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.”

Anheuser-Busch will introducing a new unfiltered, 5.3 percent alcohol wheat beer to its line of spring seasonal beer: Sun Dog Amber.

“Wheat beers are one of my favorite styles to brew because of their versatility.  From Bavarian to Belgian to American, each style has its own color, aroma and taste,” said Florian Kuplent, brewmaster, Anheuser-Busch, Inc.  “Our take on the American amber wheat ale is a luminous deep amber color with a slight caramel sweetness and refreshing citrus note.”

Sun Dog’s ingredients include caramel malt, which gives it an amber hue and subtle sweetness, and a blend of wheat and pale barley malts. The Cascade and Willamette hops, from the Pacific Northwest, and imported Hallertau hops, from southern Germany, provide the beer’s hop aroma and citrus flavor.