...or is it a beer free market?  read more »

More flavors in pipeline?While Anheuser-Buschs Bud Light Lime has been getting headlines (and commercial air time), Michelob Ultra has been mounting a quiet comeback in supermarkets for more than a year, according to beer market analysis by Nielsen.The brand has posted share gains of 0.2 points frequently since early May, according to beer sales statistics from Nielsen. And its gained shelf space, with the average store carrying 4.4 items. Thats up nearly one item since last year.The apparent drivers: Aggressive pricing and the growing popularity of three flavors -- Lime Cactus, Pomegranate Raspberry and Tuscan Orange Grapefruit that were first introduced last year.Meanwhile, most of the growth items have posted lower national weighted average prices compared to the category average.  read more »

Beer sales volume increased by 0.2 percent during the four weeks ended June 28 as weighted average prices were up 3 percent, according to beer sales statistics. MillerCoors volume share dropped 0.4 points and its dollar share slipped 0.3 points..."Brew" Blog

Following in the foot steps of beer like Bear Republic's Crazy Ivan , Laurelwood Brew Pub presents its Infrared Red Ale , a version of their Free Range Organic Red Ale . According to the brewery: Infrared is what our Free Range Red would be like if brewed in Belgium. Brewed with Belgian yeast and malt and a heavy does of European hops, we've shown that molecular absorption spectrometry really can be fun. 6.8% ABV 55 IBUs O.G. 16 Plato Infrared Ale is now on tap at Laurelwood Public House & Brewery (51st and Sandy).