Anheuser-Busch

The NHL Beer Wars

Labatt (Who brews Budweiser in Canada) Vs. Molson, are locked in a different playoff situation.  Last fall, Molson inked a deal with the National Hockey League making it the official beer of the league.  That’s makes it difficult for Labatt Continue Reading →

Shock Top Wheat IPA Added To Draftmark

Shock Top Wheat I.P.A. will join Anheuser-Busch’s Draftmark System soon.  The system holds a full gallon of Shock Top,  and keep the beer fresh and pressured for 30 days.  There is a “jar” that is inserted into system that lives in Continue Reading →

Bud Light Platinum Outpaces Expectations (PR)

ST. LOUIS — Demand for Bud Light Platinum, the newest addition to the Bud Light megabrand, is outpacing expectations. In response, Anheuser-Busch is expanding production of Bud Light Platinum to three breweries. Brewing has already begun in A-B’s St. Louis Continue Reading →

Posted in Anheuser-Busch, New Beers

Bud Light Red & White Stripes

Bud Light Red & White Stripes

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anheuser-Busch

Michelob ULTRA Light Cider Launches Nationally

Anheuser-Busch has officially made their foray into the cider world with Michelob ULTRA Light Cider.   The low-cal cider is officially making its national debut this week, touted as a refreshing alternative to white wine, champagne and heavy ciders.  This is the first cider that AB has ever produced in the United States, at the Baldwinsville, New York plant.

Per the recent press release:

“As more people continue to discover cider, we’ve found that many view traditional ciders as either too heavy, too sweet or both,” said Ryan Moore, vice president of premium lights, Anheuser-Busch.“This perception has often times limited ciders to a seasonal beverage during fall and winter, but we saw an untapped potential to expand the category as a year-round option for adult drinkers. Michelob ULTRA Light Cider fills this void with a lower calorie cider with a milder, but distinct, sweetness that can be enjoyed straight or over ice.” 

Style: Cider
Availability: 12 oz bottles.  Nationwide, except CO, UT, WY, OK

Below… we tried the test batch.  Big green apple smell. Very light flavor.


 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anheuser-Busch, Beer News, Molson Coors

The NHL Beer Wars

Labatt (Who brews Budweiser in Canada) Vs. Molson, are locked in a different playoff situation.  Last fall, Molson inked a deal with the National Hockey League making it the official beer of the league.  That’s makes it difficult for Labatt to market to the NHL fans in Canada.  So the brewery has been finding other ways to do so, without using the NHL name.  Remember the “Flash Fans” video that Labatt/Bud did earlier in the year?  From most people’s perspective, it was pretty cool commercial highlighting the sport.  In real life, they were accused of exploiting people, because they used non union labor for the crowd people.  (Seriously???)

Enter new promotion: The “Playoff Payoff.”  The winner receives hockey tickets for life.  The winner chooses tickets to the Canadian team of their choice.  Pretty cool right? Wrong.  Apparently by running such a promotion, Labatt is either explicitly or implicitly tying themselves to the NHL.  Lawyers say no, not yet.  The winner COULD choose minor league teams too.  No where does it say it has to be NHL.   Until they do, there is no legal tie.

The NHL had to issue this statement is response:

You may have heard about a contest that is currently being run in Canada promoting the chance to win “hockey tickets for life” to a Canadian hockey team’s games. We want our fans to know that the NHL has no affiliation with that promotion, and we can offer no assurances to our fans that the desired tickets will be available to the winner.

To sum it up.  Labatt takes Molson & the NHL to court over the sponsorship deal.  Labatt/Bud make fan commercial.  Canadian labor union sues Labatt/Bud.  Labatt runs ticket con Molson objects.  NHL is confused.  Hockey playoffs roll on.

[NHL]

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anheuser-Busch, New Releases, Shock Top

Shock Top Wheat IPA Added To Draftmark

Shock Top Wheat I.P.A. will join Anheuser-Busch’s Draftmark System soon.  The system holds a full gallon of Shock Top,  and keep the beer fresh and pressured for 30 days.  There is a “jar” that is inserted into system that lives in your fridge.

After the beer is in, you pour.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anheuser-Busch, Coming Soon

Amberbock Added To A-B’s Draftmark System

Michelob Amberbock will be added to the Draftmark line soon.   The Draftmark System will hold a full gallon of, and keep the beer fresh and pressured for 30 days.  There is a “jar” that is inserted into system that lives in your fridge.

After the beer is in, you pour.

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anheuser-Busch, Beer News

Bud Light Platinum Brewing Expanded To Keep Up

The demand for Bud Light Platinum is quite high.  The sales of the blue bottle beer have outpaced the brewery’s expectations.   The brewery is expanding production of the new brand to three breweries.  That’s St.  Louis, Columbus (OH), and Fort Collins, Colorado starting in June.

“We’re optimistic we have a winner on our hands with Bud Light Platinum,” said Luiz Edmond, zone president, North America, Anheuser-Busch. “Trial and repeat purchases have been tremendous since the first ads aired during the Super Bowl, and while supplies were tight in the first few months, having to double the number breweries producing Bud Light Platinum is a great problem to have.”

The first Platinum bottle rolled out of Cartersville, Georgia and Los Angeles, California in January.  The Bud Light Platinum launch has been one of the strongest launches in the alcohol industry since 2005.  [PressRelease]

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anheuser-Busch, Press Releases

Bud Light Platinum Outpaces Expectations (PR)

ST. LOUIS — Demand for Bud Light Platinum, the newest addition to the Bud Light megabrand, is outpacing expectations. In response, Anheuser-Busch is expanding production of Bud Light Platinum to three breweries. Brewing has already begun in A-B’s St. Louis and Columbus, Ohio, breweries, with its Ft. Collins, Colo., brewery set to follow suit in June.

“We’re optimistic we have a winner on our hands with Bud Light Platinum,” said Luiz Edmond, zone president, North America, Anheuser-Busch. “Trial and repeat purchases have been tremendous since the first ads aired during the Super Bowl, and while supplies were tight in the first few months, having to double the number breweries producing Bud Light Platinum is a great problem to have.”

Bud Light Platinum will continue to be brewed at Anheuser-Busch’s Baldwinsville, N.Y., Cartersville, Ga., and Los Angeles breweries in addition to the three new locations, placing Bud Light Platinum production in half of Anheuser-Busch’s 12 U.S. breweries.

Based on IRI Symphony data, Bud Light Platinum has proven to be the most successful brand launch in the U.S. alcohol industry since 2005. Within two weeks of launch, Bud Light Platinum reached more than 90 percent distribution and through April 1, 2012, claimed a 1.4 percent market share.

Bud Light Platinum is available nationwide in cobalt blue 12-ounce glass bottles in six- and 12-packs.

by Reid Ramsay