Great Lakes Brewing Co. (GLBC) announces its latest beer innovation for 2026, Orange & Honey Wheat. The new brew debuts early March, followed by its inclusion in brand new Sunshine Party Pack alongside seasonal favorites and pack exclusive Orange & Lime Shandy.
Orange & Honey Wheat: The Right Beer All Year
Orange & Honey Wheat is a quenching ale brewed with a touch of honey and a twist of blood orange. The 5.5% easy-drinking brew will be sold year-round on draft and in 12 oz. can 6-Packs.
Great Lakes will continue to offer Cran Orange Wheat (September) as a limited seasonal in 6-Packs and draft, but a year-round everyday drinking Wheat Ale was missing from the brewery’s always-on portfolio, and Orange & Honey Wheat fills that gap. “We’ve had peak and valley sales with our wheat lineup these past few years due to how the beers were too aligned with seasonality so we decided to develop a flavor-forward beer with broader, year-round appeal,” says Co-CEO Chris Brown. “Orange & Honey Wheat is perfectly balanced between the citrus and honey, and it’s the kind of beer that will be enjoyed in any season, any time of the year. This beer is not just for wheat fans, but fans of flavor.”
Innovation Shines in New Party Packs
After an early March release, Orange & Honey Wheat also appears in the new Sunshine Party Pack, the second of GLBC’s new range of rotating, occasion-based variety packs. Also included in the late-March variety pack are returning warm weather favorites Mexican Lager with Lime and Rally Drum Lemon Shandy, and a new Sunshine Party Pack exclusive Orange & Lime Shandy.
GLBC’s reimagined variety pack approach has already seen success in 2026, with January’s Irish Party Pack, which helped grow the Conway’s Family of brands by 4.9% in its first month (VIP All Markets YTD thru 2/3/26, vs. 2/4/25). Marketing Director Vicki Campana speaks to the strategy, “Experiences continue to drive our approach. We want to be where our customers are and make it convenient and appealing for them to make Great Lakes part of those experiences. With Sunshine Party Pack, we are also able to introduce a new year-round brand in Orange & Honey Wheat to fans who already know and love our Mexican Lager and Lemon Shandy, and drive excitement with the exclusive Orange & Lime Shandy.”
With the addition of new year-round Orange & Honey Wheat, reimagined variety packs, The Float Shoppe Social Sodas, and recent market expansions into Florida and Tennessee, the independent Ohio brewery shows its continued focus on strategic growth and innovation.
Sunshine Party Pack Releasing March:
- Orange & Honey Wheat (NEW!): 5.5% ABV. Also available in 6-Pack cans, draft.
- Mexican Lager with Lime: 5.4%. Also available in 6- and 12-Pack cans, draft.
- Rally Drum Lemon Shandy: 4.0%. Also available in 6- and 12-Pack cans, 19.2 oz. cans, draft.
- Orange & Lime Shandy (NEW!): 4.0%. Exclusive to Sunshine Party Pack.
