There’s craft beer, and now there’s craft shandy, with Shandy Shack drinks launching in 11 City Pub Group sites.
The hop-packed IPA Shandy (2.8% ABV) and crisply-refreshing Elderflower Lager Top (2.5% ABV) will be available until the end of September.
The drinks are described on the Shandy Shack website as tasting “like summers on the village green” and “like chilling on a sun-drenched bench” respectively.
Shandy Shack was founded in 2018 by former management consultant, Ed Stapleton, and NHS doctors Tom Stevens and Fred Gleadowe. It started life as a pop-up bar serving craft shandies at festivals.
The pandemic made them pivot their business to a direct-to-consumer model and rapid growth saw them come to the attention of the Future Brands buying team at Sainsbury’s. Having successfully completed a Taste of the Future trial with the grocer, they are now permanently listed in 51 stores, and are now hoping to take the on-trade by storm, with increasing wholesale distribution behind them.
Ed Stapleton said: “We’re thrilled to secure our first multi-site on-trade draught listing with the esteemed City Pub Group. They have a reputation for supporting some of the most innovative brands and businesses in their amazing venues, so seeing Shandy Shack on their taps will represent more flattering validation of our revival of the humble shandy.
“We can’t wait for a whole new group of drinkers to taste our vegan, gluten-free craft shandies, as they look for more varied and exciting ways to cut down their weekly units. Roll on the summer of shandy!”
