For more information, contact: Lori Barthelemy Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company 414-931-2094 barthelemy.lori@mbco.com
Shannon McCarthy Leum PR Group 612-345-5411 smccarthy@leumpr.com
LEINENKUGEL’S TOASTS AMERICAN CRAFT BEER WEEK WITH ADVENTURE, INNOVATION AND GROWTH U.S. Congress Recognizes American Craft Beer Week May 12-18 CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (May 12, 2008) – As craft beer fans’ thirst for diversity continues to evolve, the 141-year-old Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, based in Chippewa Falls, WI, brews more opportunities for consumers to explore their pour. Leinenkugel’s, which has recently expanded from an Upper Midwestern regional brewer to offering year-round and seasonal brews throughout the U.S., is supporting beer lovers’ affinity for craft beers in new places and through new ways to enjoy their beer. “The craft beer category continues to surge and Leinenkugel’s adventurous portfolio of 11 brews is quenching craft beer fans’ palate for flavor and serving options,” says Jake Leinenkugel, president of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company. As American Craft Beer Week – first recognized in 2006 by the U.S. Congress – kicks off May 12-18, Leinenkugel’s encourages fans to celebrate with adventurous ways to serve, mix and pair craft beer. In fact, the Leinie Lodge, the hospitality center in Chippewa Falls, WI, home to the Leinenkugel brewery since 1867, is planning a food and beer tasting hosted by Leinenkugel’s staff on May 16 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Craft Beer a Hit at Baseball Stadiums To celebrate American Craft Beer Week, Leinenkugel’s suggests heading out to a ballgame to take in America’s favorite pastime this summer. Leinenkugel’s beer varieties are now available at baseball stadiums across the country including: Dodger Stadium, Ameriquest Field and Minute Maid Park in Texas, the new Washington Nationals stadium, U.S. Cellular in Chicago and Miller Park in Milwaukee, Camden Yards, Baltimore, Progressive Field, Cleveland, Comerica Park, Detroit, the Metrodome, Minneapolis, Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and Petco Park in San Diego. Before hitting the ballgame, Leinie’s suggests taking a swing at a few beer-infused tailgating recipes. See attached recipes for some great baseball fare. -more-
Leinenkugel’s Toasts Craft Beer Week May 12, 2008 Add One
______________________ Pair for Simple and Sleek Summer Entertaining Craft beer fans can tout their craft beer knowledge by planning an interactive pairing party with Leinenkugel’s refreshing wheat beer portfolio and pairing the brews with distinctive cheese and meals.
Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy: A blend of select malted wheat and barley, lemonade flavor and a hint of Wisconsin honey makes Summer Shandy a refreshing pairing for robust summertime grilling recipes such as the Summer Shandy Shrimp Skewers. Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat: Brewed with malted wheat, balanced with pale barley malt and spiced with Cluster hops and a hint of coriander, the light, citrus flavor of Sunset Wheat complements fresh greens served with vinaigrette dressing and foods with a spicy kick such as Cajun, Mexican and Asian dishes. The Sunset Glazed Chicken is also a great pairing choice. Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss: A blend of select malted wheat, Cluster hops, and a hint of Wisconsin honey gives Honey Weiss the clean, slightly sweet taste that pairs perfectly with lighter foods, such as fish or a fresh pasta salad. Leinenkugel’s Berry Weiss: A blend of pale and wheat malts, Cluster hops, blackberries, elderberries and loganberries makes this fruit beer ideal for pairing with fruits, desserts and triple crème cheeses.
What’s Your Mix? Many Leinie Fans have taken their craft beer adventure to the next level by experimenting with mixes, developing recipes using robust craft beer flavors. In fact, Leinie’s asks consumers “What’s Your Mix?” and encourages them to mix Leinie craft brews to create new and tempting beer mixes. Tobin Ellis, renowned Las Vegas-based master mixologist, recently developed the Candied Ginger Shandy, a unique summer refresher featuring Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, a summer seasonal brew featuring lemonade flavor and Leinie’s craft brew, which quickly became the brand’s bestselling seasonal of all time last year. The recipe is attached.
Leinenkugel’s, brewed in Chippewa Falls, is the leading craft brewer in the upper Midwest. Leinenkugel’s year-round offerings include Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat, Honey Weiss, Berry Weiss, Leinie’s Red, Creamy Dark, Original and Light. In addition to Summer Shandy, Leinenkugel’s offers three other limited-release beers including Big Butt Doppelbock, Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest, and fall favorite Leinenkugel’s Apple Spice. For more information on the rich history of Leinenkugel’s, visit www.leinie.com.
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Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy Shrimp Skewers 24 medium shrimp, shells on, deveined 2 lemons, cut into wedges 8 skewers 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil ½ cup salad oil ¼ cup tarragon vinegar ½ cup Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy 4 cloves garlic, minced ¼ teaspoon Tabasco sauce 2 teaspoons salt ¼ teaspoon dry mustard 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon pepper 1/3 cup honey Fresh chopped tarragon leaves Combine olive oil, salad oil, tarragon vinegar, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, garlic, Tabasco sauce, salt, dry mustard, sugar, paprika and pepper. Reserve ¼ cup of the marinade for basting. Place shrimp in a large resealable storage bag. Add marinade to bag and refrigerate for 4 hours, turning occasionally. Place the shrimp and lemon wedges on 8 skewers, alternating them. Add 1/3 cup of honey to reserved marinade to create basting sauce. Place skewers on the barbeque, baste as they cook. Sprinkle with fresh chopped tarragon leaves to finish. Leinenkugel’s Sunset-Glazed Chicken 10-12 pieces of chicken (cut for grilling) 2 bottles Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat (measure 1/3 cup and set aside for sauce) 3 tablespoons Canola Oil 1 cup finely chopped onion 2 tablespoons of minced garlic 10-oz can mandarin oranges (save 1/3-cup liquid and finely chop oranges) 4 tablespoons pure Maple syrup 2 tablespoons soy sauce ¼ teaspoon ginger ½ teaspoon pepper Clean, salt and pepper chicken and place in a gallon-sized plastic storage bag. Pour all Leinie’s Sunset Wheat, minus 1/3 cup, into bag with chicken. (Suggest refrigerating overnight.) To make Leinie’s Sunset Grilling Sauce sauté garlic and onions in canola oil over medium-low heat until onions become lightly browned and translucent. Add 1/3 cup liquid from orange can and oranges to onion mixture and continue to sauté until juice is reduced. Turn heat to low and add Maple syrup, soy sauce, Leinie’s Sunset Wheat, ginger and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes. (Suggest refrigerating sauce overnight before using, but it can be used immediately.) Place chicken in baking dish and bake at 350° for ½ hour. Place partially baked chicken on grill and baste with Leinie’s Sunset Grilling Sauce until done. You may want to make extra sauce to serve with grilled chicken.
Leinenkugel’s Toasts Craft Beer Week May 12, 2008 Add Three
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Candied Ginger Shandy Created by Las Vegas-based Master Mixologist Tobin Ellis ½ glass Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy ½ glass real ginger beer (non-alcoholic)* Top with ginger lemon foam. Garnish with candied lemon slice Ginger Lemon Foam 2 oz. ginger liqueur 4 oz. fresh lemonade 4 oz. egg whites 5 dashes lemon bitters Add all ingredients to a dessert whipper and charge with NO2. Shake well, refrigerate. Makes 12 drinks. Candied Lemon Slices Boil 1 cup sugar in 1 cup water. Add thin lemon slices, boil until slices become slightly transparent. Remove and coat in fine sugar while still warm. Let cool.
*Ginger beer is not “beer” as in hops and alcohol, but it is an authentic and flavorful non-alcoholic beverage, such as root beer or apple beer, which is made with fresh herbs, roots, spices and fruits
For additional recipes, mixes, pairing ideas and events, go to www.leinie.com. Jacob Leinenkugel Brewery Tours are also available: Mon. – Thurs. and Sat.: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with tours every half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fri.: Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with tours every half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sun.: Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with tours every half hour from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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