For those of you who always wished that beer tasted better- have no fear! Anheuser-Bush brewery will be introducing a new, sweeter beer that is intended to compete with flavored vodkas and rums that are sweeping across the dance floors of clubs attended by young singles. The new beer, called B(E)-read as “B to the E power”- will infuse beer with caffeine, ginseng, guarana, and berry aromas to create a sweeter, tarter beer, reports brewmaster Nathaniel Davis. The idea for a sweeter beer by one of America’s most beloved brands stemmed from the increase in sales of flavored drinks by people from the ages of 21-30. The company wants to keep up with the rising sales of flavored drinks and liquors. Developers from Anheuser-Bush are also aware of the energy drink craze, and how popular mixing hard alcohol with drinks like Red Bull is becoming. B(E) will be more expensive than regular Budweiser, and will come in slimmer cans, containing 10 ounces of beer instead of the regular 12 ounces. Also, B to the E Power is high in carbohydrates. This is surprising, considering all the low-carb trends of today. However, the company is so confident with their new product, they don’t seem to think carbohydrates will matter. Is this such a great idea? Will non-beer drinkers drink beer now that it tastes better? Drinking a mixed drink is much classier than a beer at a club, and this may be the only reason that liquor sales are on the rise in bars. Maybe drinkers don’t like how filling beer is, something that B to the E Power can’t alter. The new product hits stores sometime in November, but until then, drinkers will just have to suffer with beer flavored beer.
http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/05/news/fortune500/anheuser_busch.reut/index.htm