SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WIS. — Johnsonville, in partnership with Leinenkugel’s, is bringing back a co-branded product promotion that debuted in the Midwest last spring — the Summer Shandy Beer Brat. The Summer Shandy infused Johnsonville fresh sausage is rolling out to retailers nationwide.

“We knew this would be a hit in the Midwest, but the national demand was a happy surprise,” said Luke Wacek, associate director of dinner sausage at Johnsonville. “We owed it to consumers to bring the brat back in a bigger, broader way. And we owe it to them to keep making flavors of sausage that no one else will.”

The expanded distribution spans all divisions of Kroger and the majority of Albertsons Cos., reaching across the East Coast through Ahold Delhaize, with Walmart, Meijer and Hy-Vee representing the Midwest.

With the initial introduction of Summer Shandy Beer Brats last year, consumers gave the Midwestern brand mashup, consumers made the fresh grilling sausage Johnsonville’s best-selling limited-time-offer product.

“Nothing says summer like firing up the grill with a Leinenkugel's and Johnsonville Summer Shandy brat and a cold beer,” said James Nanney, field marketing director of the Great Lakes region for Molson Coors Beverage Co., parent company of Ldinenkugel’s. “Bringing Johnsonville’s delicious brats and our great beer together for a second year in a row was a no-brainer, and this year we can’t wait for the whole country to experience a Midwestern summer.”

With this year’s rollout, Johnsonville and Leinenkugel’s will once again promote their product through retail displays and promotions alongside social media collaborations.

Refrigerated pickle brand Grillo’s Pickles is taking part in the promotions through social media integration as well as rounding out retail support with meal solutions at select locations.