Here in the Northeast, the beginning of spring means more than just better weather and later sunsets. It means free Rita’s Italian ice (at least on that first day of spring).
Rita’s is a staple of spring and summer, and Philadelphia-area brewery Nashaminy Creek Brewing Co. is doing a collaborative line of beers inspired by Rita’s flavors, complete with Rita’s branding on the cans to look like the cups of Italian ice.
So excited to share the news that we’re introducing a new line of beers inspired by @RitasItalianIce called Rita’s Fruit Brews and the first release will be a Mango Blonde Ale debuting April 15th at the brewery!#ritas #buckscounty #craftbeer #drinkinbucksco pic.twitter.com/ay0eL7h0L9
— Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co (@NCBCBeer) March 28, 2023
“We are quite psyched to FINALLY share the news that we’re going to be introducing a new line of fruit-forward beers inspired by the flavors of a fellow Bucks County, PA original, Rita’s Italian Ice!” Nashaminy Creek wrote in a post on Instagram. “The first in this series of Rita’s Fruit Brews will be a refreshing Blonde Ale brewed with 2-Row Malt, White Wheat, Flaked Oats, and hopped with Herkules and Chinook then conditioned on loads of juicy mangoes. The result is an easy-drinking 5% ABV beer with big fruity flavor and aroma that will transport you straight back to waiting under a big candy stripe awning for your icy sweet treat.”
In this writer’s humble opinion, Mango is the best Rita’s flavor, so this will be hard to top.
But, mostly, this is about the branding, which Nashaminy Creek nailed with the label. It’s simple. It doesn’t try to overdo anything. And it takes an extremely recognizable logo and places it front and center.
We’ve seen some other creative ways breweries have used beer labels, like the one in Vermont that turned them into stickers. There are also breweries like Modist in Minneapolis that made a Hormel Chili Cheese Dip-themed beer.
If we had to pick between mango or chili cheese dip-flavored beer, I think it’s an easy call.
