Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Wawa, 2SP Brewing team up on new beer
Summer brew will be available at six Wawa locations
Two Delaware County companies are teaming up again this summer — to release a limited edition summertime beer.
Bob Barrar, head brewer 2SP Brewing Co. in Chester Township and Michael McLaughlin, Wawa’s manager of concept development and beverage guru, worked together on a new brew — Sunfest Strawberry Lemonade Shandy. The beverage is described in a press release announcing the beer, as a “crushable, light-bodied shore beer with a touch of strawberry sweetness and a delightful pucker finish courtesy of Wawa’s fresh lemonade.”
The limited edition beverage will be available in six Wawa stores in the area, starting on Thursday, June 24.
According to Michael Contreras of 2SP Brewing Co., the beer includes a “unique yeast that showcases” the flavors of Wawa’s strawberry lemonade.
“The collaborative approach to the Sunfest beer was to find that balance of upfront strawberry sweetness with a refreshing lemon citrus finish that comes from the lemonade,” he said. “What’s the result? A Strawberry Lemonade Shandy that sings summer crusher.”
“There’s no better time than now to reunite with our friends at 2SP to provide a perfect summer beverage to our community to enjoy after the past year we’ve all had,” Mike Sherlock, Wawa chief product marketing officer, said in a statement. “This light and refreshing shandy is perfect for sipping with friends and family in your backyard or on the beach. We hope this beer brings the community together and adds a little extra positivity after a tough year.”
Sunfest Strawberry Lemonade Shandy will be available Thursday at Wawa’s flagship beer stores in Chadds Ford and Middletown and for the first time, at four new stores that now offer alcoholic beverages including Blakeslee, Emmaus, Horsham and Philadelphia; at 2SP Brewing Company, 120 Concord Road, Units 101-103 in Chester Township on Saturday, June 26. It will be available at select distributors and beer retailers on Monday, June 28 in Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Eastern Shore Maryland. Sunfest 6-pack cans are priced at $8.99 each.
There are two launch events planned this week:
• A ceremonial first pour and sampling will be held Thursday, June 24 at 4 p.m. at Wawa’s newest location, 2600 Penrose Ave., Philadelphia.
• A Sunfest Shandy release party will be held at 2SP Brewing Co. on Saturday, June 26 at 12 p.m.
This isn’t the first time the two Delaware County-based brands have worked together. The summer shandy comes on the heels of three successful holiday brews, released in November 2020.
The two companies collaborated for the first time in November 2018 to create Winter Reserve Coffee Stout, and in 2019 they re-released Winter Reserve Coffee Stout, along with an expansion including a bourbon barrel finished version of the beer. In November 2020, they released Holiday Reserve Coffee Stout, Reserve Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Coffee Stout, and Reserve Reserve Rum Barrel Aged Imperial Coffee Stout.
Wawa has expanded its beer and wine store footprint in Pennsylvania from two locations to six. In addition to 721 Naamans Creek Road, Chadds Ford, and 1073 Baltimore Pike, Middletown, the new beer can be found at 201 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Emmaus; 296 Route 940, Blakeslee; 1139 Horsham Road, Horsham; and 2600 Penrose Ave., Philadelphia.