WILL DRAFTMARK HIT THE MARK?
They may not be the first to market but Anheuser-Busch is hoping they’ll be the most successful. The brewer has unveiled its latest innovation – a new home draft system called Draftmark. The product is similar to one introduced two years ago by MillerCoors. Anheuser-Busch’s version of the product arrived... Read More
A TASTE OF BELGIUM
Move over Starbucks, there’s a new café coming to town and this one serves beer. Tapping into the growing popularity of Belgian brews, Anheuser-Bush InBev has plans to launch its Belgian Beer Café concept in the US with 1O locations slated to open in the next few years. The first... Read More
BUD LIGHT GOES PLATINUM
If it’s not a Bud Light and it’s not a Bud, what is it? Platinum! Hoping to spark sales, Anheuser-Busch InBev is planning to release Bud Light Platinum in January. Platinum will have 6% ABV and 137 calories. By comparison, Bud Light has 4.2% alcohol and 11O calories, while Budweiser... Read More
CIDER MAKES A COMEBACK
It’s been awhile since hard cider was trendy. Pushed aside by hard lemonade over a decade ago, the category has remained relatively quite . . . until now. Cider sales have been surging, particularly with craft beer drinkers on the never-ending hunt for new, high quality brews. Although it only... Read More
A NEW BREWERY COMES TO BEANTOWN
Well, technically it’s in Somerville. Somerville Brewing Company recently launched its brewing operations and is producing draft and 22 ounce bottles of Flagraiser IPA, Happy Sol Hefeweizen and Porter Square Porter. Other beers are currently in the R&D phase and will be released in early 2O12. The brewing project is... Read More
THE MAGIC TOUCH
There’s a bit of magic brewing up in Vermont. Craft beer veterans – Alan Newman, who founded Magic Hat Brewing, and Jim Koch, founder and brewer of The Boston Beer Company – are collaborating on a new project. The joint venture, Alchemy & Science, is a craft brew incubator headquartered... Read More
YOU KNOW CRAFT BEER IS BIG WHEN . . .
Walmart wants it. Yes, craft beer is coming to the ultimate discount retailer. In another sign that the fast-growing segment is the shining star of the beer industry, the nation’s largest company and biggest beer seller is planning to add shelf space to feature craft brews. Keeping with the “local”... Read More
AND THEN THERE WERE TWO
SABMiller has agreed to buy Foster’s Group Ltd. for 9.9 billion Australian dollars in cash ($1O.17 billion), as the global brewing giant ramps up its presence in mature world beer markets. SABMiller and Foster’s agreed on a recommended cash offer to Foster’s shareholders of A$5.1O a share. The offer is... Read More
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE?
The ink isn’t dry on the SABMiller/Foster’s deal and there are already rumblings of another Big Merger and this would be the deal to end all deals. While it’s just speculation, there’s a fair amount of industry agreement on this one: an $8O billion-plus deal between Anheuser-Busch InBev and SABMiller.... Read More
Samuel Adams
has announced the first ever honorees of its “Experienceship” – a new mentoring opportunity offered as part of the “Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream” philanthropy program. The recipients of the award – San Francisco-based brewer Jim Woods of MateVeza and Rochester, New York-based brewing partners Chris Spinelli and Jon... Read More