Surdyk’s Weekly (8/16-22) Specials
Some nice specials over at Surdyk’s this week:
- Samuel Adams 6pk (all available): $6.49
- Schell Craft 12pk: $10.99
- Miller 24pk cans: draft, draft light, lite: $14.29
- Killian Red 12pk: $8.99
- Gluek Pilsner or Honeybock 24pk cans: $9.49
Anheuser-Busch Releases Pumpkin Beer
Anheuser-Busch this week announced the return of Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale, first released in 2005.
“For adults who’ve never tried a pumpkin beer before, we’d encourage them to experiment with Jack’s,” said Florian Kuplent, brewmaster, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. “Because the pumpkin and spice flavors are so well-balanced and subtle, Jack’s doesn’t overpower foods and makes for an ideal culinary experience. Year after year this is one of our favorite beers to brew and we hope beer drinkers who enjoy trying new flavors will sample this seasonal ale.”
Read the full post at RealBeer.com, and let us know your take on this beer.
Start Tribune: Grain Belt Leads To Growth At August Schell
Star Tribune columnist Dick Youngblood wrote a nice story on the resurgence of Minnesota’s August Schell Brewing in New Ulm. Thanks in part to the success of Grain Belt, all of the Schell’s specialty beers are doing well in the crowded marketplace.
Since the beginning of 2003, the first full year after the acquisition, Schell and Grain Belt sales have been growing at precisely the same pace, an annual rate of better than 9 percent.
Combined sales have risen 28 percent since then: from $7.7 million in 2003 to $9.9 million last year, with revenue on track to grow another 11 percent this year, to $11 million.
By comparison, industry-wide sales of American lager beers — the dominant category that includes Grain Belt and most of the major brands — have been growing at an annual rate of 2 percent or less.
This story should be your reminder to start planning for Bockfest 2008 at the brewery. See this old post for more details: Schell’s Bockfest: Saturday February 2nd, 2008
City Pages: Surly Nation
Be sure to check out the great profile of Surly Brewing in the current issue of the City Pages.
“A lot of people told me, when I was looking to start the brewery, that I should do it in Wisconsin,” Ansari said, citing Wisconsin’s well-known microbrewery friendliness. “But I told them: I’m not from Wisconsin. I don’t cheer for the Packers, so why would I brew beer in Wisconsin?”
Give us your take on this up and coming local beer.
Craft Beer Enjoys Double-Digit Growth In ‘07
While the mainstream beer market struggles to gain market share, the craft beer makers continue to post impressive gains. A report out today reveals that they posted an 11% gain in the first half of ‘07, which equals their gain in all of ‘06.
Miller’s Blog: Bud Pricing Lags In Supers
In a refreshingly honest post, Miller Brewing’s official beer blog reveals that Bud posted lower than average price increases in grocery stores in the month of July.
The national weighted average case price increase for the Bud franchise in supermarkets was a little more than a third of the category average during the four weeks ended August 4, according to beer sales statistics from Nielsen.
Most Minnesotans don’t buy their buy in grocery stores, so the pricing information isn’t that relevant. What I’m more curious about is Miller’s use of their blog. What’s your take on this marketing strategy?
Three Reviews Of Miller Chill
If you pay attention to the domestic beer market, then you know that there’s a lot of buzz about Miller Chill.
From Miller: With the product just now fully available across the country, Miller Chill already has a bigger share of beer industry dollars than brands such as Dos Equis, Michelob Light, Heineken Light, Beck’s, Blue Moon, Shiner Bock, Pacifico, Amstel Light, Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Rolling Rock. (SOURCE: AC Nielsen Supermarket data for latest 12 weeks ending June 30.)
Given it’s growing popularity, we thought that it would be appropriate to provide our readers with a beer review. However, we don’t do beer reviews. So, we found some others who do:
- Twin Cities Beer Geek: Chilling Experience With Miller
- Kegworks: A Lawnmower Beer
- BeerAdvocate: A Beer For People Who Don’t Like Beer
MGM Liquor Sale
MGM stores are everywhere, so you should have no problem finding one. Here are their beer specials through August 18:
- Miller High Life - 24 pack: $11.86
- Schell’s - All craft varieties - 12 pack: $10.27 (Great deal)
- Miller Chill 12 pack: $11.47
- Sam Adams - All varieties - 12 pack: $10.74
- Leinenkugel’s - All craft varieties - 12 pack: $10.55
- Corona/Modelo/Pacifico - 12 pack: $12.28
- Heineken - 12 pack: $12.45
- Amstel Light - 12 pack: $12.45
- Special Export Regular & Light - 30 cans: $14.25
- Coors Regular & Light - 24 cans:$14.99
- Gluek Pilsner, Light, Ice, & Honey Bock - 24 cans: $9.88 (You’ll find Glueks a little cheaper at St. Anthony Village Liquors)
- James Page - 12 pack: $10.78
- LaCrosse Lager & Light - 30 cans: $11.97
- Miller Lite/MGD/MGD Light - 24 cans: $14.94
- Michelob Gold Draft & Golden Draft Light - 18 cans: $11.88
- Milwaukee’s Best Regular, Light, & Ice - 24 cans: $9.95
- Grain Belt Premium Regular & Light - 24 pack: $14.87
- Red Stripe - 12 pack: $11.76
- Pabst Regular & Light - 24 cans: $12.83
- Summit - All Varieties - 12 pack: $11.26
- Moosehead - 12 pack: $9.24 (Check out Lakeville Liquors for a better deal on Moosehead this month)
Miller To Blur The Line Between Water And Beer
Brandweek reports that Miller Brewing began testing this week of a newly reformulated Miller Genuine Draft Light. The new beer has only 64 calories and is being tested-marketed in Madison, Wisconsin.
From the article:
The new brew is targeting Bud Light, Michelob Ultra and Coors Light consumers with what a Miller source is calling MGD 64’s darker color, fuller body and good finish.
If you find yourself being test-marketed in Madison, let us know what you think.
Molson Coors Reports 18% Growth In 2Q
A couple of weeks ago, Anheuser-Busch reported a 6.1% growth in their second quarter earnings, and they revealed their plans to raise beer prices in 2007 and 2008. This week, Molson Coors revealed that their own second quarter earnings were up 18%. There’s no mention of their pricing plans.
Did you know that the stock symbol for Molson Coors is TAP?
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