Heineken USA announces the return of the Beers of Mexico variety pack with limited edition offering, Dos Equis Azul – a blend of signature golden wheat lager and blue agave. Dos Equis Azul will once again join Heineken USA’s outstanding Mexican beers—Dos Equis Lager, Tecate and Sol—in one convenient Fiesta Pack. The pack will be supported with seasonally relevant cross-merchandising offers (where legal) designed to enhance any gathering or at-home social occasion.
Today, Angry Orchard announced the national release of its first-ever hopped hard cider, Angry Orchard Hop’n Mad Apple. The cider makers drew inspiration for this new cider from a traditional craft beer ingredient – hops – to develop a cider that combines subtle floral and tropical fruit notes from Strisselspalt and Galaxy hops with bright, fresh apple flavor from American apples.
New Belgium Brewing has awarded national top honors to Brown Distributing of Austin, TX and Hubert Distributors in Oakland, MI as part of their annual Distributor of the Year Award, 2014.
Alaskan Brewing Company has chosen Gastineau Humane Society (GHS) to be the beneficiary of many of its fundraising efforts for 2015. The brewery has a tradition of choosing a new non-profit partner every year.
On Friday, February 20 at 7 p.m., the German beer lovers at Brauhaus Schmitz (718 South Street, 267-909-8814), the city’s only authentic German bierhall, will tap a keg of Rothaus Tannenzäpfle, marking the first time that the legendary Black Forest pilsner will be available on draught in the United States.
Starr Hill Brewery is proud to announce the promotion of Robbie O’Cain to Brewmaster. Robbie succeeds Mark Thompson as Starr Hill’s Master Brewer following Mark’s recent retirement after 23 years in the craft beer industry.
Two recent favorites from Widmer Brothers Brewing’s 30-year recipe archive were released this month in the brewery’s 30 Beers for 30 Years Series: Pitch Black IPA and KGB Russian Imperial Stout. These beers represent the years 2010 and 2011, respectively, and both dark offerings are great for the last cold months of winter.
One of the world’s preeminent nomad brewers is getting ready to settle down. Mikkel Borg Bjergsø, the Danish beer maker who travels the world producing labels under the Mikkeller brand, has forged a “creative partnership” with San Diego’s AleSmith Brewing that will include an old brewing facility AleSmith had been planning vacate this summer.
Today Hopworks Urban Brewery announces the release and distribution of two beers – Rise Up Red India Red Ale and Nonstop Hef Hop. Rise Up Red IRA is available in 22 oz bottles, 16 oz cans and on draft throughout the Pacific Northwest. Nonstop Hef Hop, a session wheat beer, is a new beer, packaged in an innovative series of 16 oz cans.
Beyond the quality of the liquid inside the bottle, strong packaging and labeling, the eye-catching face of a brand, is becoming paramount as a means of standing out on shelves tasked with propping up more and more craft SKUs than ever before. Or, as Ian McLean, founder and creative director of McLean Design and a BevNET FBU (Food and Beverage University) instructor, said, “If you’re not seen, you don’t exist.”
