(Courtesy Michelob Ultra)

This is a major moment for Anheuser Busch and a defining reversal of fortunes two years after its costly alliance with Trans-influencer Dylan Mulvaney…. We’ve that, “Words to Drink By” and more…

Michelob Ultra Dethrones Model Especial Beer

On September 22, Anheuser-Busch announced a major change of fortunes in the world of brewing, that it was now home to the #1 bestselling beer in the US, having supplanted Modelo Especial which is currently owned and produced for America by Constellation Brands in Rochester, NY.

In 2023 Modelo Especial unseated Bud Light which was besieged by a conservative backlash over the beer’s partnership with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Prior to that unfortunate alliance, Bud Light had held the title as the #1 bestselling beer in the US for more than two decades.

Circana, a leader in providing data to consumer-packaged goods companies, highlighted that Michelob ULTRA has claimed #1 for the latest 52 weeks in retail channels. With Nielsen confirming the brand’s leadership in bars and restaurants across the latest 52 weeks as well.

According to CNBC, “Hispanic beer drinkers have accounted for roughly half of Constellation’s customer base, although growing demand from non-Hispanic consumers helped fuel Modelo’s rise.” And Constellation Brands execs are pointing to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and related job losses which have impacted Hispanic consumers’ spending habits in the US (assuming they are still in the US).

On a recent conference call with investors, Bill Newlands, chief executive of Constellation, said Hispanic buyers are pulling back due to economic concerns and immigration issues amid Trump’s mass deportation efforts.

“Beer is quite a ways down the list, but it’s certainly on the list because things like social gatherings, an area where the Hispanic consumer often consumes beer, are declining today as part of these overarching concerns that they have>”

But according to Kyle Norrington, Chief Commercial Officer, Anheuser-Bush the brand’s #1 position is all about its professional sports alliances…

“For more than twenty years, Michelob ULTRA’s playbook has been simple and relentless: invest, learn, and execute as the Official Beer Sponsor of America’s most prominent sports and active-lifestyle moments from Team USA to the NBA to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™ and LA 2028 games to a 30+ year partnership with the PGA Tour.”

“This approach has turned Michelob ULTRA into an absolute rocket ship, and we’ve got tremendous opportunity ahead of us. This is a proud moment for our teams and partners and speaks to the resilience of the American beer category.”

Words to Drink By

“I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact.” Elon Musk South African-born businessman known for his leadership of Tesla, SpaceX, and X

(Courtesy Von Ebert Brewing)

Von Ebert  Debuts Biggest Beer Can In Oregon

Von Ebert Brewing unveiled what it believes is the biggest and only beer can silo in Oregon. At 12 by 26 feet, if the silo were filled with beer, it would hold nearly 158,000 pints. The popular Portland, Or-based based brewery  hired local mural artist Allison McClay to hand paint the formerly plain black silo into a can of its award-winning Volatile Substance NW IPA.

“The N. Mississippi Ave. neighborhood has been a truly welcoming home to Von Ebert Brewing since we moved in and we wanted to return the favor, not just by serving delicious beer at the taproom, but by bringing even more people to this quirky, iconic street to see Portland’s – and Oregon’s, maybe the world’s – largest IPA beer can silo,” said Sam Pecoraro, brewmaster of Von Ebert Brewing. “As part of the unveiling, we invite people to come by for a selfie and a pint of Fresh Hop Volatile Substance NW IPA with Mosaic.”

Von Ebert’s Mississippi expansion ups  its annual production capacity from 4,000 to up to 20,000 barrels.

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