As you may already know, every year in July I like to do a Christmas in July beer celebration, breaking out beers that I’ve saved from the previous winter to enjoy in the summer heat. It’s always interesting to see how these beers have aged over the preceding 8 months or so, but I’ll confess that I’ve never had a holiday seasonal beer that works as well in July as Leinenkugel’s Cranberry Ginger Shandy.

In some ways, Leinenkugel’s Cranberry Ginger Shandy reminds me of Shiner Ruby Redbird, at least in the way that the tart fruit interacts with the spicy ginger. The difference, of course, besides the obvious dichotomy of fruits is that Ruby Redbird is a summer beer while Leinenkugel’s Cranberry Ginger Shandy is available from November through February.

From the website:

Did you know the great state of Wisconsin produces more cranberries than any state in America? Our hometown pride inspired us to brew Leinenkugel’s® Cranberry Ginger Shandy. The combination of traditional wheat beer with natural cranberry flavor and a note of ginger is as refreshing as a toboggan ride Out Here.

Ingredients from the website:

Malts:Pale and Wheat

Hops:Cluster

Other:Natural cranberry and ginger flavors

Leinenkugel’s Cranberry Ginger Shandy has an alcohol content of 4.2% by volume with 11 IBUs. I paid $7.99 for a six-pack last December.

Leinenkugel’s Cranberry Ginger Shandy pours to a hazy yellow orange color with a thick steady head of spritzy foam and a decidedly tart and inviting cranberry nose. The cranberry is very, very apparent up front, and the beer only has a light bit of also tart and crisp wheat beneath it. The beer is creamy, and really just bursting with cranberry flavor on into the finish where a bit of spicy ginger finally pokes through. It’s a little peppery, and helps dry the beer (as the sour, tart cranberries do too). And I do want to taste those cranberries…..

Some folks have called this beer soda-pop instead of beer; it seems more like juice to me. Still, I’d really enjoy the cranberry notes of this beer with a holiday turkey, and I think I like it better for Christmas in July. It’s just so refreshing in the mid-90s heat we’ve been having. 4.5 stars for me at the $7.99 price and really on its own delicious and fruity merits, at least as shandies go. And how else would you judge it anyway?

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