What's hitting the shelves? New product launches in the beverage aisle
Arctic Berry Ale
Icelandic craft brewer Einstök Ölgerð has announced the return of its limited edition Arctic Berry Ale across the US and Europe.
“A unique small-batch witbier flavored with Icelandic bilberries hand-picked just 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle, Einstök’s Arctic Berry Ale is the perfect complement for summer outdoor events such as cookouts and beach/pool parties,” according to the brand.
“Its crisp flavor pairs perfectly with a wide range of summer fare, including fish and poultry, sushi, spicy food, Asian food, Latin food, Greek food, citrus salads and desserts.”
In addition to the subtle notes of Icelandic bilberries, the Arctic Berry Ale features wheat malt, pilsner malt, oats and Bavarian hops for a ‘crisp and flavorful taste with a clean finish’.
Einstök’s Arctic Berry Ale is available in both cans and kegs at select retailers.
Simply Lights
Simply Lights, a new offering of juice drinks and lemonades from Coca-Cola’s Simply Beverages, has launched in the UK.
There are four varieties: orange pulp free; calcium and vitamin D; lemonade; and lemonade with raspberry.
Each drink contains 50 calories or less per 8oz serving.
The drinks are made with not-from-concentrate fruit juices, pure filtered water and are sweetened with stevia leaf extract and cane sugar (light lemonades only); and are free from artificial flavors or added preservatives, and are non-GMO Project verified.
Coffee-Mate goes cold brew
Nestle’s coffee creamer brand, Coffee-Mate natural bliss, is expanding into RTD coffee with the US launch of natural cold brew and iced coffee products.
The cold brew coffee is crafted using an intensive brewing process: 100% Arabica Beans are slowly steeped in cool water for 12 hours to create a ‘smooth, not bitter taste’.
Avantika Chakravorty, manager of marketing for RTD coffee, said: "Cold brew consumption has risen 80% in the last year and we saw a great opportunity to expand our product portfolio into the ready-to-drink space to further meet consumer demands and lifestyles.
"We first introduced our Cold Brew Coffee to the West Coast last year to great success and are looking forward to sharing it with consumers nationwide. Increased consumer demand partnered with our all-natural ingredient list gives consumers the premium coffeehouse experience they can enjoy anywhere."
The cold brew coffees come in sweet cream and mocha flavored varieties.
Japanese RTD coffee innovations
Suntory Beverage and Food will launch Craft BOSS ‘Brown’ in Japan this month, an extension of its Craft Boss series.
The RTD coffee released ‘black’ and ‘latte’ last year, and ‘brown’ will cater for consumers who prefer coffee with less milk and sugar.
“The drink combines the rich aroma of coffee with a satisfying but refreshingly light sweet taste”, says Suntory.
The range is packaged in 500ml plastic bottles.
Sparkling water with vodka
Splash Spiked Sparkling Water – a new RTD alcohol drink made with sparkling water, vodka and natural fruit flavors – has launched in Canada.
The drink from Squeez’d Beverages, a division of Sleeman Breweries, contains 110 calories per 355ml and comes in at 5% ABV. It does not contain added sugar or sweeteners and is also gluten-free.
Splash comes in two flavors: mixed berry and tropical grapefruit.
Scott Pederson, Director of Marketing, said: "We created SPLASH Spiked Sparkling Water to satisfy the increasing demand in the market for an alcoholic beverage that has no added sugar and no artificial sweeteners.
"It's a refreshing option for people with active lifestyles, who are looking for a clean-tasting and convenient alternative to traditional sugary RTD products."
Packaged in a slim 355ml can, Splash is available in packs of four.
Tribe hydrates
UK performance nutrition brand Tribe has launched ‘Hydrate’, a performance energy and hydration product.
The drinks provide natural energy and hydration, made from real fruits, botanicals and electrolytes, with not synthetic vitamins and minerals.
“Tribe only use food to deliver each nutrient, this means they deliver potassium from coconut water powder and sodium from sea salt. The range is designed for everyday athletes to help them perform better every day,” says the brand.
The three flavors - lemon and matcha; strawberry and tropical fruits - will initially be available online before rolling out into retail.
Tribe’s wider portfolio includes protein bars, infinity bars and energy bars.
Montane sparkling spring water
Atlanta-based sparkling spring water brand Montane is launching a new flavor, Grapefruit Peach: a ‘bright and invigorating complement’ to its existing original, cucumber lime and meyer lemon honeysuckle sparkling water flavors.
Grapefruit Peach is sugar free, sodium free and uses natural flavoring.
“Montane is sourced from Blue Springs a cold, deep quartzite spring located along Georgia’s Pine Mountain ridge,” says the brand. “A purity rarely found in nature, this unique water profile flows from the aptly named “Hollis” quartzite.
“Unlike other springs that emanate from sedimentary rock and produce high mineral content, quartzite is a hard, non-carbonate rock that produces water with only 31 parts per million total dissolved solids. This rare geology produces pristine water with a refreshingly crisp and noticeably clean taste.”
Montane is also debuting new packaging and branding for the drink.
The Juice Brothers
The Juice Brothers, a range of Australian juices, has been launched by Lion Dairy & Drinks.
The oranges, apples and pears used within the range are juiced at Lion Dairy & Drinks’ Leeton juice processing site and then blended with other Australian fruit, such as pineapples, mangoes and passionfruit and bottled at the company’s Smithfield site.
“The Juice Brothers is a tip of the hat to the founders of the Leeton juicing factory and their pioneering spirit that lives on in Leeton today,” says Lion. “All passionate citrus growers, the founding brothers and a couple of mates started their business back in 1973 to ensure that their great tasting oranges did not go to waste.
“In Leeton today, local growers echo this passion for sourcing, picking and blending only great quality Australian oranges to create high-quality fruit juice.
“Their expertise and appreciation of local produce ensures that there are no compromises on quality, with generations of orchardists perfecting their craft amongst Leeton’s orange trees.”
The Juice Brothers’ 1.5L range is available across Australia and includes morning start (pears, oranges, apples, pineapples, mangoes and passionfruit); summer smash (oranges, pears, apples, bananas, pineapples, mangoes and passionfruit); apple & raspberry; and apple, pear & blueberry.
The juices are made using only 100% Australian juice with no fruit juice concentrate, and contain no preservatives, colors, flavors or added sugar.
Iced Coffee Edge
Lion Dairy & Drinks has launched Farmers Union Iced Coffee Edge in Australia: a drink described as ‘the quick brekkie to go that’s made with real coffee, protein and fibre’.
It is the first innovation for six years from the South Australian brand.
Darryn Wallace, Marketing & Innovation DirectoratLion Dairy & Drinks, said: “We know that one in three people are regularly tucking into brekkie on the go, but they still want their morning coffee kick,” he said.
“Farmers Union Iced Coffee Edge has been created with these consumers in mind – giving them the famous South Australian iced coffee, plus protein and fibre in one drink to tackle the morning head on.”
The drink is available in original and mocha flavors, and is made in Salisbury, South Australia. It is available in South Australia, Victoria and Northern Territory.
Iced Coffee Edge was launched on Mother’s Day (May 13 in Australia) with Adelaide Crows AFL star Rory Sloane.
Big Drop Brewing
The UK’s Big Drop Brewing, a company dedicated to <0.5% ABV beer, has launched a sour beer.
Big Drop sour is ‘a very delicate, light summer beer which is inspired by the Berliner Weisse style’ – designed to be a refreshing beer without the aggression of some of the sours on the market.
Rob Fink, Big Drop Founder, said: “Whilst the style is a popular one with many existing brands on the market, brewing a sour beer to just 0.5%ABV has taken a lot of planning and expertise.
“Our Master Brewer, Johnny Clayton, continues to challenge the norm so that we can offer a range of popular beer styles for those who are choosing to cut back on their alcohol consumption and the sour is an outstanding example of responding to current consumer trends. Just because someone may be cutting out or cutting back on alcohol doesn’t mean to say that they have to cut back on variety and taste.
“Big Drop sour is light, refreshing and tart. It has a citrus aroma with a smooth, juicy tartness in the finish. It is crisp, dry and perfect on a hot summer’s day and is ideal to accompany something tangy like a good stinky cheese or seafood with a squeeze of lemon.”
Green Sheep Water adds cans to range
Chicago-based Green Sheep Water has launched water in 12 ounce cans, ‘offering the same deliciously fresh water in a new, conveniently-sized container’.
Green Sheep Water’s lineup started with still and sparkling water in reclosable 16 ounce Alumi-tek bottles.
Jess Page, co-founder, said: “Made of 100% recyclable aluminum and manufactured in the US, this new packaging will deliver on all of the same sustainability benefits as Green Sheep Water’s 16-ounce bottles, at a reduced price point.
“Aluminum cans contain an average of 70% post-consumer material and are recycled more often and more efficiently than any other drink container, making the new packaging an economical and green replacement to plastic bottled water.
“As people become more and more concerned about the 1 million plastic bottles that are used and discarded every minute, there’s an increasing desire to get away from plastic. Our 12-ounce cans make a sustainable alternative accessible to an even wider range of retailers and consumers.”
Through the 1% for the Planet organization, a portion of every Green Sheep Water purchase goes to ocean conservation projects that help tackle the environmental damage from plastics.
