It didn’t take long for Alchemy & Science to make its next move after acquiring L.A.’s Angel City Brewing in January.
The craft-brew incubation project from industry veterans Alan Newman and Jim Koch introduced a new line of craft shandy today under the personality ‘Curious Traveler.’
Curious Traveler is the first product of ‘The House of Shandy’ and currently being produced out of Boston Beer Company’s facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. The offering is described as a ‘fresh, bold year-round, craft-brewed, all malt wheat ale infused with real lemons and limes.’
The mustache-bearing Curious Traveler will initially be available in 11 northeastern markets beginning April 15th.
Interestingly enough, Boston Beer Co. also plans to debut its own shandy in May under the name ‘Samuel Adams Porch Rocker.’ Other widely distributed products in this category include Millercoors’ Leinenkugel Summer Shandy and AB/In-Bev’s Shock Top Lemon Shandy.
Below is the official press release from Alchemy & Science:
BURLINGTON, VT – Many years ago, a hip young European introduced a curious traveler to a bracingly different beer called the shandy. Memories of that citrus-infused beer prompted Alan Newman of Alchemy & Science to develop his own version, Curious Traveler.
When Newman, a creative serial entrepreneur and founder of Magic Hat Beer Company, discovered the treasures of Europe at mid-life, he was struck by the cloudy citrus-infused beer favored by the fashionable locals at the picturesque cafes and taverns. His new company, Alchemy & Science, draws upon that experience and memory to combine craft beer with lemons and limes into his first shandy. He named it after his alter ego, Curious Traveler.
The shandy tradition dates back to the 17th century and is typically beer mixed with a citrus-flavored soda or carbonated lemonade, ginger beer, ginger ale or cider. Today, English publicans pour a blend of traditional English ale with various lemon and lime beverages for their patrons though real lemons or limes are rarely used.
Curious Traveler is a fresh, bold, year-round, craft-brewed, all malt wheat ale infused with a puree of real lemons and limes. This shandy has a lively fruity flavor and a powerful “throw your head back’’ fresh lemon aroma. It will be available on tap in mid-April in a dozen initial markets: New Hampshire, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, Pittsburgh, Tampa, Northeast Ohio, Indianapolis, Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver (visit HouseofShandy.com for details).
Curious Traveler is the first product of The House of Shandy Beer Company brewed by Alchemy & Science, the company Newman established. Alchemy & Science is an independently operating division of The Boston Beer Company. Last year, Newman’s longtime friend Jim Koch of The Boston Beer Company, coaxed Newman back into craft beer brewing and gave Newman a mandate to follow his muse and create original and ground breaking craft beers in any way, place or style he chose.
The beer label portrays the curious traveler, an inquisitive tourist from a bygone era eager to experience and explore the mysteries of foreign lands. Newman says that the distinctive thirst-quenching shandy rekindles memories of his first trip to Europe: buzzing down the autobahn; getting lost wandering the cobblestoned streets of European cities; lingering over a croissant at a Parisian café; and marveling at medieval cathedrals with stone steps worn smooth by the feet of other pilgrims.
“This beer mixes the great old European shandy tradition with good old American ingenuity,’’ said Newman. “Curious Traveler may not be the first or only shandy in America but we are committed to making it the best tasting shandy with a special recipe and the finest natural ingredients.’’
This beer draws upon Newman’s practice, established when he founded Magic Hat, of using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients in an innovative, creative and uniquely American way.
Newman is working on a second shandy, Tenacious TravelerÔäó, which should be available within six months.
Alchemy & Science is a craft beer collaboration led by Alan Newman and Stacey Steinmetz and supported by The Boston Beer Company. Its mission is to increase awareness of craft-brewed beers and support preservation of the craft. Still curious? For further information, see The House of Shandy Beer Company website at http://www.houseofshandy.com or call (800) 210-9589.