GSN Brews News: January 11th 2022 Edition

Topo Chico Hard Seltzer is debuting a Ranch Water line extension. Inspired by the Texas cocktail, the lime-based addition to the Topo Chico lineup comes in dedicated 12-packs of 12-ounce slim cans. Available now in 12 states across the South and West including Texas, Arizona, California, and Georgia, it’s at 4.7% abv. The launch coincides with the nationwide expansion of the Topo Chico variety pack, which includes Topo Chico’s four other flavor options. The expansion is being supported with a robust marketing push on television and online that triples the investment behind the brand’s regional launch last year. Topo Chico hard seltzer is produced, distributed, and marketed by Molson Coors as part of an agreement with brand owner Coca-Cola.

NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman is launching a new beer brand aimed at health-conscious consumers. Simply called Eight after Aikman’s number as quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, it’s brewed with Hallertau Taurus hops and no sugar to finish at 90 calories a can. The venture is co-founded by Doug Campbell, formerly president of Brewery Ommegang, and the beer was developed in part by brewmaster Phil Leinhart, previously of Anheuser-Busch, Harpoon Brewery, and Ommegang. Eight launches on draft in Texas next month with cans hitting retail shelves across the state in 6-packs, 12-packs, and 19-ounce singles in March.

Boston Beer Company’s Truly Hard Seltzer has launched a new variety 12-pack, featuring four Margarita-inspired flavors. The new flavors—Classic Lime, Strawberry Hibiscus, Watermelon Cucumber, and Mango Chili—are all made with lime juice concentrate, agave nectar, and sea salt, and come in at 5.3% abv and 110 calories per 12-ounce can. Truly’s Margarita Style Mix Pack is rolling out now across the U.S.

Pop star Katy Perry has partnered with non-alcoholic spirits producer Amass to create De Soi, a new line of 0% abv sparkling aperitifs. The new line is vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and is priced at $25 for a 750-ml. bottle or four 8-ounce cans. All three expressions—Golden Hour, Champignon Dreams, and Purple Lune—are made with blends of botanicals and without artificial colors or flavors.

Middlebury, Vermont-based Vermont Cider Company is getting into the canned cocktail game with a new RTD lineup called Day Chaser. The new label is launching with an initial two vodka sodas: Vodka Lime and Vodka Cranberry. More options are in the pipeline, with Vodka Buda Berry and Vodka Cucumber slated to arrive ahead of spring along with various Tequila and sparkling water mixes including Tequila Lime, Tequila Grapefruit, Tequila Pineapple, and Tequila Spicy Mango. The full Day Chaser lineup is certified gluten free with 100 calories, 2g of carbs and 1g of sugar per can. The initial two expressions are at 4.7% abv and are available now across New England as well as in Iowa, Colorado, and Arizona in 4-packs of 12-ounce slim cans for $10. The company is eyeing quick expansion into Florida, California, Virginia, and elsewhere with national availability to follow.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Brews News: September 14th 2021 Edition

The Boston Beer Company is launching Bevy Long Drink, inspired by the national cocktail of Finland. Invented for guests at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, a traditional Long Drink consists of gin, grapefruit soda, and tonic. Boston Beer’s canned version will launch with two flavors: Sparkling Citrus Refresher and Sparkling Berry Refresher, both at 5.8% abv and made with a malt base containing juniper berries instead of spirits. Bevy Long Drink will launch in November in 6- and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans as well as single 24-ounce cans.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Brews News: May the 4th Be With You Edition

Eugene, Oregon’s Ninkasi Brewing Company has launched Stratosphere IPA, the latest spring and summer seasonal for the craft brewer. The 6.4% abv ale is brewed with Nugget, Amarillo, Centennial, Citra, and Strata hops, and was originally brewed in February 2020 as a part of Ninkasi’s limited and small batch program. The beer is now available in 6- and 12-packs of 12-ounce bottles and 19.2-ounce cans in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

Denver-based Prost Brewing Company has released AlpenBlume, a new craft hard seltzer. The 5% abv RTD is brewed with German wine yeast and has 100 calories per 12-ounce can. The new line comes in four flavors—Cucumber Lime, Ginger Peach, Strawberry Rose, and Lemon Elderberry—and is available throughout Colorado in mixed 12-packs. It is also available on draft at Prost’s Biergartens.

Philadelphia-based Charles Jacquin et Cie is targeting the fast-growing RTD market with Bartenders Trading Co. The new line is a revamp of the company’s Original Bartenders Cocktails and will launch with 10 releases including Sarita’s Margarita, Nina’s Pina Colada, and I’m Bananas Over You. All will be available in sizes ranging from 200-ml. to 1.75-liters, with the 750-ml. retailing at $11.

Canada’s Nude Beverages has expanded its line of hard iced teas into national distribution in the U.S. The 5% abv RTDs are made with vodka and decaffeinated black tea, and come in at 100 calories per serving. The teas are available in peach, lemon, and raspberry flavors and are not carbonated. Nude Hard Tea joins the company’s hard seltzer, which also comes in at 100 calories and 5% abv, and is available in lime, peach, mango, and raspberry lemon flavors.

Brooklyn, New York-based Threes Brewing is re-releasing its Yore Czech Pilsner. Inspired by the Svetlé Pivo brewing tradition, Yore Czech is only 3.9% abv. It was brewed with Czech-grown Saaz hops and Moravian floor-malted Czech pilsner malt and has notes of noble spice and wet hay, according to the company. It’s available now from Threes Brewing’s website, where a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans is priced at $16.

The Boston Beer Company has announced the latest expansion to Truly Hard Seltzer, set to hit shelves on May 10. The new extension—Truly Punch—comes in a mixed 12-pack of 12-ounce cans and adds four new flavors to the popular hard seltzer brand: Tropical, Fruit, Citrus, and Berry. The new punch-flavored varieties, like the rest of the Truly line, come in at 5% abv with 100 calories per serving and will be available across the U.S.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Brews News: January 12th 2021 Edition

Skagit Valley, Washington-based Garden Path Fermentation is releasing its first 100% spontaneously fermented beer. Called The Spontaneous Ferment, it is a single year blend of three batches of coolship inoculated beers from winter 2018 (a coolship is a historic method for cooling a beer before adding yeast, commonly used today by brewers working with spontaneous fermentation). It’s at 6% abv, was bottled in May of last year, and is available now from Garden Path’s taproom and in retailers throughout the region. Garden Path was founded in 2016.

The Boston Beer Company has launched Truly Iced Tea Hard Seltzer, the latest extension to the popular seltzer brand. Like the original Truly lineup, the hard iced teas come in at 5% abv and 100 calories per serving. The new RTDs come in four flavors—lemon, raspberry, peach, and strawberry—and are made with iced tea and other flavorings. Truly Iced Tea is now available in variety 12-packs of 12-ounce cans and individual 16- and 24-ounce cans of the lemon flavor.

Costa Mesa, California’s Chihuahua Cerveza is now available in Oklahoma and Kansas, with the brewery announcing further expansions to follow throughout the first quarter of the year. This month, the brewery will add distribution in Arkansas and New Mexico, too, before adding Colorado, Alabama, and South Carolina over the next few months. Following the expansion, Chihuahua Cerveza will be available in 12 states across the southern United States.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has announced Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade, the newest addition to brand’s entry into the hard seltzer category. The 5% abv releases come in at 100 calories per 12-ounce serving and will initially launch in four flavors: peach, black cherry, strawberry, and original lemonade. The new releases are launching on January 18 nationwide. The launch will be accompanied by two new commercials—titled ‘Tire’ and ‘Family Jewelry’—that feature the new seltzer alongside drinkers commenting that it’s better than their grandmothers’ lemonade.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily