The surging popularity of Goat Island Brewing’s Blood Orange Berliner Weisse is soon to land the hit brew in a can, actually thousands of cans.

John Dean, a founding partner in Cullman’s Goat Island, said Blood Orange has spread its flavor throughout the state and the Florida Panhandle on-tap. But late this year, the beer is expected to be canned and distributed even farther.

The brewery first canned Richter’s Pils, which has enjoyed wide success, followed by Sipsey River Red.

“We received the sample cans Wednesday morning and they look amazing,” Dean said. “Blood Orange is now a huge part of our business and the demand continues to grow.”

The demand for the product in just one month saw distributor Supreme Beverage deliver 480 kegs, Dean said.

The architect of Blood Orange, Goat Island’s head brewer Paul White, said creating the beer came from a desire to make a crowd-pleaser.

“I was never really into sour, in general, but I loved the flavor of blood orange, so I was looking for something that some would call a gateway beer,” White said.

Sour, fruity beers are immensely popular among the craft beer or micro-brewery followers, and Goat Island’s Blood Orange is a flavor and texture White believes is accessible for a wider range of beer enthusiasts.

“I know I didn’t want it to be as heavy as some of the wheat beers, but the wheat is where the body comes from. Beer doesn’t have to be over hoppy or sour,” White said.

White said the canning date is uncertain at this time, but October to early December should see Blood Orange available in cans.

Richter’s Pils has been Goat Island’s best-selling beer, but the rise of Blood Orange has moved it to second place.

Goat Island also produces Big Bridge IPA, the Colonel’s Fest Bier, Peace, Love, & Hippieweizen, Duck River Dunkel, and Thrill Hill Vanilla Porter. The local company has won numerous awards at competitions in Alabama and other states.