| FEATURE NEWS |
| Corona Beating The Virus Corona, the Mexican beer, has come through the coronavirus pandemic better than most. Profit from the beer division of alcohol company Constellation Brands, which owns the rights to Corona in the United States, rose 13% in the last 6 months. Early on in the pandemic many thought the beer brand would take a hit from its false association with the virus that causes COVID-19. Back in January, there was a flood of misinformation connecting Corona to the coronavirus. There is no connection. Nonetheless, Google searches for "beer virus" and "corona beer virus" surged with jokes such as this floating around - Corona change its name to something with fewer negative connotations, "like Ebola." Constellation decided not to address the misinformation. It also went ahead with its planned launch of a line of Corona-branded alcoholic seltzers. That appears to have been the right decision. Corona's sales saw a jump in grocery and liquor store sales othat more than covered the 50% drop in restaurant sales. Shares of Constellation are still advancing to a price of around $216. |
| Jolly Rancher v, Beer Battle A real David and Goliath situation has unfolded – all do to with beer. A small brewery is being pitted against candy behemoth The Hershey Company, as the latter tries to protect its product. There is one brewery in Wauconda, ILL, and it’s Phil Castello’s.“Single-barrel brewery. He is five years in business and is making a name for his business with creative beers. Side Lot’s offerings featured a pale ale made with Jolly Ranchers, and a Milk Duds porter. Both were publicized on the brewery’s website and social media – and it reached a law firm that represents Hershey’s.that sent Castello a cease and desist letter for using its trademarked candies. “It was scary!” Castello said. He quickly followed demands, getting rid of the beer and reporting his sales numbers. Then he got another letter saying he had to settle with Hershey’s, by paying money to the candy giant.“I was just kind of angry,” Castello said. “It’s like Hershey’s is this billion-dollar corporation, and they’re worried about a thousand square-foot bar that over two years made a little over $8,000 by using Jolly Ranchers. |
Feb. 2021
| Big Brewers and CBD One of the country’s biggest beverage companies is jumping into the cannabis space. Molson Coors Beverage Company has just launched a new line of sparkling water infused with hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD), called Veryvell. The products, are made and marketed under its subsidiary, Truss CBD USA, and mark the beer giant’s first foray into the United States cannabis sector. Veryvell sparkling water comes in three flavors — grapefruit-tarragon, strawberry-hibiscus and blueberry- lavender — and each 12-ounce can has 20 milligrams of CBD. As with all CBD products, it doesn’t come cheap: An eight-pack of 12-oz. cans sells online for $35, and a 12-can variety pack is $50.The CBD comes as a liquid that is infused into the sparkling water with natural flavors and adaptogens, or plants that help the body regulate stress. Each flavor features two different adaptogens. Free Beer In Detriot Bud Light said it would buy everyone (of age) in Denver a beer if Broncos kicker Brandon McManus broke the NFL record for longest field goal -- the record currently held by Matt Prater of the Detroit Lions is 64 yards. That’s when Prater showed his veteran savvy by stepping up for the good, thirsty people of Detroit and asked Bud what it would do for his city. Bud Light agreed to amend its challenge, changing it to a head-to-head battle between Prater and McManus. Whichever kicker booted the longest field goal this season would win free beer for his city. McManus’ long of the season was a 58-yarder against New Orleans. That’s nice. but Prater drilled a 59th attempt from that distance against Minnesota. Oh, and Prater banged through a 59-yarder against Washingtonthat won that game as time expired -- and as it turns out, put a free beer in the hands of every Detroiter. Bourbon Co. Attacks Beer Jim Beam® Bourbon is offering drinkers a solution to their beer boredom: the refreshing and highly sessionable Jim Beam Highball. The Highball cocktail, which is made by mixing chilled Jim Beam Bourbon with ice and ice-cold, highly carbonated ginger ale, is the perfect alternative for those who are bored of beer but find themselves ordering another one on autopilot. The new marketing campaign, launching nationally this month, encourages those drinkers to add the Jim Beam Highball to their repertoire and order one when they're looking for a light and refreshing option instead of their next beer. The campaign features a new TV spot, "Need a Break From Beer," and will run nationally throughout the year. The spot uses classic beer tropes found at any local bar to inspire drinkers to make their next round a Jim Beam Highball. Viewers will immediately recognize a traditionally dressed German couple encouraging an order of a Bavarian-style hefeweizen, an old, mysterious man pushing a dark, heavy brew, and a pair of hipsters walking a goat, offering a "super-filling IPA with aged goat's milk." |
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