6 New Beverages From the Chicago 7-Eleven Trade Show

VILLA PARK, Ill. -- Among the candy, snacks, food and general merchandise across a trade-show floor in Villa Park, Ill., members of the 7-Eleven Franchise Owners Association of Chicagoland (FOAC) got a look at several new beverages that could gain a spot in their cold vaults.

Here's a look at six drinks that caught our attention ...

Jones Soda and 7-Eleven have collaborated on two new soda flavors exclusively for 7-Eleven. 7-Select brand Blood Orange and Mango Lemonade will be available beginning Aug. 21. They join Green Apple and Orange Cream flavors in the 7-Select soda line.

Monster Energy showcased two new drinks. White Lightning has been added to its Mutant line of caffeinated soft drinks. The new flavor contains no sugar and is comparable to the company’s Zero Ultra zero-calorie energy drink. It will launch nationally July 31.

And Mango Loco has joined the company’s energy-juice line. The blend of exotic juices has been available exclusively at 7-Eleven since June 19, but it will be available nationwide in September.

Miller is adding new beers to its Blue Moon and Leinenkugel’s Shandy. Blue Moon Mango Wheat will be released in six-pack bottles in the fall. The new flavor was the second-most popular beer after its signature Belgian White at the brewery’s taproom in Denver, said Juan Padilla, senior chain account executive.

Leinenkugel’s Pomegranate Shandy will also launch in the fall in four-packs of 16-ounce cans, designed specifically for c-stores.

Watt Natural Energy + Mineral Water is made with pure mineral water and contains 8.5 milligrams of all-natural caffeine, making each 8.45-ounce can equivalent to about one and a half cups of coffee. The drink comes in four flavors: Apple Pear, Pineberry Guava, Crisp Cranberry and Cherry Lime. It is gluten-free, Non-GMO Project certified and contains no preservatives.

After Joia learned its original line of sparkling sodas was being used to make mixed drinks, it decided to concoct some of its own. The all-natural sparkling vodka cocktails come in three styles: Sparkling Greyhound, Sparkling Moscow Mule and Sparkling Cosmopolitan. They contain 6% to 7% ABV and are also gluten-free and vegan.

Lagunitas’ 12th of Never Ale is now available in 19.2-ounce single-serve cans. The light pale ale contains 5.5% ABV.