Asset sales required of Anheuser-Busch InBev by competition authorities could easily make $US106 billion a “very tall price” for SABMiller, according to a merger expert. The deal may face few regulatory hurdles in Australia, but John Colley, Professor of Practice at UK’s Warwick Business School, this week reaffirmed that it is a different story in the US and other markets. AB InBev on Wednesday requested a further one-week extension from ...

Leading alcohol distributor, Lion, has launched an initiative that will see the company commit to being more transparent in the labelling of its beers. New labelling will now include information about the sugar and preservative content of Lion’s beers. The company says that it hopes the next stage of its campaign, ‘Beer the Beautiful Truth’, will challenge consumers’ misconceptions of the category and prove that the majority of Lion’s beers are sugar and preservative free. The second phase of ...

The lowest carbohydrate cider yet is coming to Australia. Recently released by international cider brand Magners, Magners Blonde contains 75 per cent less carbs and 40 per cent less calories, making it the lowest carb cider on the market. Denis Brown, Managing Director of Bacardi-Lion said the launch follows growing health trends in Australia. “In Australia we know we’re a nation that cares about what we’re consuming and what’s contained ...

The Somersby Cider brand has introduced a new family member just in time for summer: Blackberry. The new flavoured cider joins the current Somersby portfolio of Apple and Pear, combining the brand’s renowned crisp and refreshing taste with the added sweetness of blackberry. Grayson Cook at Asahi Premium Beverages says: “Somersby Cider has been growing at rapid rates since its launch in 2012, and with this success we’re thrilled to ...

Western Australia won the top awards at this year’s Craft Beer Awards, taking the title of Champion Craft Beer from 2014 NSW winner, Modus Operandi Brewing Company. It was the family-owned microbrewery, Feral Brewing Co. that won this year’s Champion Craft Beer award, as well as Champion Wheat Beer with its sour beer, Watermelon Warhead. The winning brew is a light sour German wheat beer that has been infused with half a tonne ...

Coopers Brewery has rereleased Coopers Clear with a new look for this summer. Featuring striking tones of blue and silver, the new look aims to highlight the beer’s freshness and sessionability, and low carbohydrate credentials. Coopers Clear is Coopers’ fourth largest selling beer behind Coopers Original Pale Ale, Sparkling Ale and Mild Ale 3.5%. After five years since its release, Cam Pearce, National Sales and Marketing Director for the brewery said it ...

An unusual twist on the traditional India Pale Ale (IPA), the Australian Beer Company has released an India Pale Lager on draught under its Yenda craft beer range. Timed for the arrival of spring, the new brew named Patchwork is a refreshing beer with the flavour profile of an IPA and the clean-finishing refreshment of a lager, as well as a unique scent reminiscent of spring. On the palate, spicy hops and fruit ...

Quiet Deeds isn’t keeping quiet about it; this month, its bringing back yet another limited edition of the popular Quiet Deeds White IPA. The White IPA combines the wheat base and spice additions of a Belgian Wit Beer with the hop-character of an India Pale Ale over a complex fusion of Cascade, Centennial and Mosaic hops with BB Pale, JW Wheat and Rolled Oats malts. Up front its crisp and bitter, with ...

Sydney Craft Beer Week is back and the opening night is tonight, kicking off with the Opening Night Gala. Over the next week, 130 events will be held across 70 bars, restaurants, breweries and outdoor spaces, all coming together to celebrate craft beer. Highlights of the week include James Squire’s Brewery Open House, inviting visitors all week to come and look behind the scenes of one of Australia’s most popular craft ...

Proving that you don’t have to be big to make good cider, it was Australia’s boutique producers who sweeped up the major awards at the Australian Cider Awards on Saturday. Best in Show went to Tasmania’s Willie Smith’s limited edition cider, 18 Varieties, which was also named Best Cider and Best Australian Cider or Perry. Chief Cider Maker at Willie Smith’s, Dr. Tim Jones says 18 Varieties is its best product yet, made from ...