Sun Country adds Fulton beer, Prairie Organic spirits to its flight menu

Fly local, drink local.

That's the take-home message in Sun Country Airlines' new onboard drink options: Fulton Lonely Blonde and Prairie Organic gin and vodka.

The easy-drinking beer from Minneapolis-based Fulton and the cocktail-ready booze from Prince-ton-based Prairie Organic Spirits will become part of the Eagan-based airline's in-flight alcohol offerings beginning today.

"We are proud to add these great brands to our menu and to offer guests a taste of Minnesota when they fly with us," Brian Davis, chief marketing officer of Sun Country, said in a statement.

These local brands join Surly Furious IPA, a darling of the Minnesota beer scene, on the airline's drink menu. National brand Michelob Golden Light will remain on Sun Country flights to serve the light-beer drinkers onboard.

"We're over the moon [or at least above the clouds] about becoming part of Sun Country's in-flight beer selection," said Tucker Gerrick, Fulton's marketing director, in the statement. "This is an incredibly proud moment for us at Fulton."

Prairie is the top-selling USDA-certified organic spirits brand. Its vodka replaces Ketel One and its gin replaces Tanqueray on all Sun Country flights.

The surge in microbreweries and distilleries across the U.S., as well as regionally known small food brands, has prompted many airlines to bring a taste of their hometown aboard flights through their snack and beverage service.

Denver-based Frontier Airlines serves Breckenridge vodka, bourbon and gin, as well as wine from Infinite Monkey Theorem and beer from New Belgium, Oskar Blues and, of course, Coors, which are all based in Colorado. Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines serves an extra pale ale from SweetWater Brewery, Chicago-based United Airlines serves a wheat beer from its home team brewery Goose Island and Dallas-based Southwest Airlines serves Deep Eddy spirits made in Austin, Texas.