Heineken USA is playing with flavor and package sizes. Strongbow cider has added a “gold” line that includes Gold Apple and Honey & Apple flavors. Dos Equis’ Dos-a-Rita and Tecate Michelado Diablo were upsized to in 24-oz. cans, while Heineken beer itself was downsized to 8-oz. cans to attract multicultural and millennial consumers, according to the company. The company also introduced Desperados Lager (not pictured), a “Latin-inspired European import” aged in tequila barrels and blended with lemon and tequila flavors.
MillerCoors’ new products have distinct sweet and sour traits. A line extension of Steel Reserve—the Alloy Series—comes in Margarita, Hard Pineapple, Spiked Punch and Blk Berry, all available in 24-oz. cans. The Redd’s line, meanwhile, now includes Wicked Apple, Green Apple Ale and Wicked Mango.
Mike’s Hard has added two new flavors to its namesake lime: Tropical Pink Lemonade and Blackberry Lemonade. It also debuted a new line of TGIFridays-branded beverages. The “mixed drinks 2go” are available in Long Island Ice Tea and Wild Strawberry Daiquiri. Also new, but not pictured, is the addition of a Dragonfruit flavor on Mike’s Harder line in 24-oz. cans.
Anheuser-Busch aims to get in on the success of Mexican imports with its new Montejo. The brewer also has upsized its successful “-Rita” line to 25-oz. cans.
Boston Beer continues its regular rollout of new and limited-time brews, but its NACS Show booth highlighted new packaging, including 12-ounce cans for its Samuel Adams and Octoberfest beer (above). It’s also brought its Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Rebel IPA to 16-oz. cans.
E. & J. Gallo continues to mine the growing popularity of sweet wines with Barefoot Bubbly Prosecco and Andre Moscato and Pink Moscato. Club-ready Viniq, meanwhile, is a shimmery liqueur fusion of premium vodka, Moscato and natural fruit flavors.
Pabst Brewing Co. reintroduced Ballantine India Pale ale, which it says is the original IPA in the United States.
Guinness Blonde American Lager is the first line extension from Guinness Brewing. It will be brewed in Pennsylvania and at least initially available only in the United States.
While Constellation Brands continued to celebrate the recent success of its Mexican beer imports, it has updated the packaging on Corona Extra.
Copa di Vino, makers of single-serve, c-store friendly wine packages displayed its new counter-ready display cases and 4-pack carrier.
Oskar Blues Brewery put its Old Chub Scotch Ale into a 1-pint nitro can, the first brew made in the United State to do so.