The best part about traveling with Brian is A) he likes to extend vacation as long as possible B) he knows that the fun is in the journey C) he likes to drive while I navigate. This means that sometimes we make some stops along the way. On our way home from our Twin Cities adventures, we stopped in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and took the Leinenkugel Brewery Tour. This was something we had always wanted to do, and we were very glad we did.
This particular brewery was especially interesting to me as I have taken quite a liking to some of Leinenkugel’s brands of beers like the Canoe Paddler (a Kolsch style beer), the Snow Drift Vanilla Porter, and their entire line of Shandy beers, most especially their Grapefruit variety.
If beer isn’t your thing, however, taking any kind of a brewery tour is interesting if you haven’t done so. You will certainly learn about the beer making process which is awesome to see the machinery, and processes that go into crafting and bottling. Also, you are sure to get a lesson in local and national history too. And let us not forget the sampling, but as we had a long drive home and the kids were with us we had took only a sip and then took part in the free root beer and lemonade after our tour.
My favorite part of the tour was watching the bottling and learning about the women of the Leinenkugel family who have helped keep the business going strong for 5 generations.
After getting home, I wanted to up the ante on the Leinenkugel Grapefruit Shandy, and thought I would create a Grapefruit Mule. Let me tell you, this is the perfect summer treat to watch the sunset and it kind of looks like one too.
Grapefruit Shandy (makes 1 cocktail)
2 oz fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
1 oz lime juice
2 oz grapefruit vodka (I used Deep Eddy Ruby Red)
1 bottle Leinenkugel Grapefruit Shandy chilled
ice
Fill a copper mug or glass (I used a glass to show color) with ice and set aside.
Then, in a large glass or cocktail shaker, mix together grapefruit juice, lime juice, and vodka.
Pour vodka mixture into glass with ice, and top with Grapefruit Shandy.
Drink responsibly preferably while watching the last of these summer sunsets.
For more drinkable recipes visit the Thirsty Thursday page.