Two Roads Brewing Co. is getting into the non-alcoholic beer space with Non-Alcoholic Juicy IPA, the first NA beer offering from the Stratford, Connecticut craft brewery.
NA Juicy IPA is the first of “a number” of NA beers Two Roads will be launching in the coming months, according to a press release.
“An NA Juicy makes perfect sense from a trend standpoint,” Collin Kennedy, Two Roads director of marketing, said in the release. “Juicy IPAs, and non-alc beers in general, continue to grow in popularity, making this entry a very logical first step.”
NA Juicy IPA was created by Two Roads master brewer Phil Markowski, who wanted to “create an NA that would convince beer drinkers they are actually enjoying a full powered Juicy IPA,” CEO Brad Hittle said in the release.
“We’d already built a successful line of traditional, juicy IPAs, including Two Juicy, one of the most highly rated beers of this style, so the bar was set high in terms of nailing an NA,” Markowski said. “After about 18 months of trial and error, I love where we’ve arrived. We have a flavorful, authentic tasting juicy IPA that is non-alcoholic, but drinks like any of our other traditional Juicy IPA products.”
The offering will be available in 12 oz. 6-packs in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, beginning next week. The brewery plans to expand distribution “as awareness and demand for the product increases.”
Downeast Cider House Launches Vodka Soda Canned Cocktail
Downeast Cider House, the Boston-based unfiltered craft cider company, is dipping its toe in the ready-to-drink canned cocktail (RTD) realm for the first time, with the debut of Downeast Vodka Soda.
The 4.5% ABV spirit-based RTDs launched this week in four flavors: Lime, Pineapple, Grapefruit and Black Cherry. The offering is available in variety 8-packs in Downeast’s Northeast market, as well as its taproom in East Boston, Massachusetts. Expansion into the rest of Downeast’s distribution network is planned “depending on demand,” according to COO Max Keilson.
Keilson told Brewbound the company debated launching an offering to compete in the hard seltzer segment in the past, but hadn’t found something they were satisfied with.
“Then High Noon was having a moment,” Keilson said, referring to E. & J. Gallo’s High Noon Sun Sips.
Downeast believes it can compete with the existing RTD, particularly as Downeast’s existing consumer base – which skews younger (21-29) and “slightly more female” – parallels the demographics of High Noon drinkers.
Although Keilson said the ciderhouse does not have plans at this time to launch other RTDs “such as Old Fashioneds or margaritas,” but will explore other vodka-based offerings.
Downeast’s “big bets” for 2022 include the RTDs, as well as the return of Hard Lemonade, launched last summer.
More coverage on Downeast to come next week.
Lunar Hard Seltzer Releases New Variety Pack, Including Passion Fruit Flavor
Lunar Hard Seltzer, the New York-based Asian-American hard seltzer company, has launched its first year-round variety pack, the company announced Thursday.
The Variety Pack features three of Lunar’s existing 4.7% ABV year-round flavors – Yuzu, Lychee and Korean Plum – as well as its newly released year-round flavor, Passion Fruit. The variety 8-pack is now available at stores in New York City, while a 16-pack is available direct-to-consumer on Lunar’s website.
“The launch of this variety pack comes as a direct result of customer demand, which is quite exciting,” Lunar co-founder Kevin Wong said in a press release. “Our fans love each of these flavors and have been asking for us to develop a variety pack offering, so we’re pleased to provide our customers with what they’ve been asking for.”
The Passion Fruit offering is also available online in a single-flavor 16-pack, and as a single-flavor offering in stores in New York, Virginia and Georgia, as well as restaurants in New York City. The 110 calorie, sugar-based hard seltzer was created with “real passion fruit puree and a touch of organic lime juice,” according to the release.
This is the first variety pack for Lunar that includes its year-round offerings. The company previously released Heritage Pack, which featured three limited-edition flavors: Tamarind & Rice Paddy Herb, Pineapple Cake and Mango & Chili Salt.
Molson Coors Releases Arnold Palmer Spiked Lite
Molson Coors Beverage Company announced Arnold Palmer Spiked Lite this week, the latest offering from the bev-alc company’s partnership with AriZona Beverages.
The malt-based flavored malt beverages (FMBs) are a 100-calorie version of Arnold Palmer Spiked – a half-iced tea, half-lemonade, non-carbonated 5% ABV FMB – launched in 2018.
Beginning in May, Arnold Palmer Spiked will be available in 12 oz. slim-can 12-packs, or 24 oz. single-serve cans, in 16 states: Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and Washington, D.C.