Saugatuck Brewing Co. expands Blueberry Lemonade Shandy into 12-can Shandy Variety Pack

Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read
Saugatuck Brewing Co.'s line of shandies, from left: Black Cherry Lemonade Shandy, Strawberry Lemonade Shandy, Blueberry Lemonade Shandy and Peach Lemonade Shandy.
Saugatuck Brewing Co.'s line of shandies, from left: Black Cherry Lemonade Shandy, Strawberry Lemonade Shandy, Blueberry Lemonade Shandy and Peach Lemonade Shandy.

Saugatuck Brewing Company is building off the success of its beloved Blueberry Lemonade Shandy, unveiling a 12-can variety pack of new flavors as spring approaches.

The 12-can Shandy Variety Pack includes three cans of the original Blueberry Lemonade Shandy, along with three cans each of Strawberry Lemonade Shandy, Peach Lemonade Shandy and Black Cherry Lemonade Shandy. It'll hit store shelves and select taps across Michigan on March 1.

Saugatuck Brewing Co. — based in Douglas, which neighbors Saugatuck to the south — aims to showcase the "sprawling fruit orchards" that adorn the west side of the state with this release. But it's also piggybacking on a nationwide trend of craft breweries creating "brand families" around their flagship beers. Bell's Brewery did this with Two-Hearted Ale and Oberon the past two years, as did Founders Brewing Co. with All Day IPA and Green Zebra; Atwater Brewery with Dirty Blonde; and Short's Brewing Co. with Local's Light and Huma Lupa Licious.

Related: Bell's Oberon Ale variety pack is coming

The Shandy Variety Pack from Saugatuck Brewing Co.
The Shandy Variety Pack from Saugatuck Brewing Co.

The Shandy Variety Pack also capitalizes on the continuing trend of calorie-conscious consumers opting for lighter, more sessionable options, especially as the weather warms up.

“SBC recognizes that today’s consumers are looking for more fruit-forward, approachable styles when it comes to the beer they drink. The Shandy Variety Pack shines a spotlight on more of Michigan's most cherished fruits,” said John Miller, CEO of Saugatuck Brewing Company, in a news release.

Though Saugatuck Brewing Co. has been around since 2005, it first debuted Blueberry Lemonade Shandy in 2017. It has since become one of the brewer's most popular beers for its refreshing combination of tart lemonade and sweet blueberry notes, perfect for the warmer months and light enough for longer drinking sessions.

Last year, it debuted the Strawberry Lemonade Shandy variant. Peach and Black Cherry are brand new to this year.

"We wanted to capture the essence of our region's bountiful fruit orchards and bring it directly to our customers," said Sara VanSplinter, director of marketing at Saugatuck Brewing Company, in a news release. “This 12-pack promises a journey through the orchards of Michigan, a real U-Pick experience.”

Saugatuck Brewing Co. operates three brewpubs (Douglas, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo) and distributes to 13 states and seven foreign countries. It plans to host Shandy Variety Pack launch parties at all three brewpubs on Saturday, giving customers an early taste of the pack before it hits shelves.

Spirits of Detroit writer Brian Manzullo covers craft alcohol for the Free Press. Contact him: bmanzullo@freepress.com and on Untappd, bmanzullo and Twitter, @BrianManzullo and @SpiritsofDET.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Saugatuck Brewing expands Blueberry Lemonade Shandy into variety pack