascination with this stuff led me to perform an experiment. I took a warm can of Country Time lemonade and mixed it with straight carbonated water in a 1:10 ratio (one part "lemonade" to 10 parts water). It's resemblance to this "beer" was uncanny -- a few of my staff members couldn't even figure out which was which. Personally, I didn't find them to be identical -- I actually found the water/lemonade mixture to be better. Honestly, I could certainly see someone finding this refreshing on a hot summer day but a bottle of good sparkling water and a lemon wedge would be cheaper and tastier.

This beer is so terrible that its almost unbelievable. But (and I say this with complete seriousness) you absolutely have to try it for yourself!! It will blow your mind.
Mar 31, 2007
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.58 by Rktect1 from Illinois

Dec 28, 2023
Photo of MetalRugMan
Rated by MetalRugMan from Kansas

5/5  rDev +56.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
the perfect beer on a hot summers day. I have turned multiple people onto this brew.
Dec 09, 2023
 
Rated: 3.4 by HS676 from Pennsylvania

Dec 06, 2023
Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Two brown twelve ounce bottles were emptied into a clear glass liter mug. The pours produced a modest stark white head on top of dull and largely opaque yellow-amber liquid. It smells of lemon, but without any citrusy edge, as it's dampened by the wheat. The taste is much closer to undersweetened lemonade, as it presents a little more citrus. There's a bit of a wheat beer character here, but it's mostly as a light and thin body. This is a case of it is what it is, meant to be liked by people that don't really like the taste of beers. Any hopping at all is hard to find. But, it delivers what's expected about as well as could be. It's a beer, albeit a wheat beer and that makes it better than almost any lemon flavored seltzer. The fruit masks one of the faults of wheat beers, that annoying sort of metallic reference during the finish. It's there, but mostly masked. This is neither too sweet, nor too sour. The head was not maintained, nor was there much lacing in the glass. Recommended? Not really, unless this is a style you really like. Then, it is what it is.
Nov 26, 2023
Photo of LeinenkugelDrinker
Reviewed by LeinenkugelDrinker from Nevada

4.36/5  rDev +36.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
One of my absolute favorite beers (hence the nickname). Not an ordinary tasting beer, and a lot of people claim it has too light a taste. However, it’s a Weiss beer and is supposed to be crisp and refreshing. Samuel Adams Porch Rocker has a little more lemon flavor in it, but I feel that the Summer Shandy has better drink-ability. Great way to change things up when regular beers just aren’t cutting it.
Nov 04, 2023
 
Rated: 3.8 by bbstan from Pennsylvania

Oct 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.47 by Evinyme from Colorado

Oct 02, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by imperialking from Illinois

Sep 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.81 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Sep 18, 2023
 
 
Rated: 3.41 by kds2437 from Texas

Sep 05, 2023
Photo of Death_Adder
Reviewed by Death_Adder from South Carolina

3/5  rDev -6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Having really enjoyed the Samuel Adams Porch Rocker of a similar style, and really enjoying that, I was very let down by this beer. It tasted like Lemonheads candy that had been shaken up in a water bottle and then poured into a lager. Very watery and artificial tasting.

Style: Fruit Beer | Tap/Can/Bottle: Bottle | Abv: 4.2% | Rating: 3
Sep 04, 2023
 
Rated: 3.52 by SharPei19 from Ohio

Sep 01, 2023
 
Photo of datstankadank
Reviewed by datstankadank from New Jersey

3.14/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
Was looking for something akin to cider, only one, and after work, and it's a very rare urge for me. Didn't see anything that matched so i went with a 24 oz of this. Havent had it in years, last i recall was a very artificial pine sol after taste. Seems to be gone in the smell, pours a hazy big lasting head, good retention and lace. Tastes sweet with lemon zest i assume to balance on the finish. Decent enough.
Aug 15, 2023
Photo of ramseye4
Reviewed by ramseye4 from Virginia

3.17/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Lemon mixed with a faint Weiss beer. Good mouthfeel weak smell. Overall it’s sippable but not stellar. Old Lemonade is the most prominent taste. Not bad on a hot day though
Aug 07, 2023
 
Rated: 2.7 by BlueTrain

Jul 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Zachboyd3334 from Indiana

Jul 29, 2023
Photo of KP7
Reviewed by KP7 from Massachusetts

3.39/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
This is a situational beer. Tons of lemon and lemon zest for aroma and taste. Nice smooth feel. This shandy is something I'd be pleased to find at an outdoor party with it is 85+ out, or in the fridge after doing yard work. However, other than those times when you need something really refreshing (and maybe should be hydrating with something other than a beer anyway), the lemon would probably be too much.
Jul 04, 2023
Summer Shandy from Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company
Beer rating: 73 out of 100 with 3952 ratings