By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Apr 02, 2024 at 8:01 AM

Not sure how nobody has thought of this before, but this grilling season you can fire up your grill and enjoy Leinie’s Summer Shandy two ways.

In addition to popping the top of a can of the Leinenkugel’s favorite – a traditional weiss beer juiced with a boost of lemonade – you can also grill some Summer Shandy Beer Brats, made in collaboration with Johnsonville.

The Wisconsin-made salsicc is infused with Leinie’s shandy, another Badger State product.

On Monday, April 1, Johnsonville both hinted at and poked fun at Tuesday's release with this post...

 

 

The idea was hatched at a Packers game in Green Bay – natch – last autumn when Johnsonville’s Owner and Chairwoman Shelly Stayer met former Leinenkugel’s president Dick Leinenkugel.

“Some things just belong together, and beer and bratwurst are no exceptions,” said Stayer. “As a family-owned company that takes great pride in our products, developing a beer brat with Leinenkugel’s to bring the flavor of Summer Shandy to our fresh grilling sausage is a match made in Wisconsin.”

You can order the brats at select major retailers in 19 states or online at the Johnsonville Market Place beginning on Tuesday, April 2.

Milwaukeeans can also enjoy them at the ballpark, where they'll be available at J. Leinenkugel's Barrel Yard.

“Leinenkugel’s teaming up with Johnsonville for the ultimate beer and brat pairing was only a matter of time,” said Leinie’s President Tony Bugher.

“We’re thrilled to bring folks the Summer Shandy Beer Brat, which adds a new flavor to our fans’ lakeside get-togethers this year. With our strong innovative history, the Summer Shandy Beer Brat encourages everyone to enjoy Summer Shandy in a whole new way.”

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.