Platinum Bud? Bud Light Platinum, a long- germinating beer concept from Anheuser-Busch InBev that’s not quite Bud Light and not really Budweiser, will finally hit stores in January. Bet you can't wait. Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch, the world’s largest brewer, said that the new beer “appeals to a key group of beer drinkers and expands consumer occasions. It's unique and fun.” Platinum would have 6% alcohol by volume and 137 calories. Top-selling Bud Light, by comparison, has 4.2% ABV and 110 calories while Budweiser has 5% ABV and 145 calories. Some beer enthusiasts suggest that Platinum is Anheuser-Busch’s attempt to take advantage of growing interest in craft beers. Some pundits have postulated that Platinum may turn out to be a “faux-spirit infused beer” such as Bud Light flavored with the taste of tequila. |
Best Beer Now Legal Westvleteren beers are not legally available outside of the abbey or the nearby café. That is, until now. The beer, generally regarded by experts as the best in the world, will now be sold for the outside world in limited supply for a short time. And it will likely never happen again. Only 93,000 "gift boxes" have been produced, each containing six bottles of the beer and two glasses. The one-day release was multiple stores of the Belgian supermarket chain Colruyt. The abbey hope to receive 2.3 million Euros in revenue from the project. The money gained will be put toward expansion and restoration of the abbey which is in desperate need of major repairs due to recent storms. Originally sold by the abbey at 25 Euros per box many are now up for resale. The online Belgium Shop is selling it at $320 per box; e-bay lists one for $250. The beer itself is a Belgium Quad that boasts 10.2% alcohol by volume. The flavor is lovely and round, full of cherries, dates, rum, and brandy. Toasted marshmallow and bourbon come through as well, with a touch of oak and hints of anise. It is delicious, filling, lingering, and soft, chewy and rich but still vaporous and dry. A beer of contradictions and harmonies. |
| Feature News from beernexus.com |
Edited by Jim Attacap
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| BEERNEXUS the crossroads of the beer world |
The World Loves Beer
The Asian beer market grew by 6% last year
to reach 650 mln hl, and now accounts for
over a third of global beer consumption. Africa,
despite making up just over 5% of the global beer market,
performed very strongly, registering an 8% growth in
volume so far this year. Latin America also witnessed
positive growth of over 3%. In contrast, European beer
volumes declined by just over 1% in Eastern and Central
Europe, and by almost 2% in Western Europe. Volumes in
North America fell by just over 1% whilst the Australasian
beer market only achieved 1% growth.
China continues to be the engine of growth both in Asia
and globally. 2010 saw Chinese beer consumption
increase by 6%, and now one in every four pints of beer
worldwide is consumed in China. Beer volumes in India
grew by a dramatic 17% in 2010, but per capita
consumption remains below 2 litres. Vietnam was the other
star performer in Asia delivering a 15% increase in volume.
Brazil continued to lead the Latin American pack and
posted an 8% volume increase. Consumption in the Czech
Republic declined by 7% and Romania and Serbia both
saw volume declines of nearly 5%. Russian beer
consumption showed no appreciable growth.
