Anheuser-Busch announced Friday that it plans to acquire BeatBox, a ready-to-drink beverage known for its bold, fruit-forward flavors.
The St. Louis-based beer maker will acquire an 85% stake in Beatbox, Austin, Texas, for about $490 million, with a path to ownership after five years, it said. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026.
The move expands Anheuser-Busch’s portfolio outside of its beer brands like Michelob Ultra, Busch Light, Budweiser and Bud Light. A-B’s “Beyond Beer” portfolio includes Cutwater Spirits, Nutrl Vodka Seltzer and Phorm Energy.
As a top 10 RTD brand in the industry, and a top RTD brand in convenience stores, A-B said BeatBox complements its portfolio by bringing flavors and styles that are incremental to its current RTD offerings.
“We could not be more excited to welcome BeatBox, one of the fastest-growing RTD brands in the industry, to our portfolio,” Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth said. “I have spent the past year getting to know Justin and the team at BeatBox, and I’m confident that their entrepreneurial spirit, their commitment to consistent innovation and their ability to connect with their consumers will be a strong complement to our existing team and capabilities. We have a proven playbook for building winning brands, and I look forward to partnering with BeatBox and embarking on their next chapter of dynamic growth together.”
BeatBox brands itself as “the world’s tastiest party punch.” The noncarbonated drinks come in 16.9-ounce Tetra packs and have 11.1% ABV. It has both wine- and malt-based beverages.
Some BeatBox flavors include Blue Razzberry, Fruit Punch, Juicy Mango and blueberry Lemonade—made in partnership with one of its investors, Shaquille O’Neal.
“When we started BeatBox in 2011, we could never have imagined the journey that lay ahead,” said Justin Fenchel, co-founder and CEO of BeatBox. “We’ve been so fortunate to build something that truly resonates with people, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way. Our long-standing relationships with the Anheuser-Busch team made this partnership feel like the right next step. With Anheuser-Busch behind us, Aimy [Steadman], Brad [Schultz] and I are excited for the chance to accelerate our growth and continue doing what we love for years to come—bringing people together and making the world more fun.”
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