Drink-a-Pint

The St. Louis-Dispatch is reporting that Anheuser-Busch is spinning Michelob Brewing Company off as its own unit, giving them more autonomy and creative license to introduce new beers. The first new brews expected from the spinoff will be Michelob Dunkel Weisse, which was previously only available in Colorado, and Michelob Pale Ale, which will now be available year-round.

There are also reports that other beers in the work include: Michelob Brown Ale, Michelob Red Ale and Michelob Bohemian Pilsner. These are initially expected to be available as kegs, but there is no word plans to make them available in bottles as of yet.

These will join Michelob’s current family of beers, which includes: Michelob, Michelob Light, AmberBock, Porter, Marzen, Wheat, Honey Lager and seasonal brews such as Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale, Sun Dog Amber Wheat and Beach Bum Blonde Ale. In an interesting move, Michelob Ultra will remain part of Anheuser-Busch.

“For every one that might make it to market, we’re playing with a great deal more than that” — perhaps 10 or 20 beers —Nathaniel Davis, brewmaster at Michelob Brewing Company, told the St. Louis-Dispatch. “It’s a very experimental place; it’s a playful place,” he said of A-B’s Research Pilot Brewery in St. Louis, which will come under the purview of Michelob Brewing. A-B is “delivering on a really wide range of beers. … It’s about the permission to play.”