Molson Canada announced it is coming out with a beer with caffeine and guarana (hmm, that sounds familiar eh?) called Kick. Hey, at least they didn't call it M-C or M to the C.
I guess this makes it official: energy beer is now a category. Look for
the other major brewers (I think there are at least two more after the
recent consolidations) to follow suit and compete to come up with the
energy beer that tastes the least like fermented cat feces.
It seems like every major beer company is putting out a low carb beer:
Coors with Aspen Edge; A-B with Michelob Ultra; Heineken with Premium
Light. While they are low on carbs, most suffer on flavor. For the bulk
of Americans the taste of beer isn't as important as the latest fad in
diets and/or drinks. New research suggests that the beer isn't as fattening as the beer lifestyle but consumers are quicker to change their beer of choice than they are to change their lifestyle.
These low carb beers remind me of the malted beverage fad drinks of the past few years. Those were bascially a flop with the marketing dollars used to push them outpacing the revenue gained from them.
Unlike the malted beverages that required changes in the brewing
process, low carb beers so brewers may actually make money on them.
I think we'll see the low carb beer trend continue until either the low
carb trend dies or is debunked or when the beer giants see more dollar
signs in another niche market segment.
Honey Amber Rose, a beer marketed specifically for women, took a Silver medal among 84 beers in the Florida Beerfest 2005. Hopefully they will have this at the next Orlando beer festival and we’ll be able to have a taste.
Forbes has an article about Dogfish Head titled Chateu Dogfish
which poses the question “How does Sam Calagione get $9 for a bottle of
beer?”. The short answer is a combination of a damn fine beer and Sam
himself. Be sure to read the article for the history and future of
Dogfish.
I had the pleasure of meeting Sam in May, 2004 at Jax in downtown
Orlando. The Orlando distributor of Dogfish Head was taking him to the
top
retail location (Big C Liqours) and the top bar location (Jax downtown)
for
Dogfish Head sales on what could only be described as a Dogfish
whirlwind tour. OK, maybe it was more like a visit, but I was
happy to
meet the brewer of some of the finest beers going.
Midas Touch Magic Elixir
had just come out and Sam offered to buy my wife and I a couple of
them. I'm not one to pass up free beer, especially when the guy who
makes it is buying. Like the other Dogfish Heads I had tried, this one
didn't dissapoint. It was very smooth for a 9% beer and wasn't too
sweet.
The thinking goes that women will drink more beer if it is presented in
a more appealing vessel. Many Belgian ales are served in glasses that
resemble wine glasses. From what I'm told this isn't for the look but,
like wine, to allow the bouqet to enhance the flavor.
Link: The Scotsman
