Posts Tagged ‘Marketing’
Sunday, September 11th, 2011
'Certified Organic' so says the brewer.
TBR Reviews Eel River’s Organic Amber Ale any My Recycling Habits
File Date: 09.11.2011
File Name: A Greenie’s Beer Delight
The Beer: Organic Amber Ale
Type: American Amber/Red Ale
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 4.8% ABV
Brewer: Eel River Brewing Co.
Web Site: www.eelriverbrewing.com/index.html
State/Country of Origin: CA, USA
Brewer Info: “When you’re cookin’ up 5 gallons of beer at home and screw it up, oh well. But when you’re brewing 50 gallons at a time you better know exactly what you’re doing.” That was Eel River Brewing Company co-owner Ted Vivatson back in 1996 explaining why they hired a top notch professional brew-master when they first opened. As avid home-brewers, Ted and partner Margaret Frigon had a vision of excellent hand crafted beer and great food in historic surroundings. The vision came to fruition in 1995 and the beer begin to flow at the former site of the Clay Brown Redwood lumber mill in Fortuna, California. Remnants of the old mill can still be seen in Eel River Brewing Company’s Beer Garden, one of the best places in the world to enjoy some of the best beer in the world on a sunny day. Inside the Taproom you’ll see historic photographs of the mill and various other Humboldt County scenes from days gone by.
Brewer Brand Hype: Eel River Brewing Company, brewers of California’s first Certified Organic Ale, proudly brings you our Organic Amber Ale. Unique in flavor and purity, this medium bodied beer has a hoppy bouquet and a distinctive rich taste with a caramel-like sweetness that is balanced with a liberal dose of certified organic Pacific Gems and Hallertau hops, imported from New Zealand. Pure taste, pure ingredients, pure good.
Label: Certified Organic. Product of Northern California. Eel River Brewing Co., Scotia, CA
The Brewski Review: The brewers web site notes this as a rich copper color. I liken it more to a dark amber than a copper. Maybe you would call that close enough. But ‘Certified Organic’? I’m not much of a greenie other than doing my fair share of recycling, but this is good beer. I like it’s mild taste. The hoppy bitterness is present but it’s not in your face. Just the way I like it. I endorse the owners efforts to go green by using biomass to power the plant, but I don’t think that adds to the taste. To me, it’s more of a marketing gimmick and personal choice than a method to turn out an excellent tasting beverage. But, I’ll cut them some slack if they keep turning out good tasting beers such as their Certified Organic Amber Ale. And, just because I feel like doin’ some good, I’ll recycle this container for others to enjoy - minus the beer of course.
Drinkability: Would drink again.
Appearance: Dark amber color.
The Buds: Nice mild tasting amber ale.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.0 caps out of 5.
Tags: 4.0 Rating, 4.8% ABV, Amber Ale, Bottle, CA, Certified Organic, Domestic, Eel River, Eel River Brewing, Green, Marketing, Marketing Gimmick, Organic, Recycle, Recyling, Red Ale
Posted in Eel River Brewing | No Comments »
Saturday, June 11th, 2011
This beer should be called 'Double-O Thirty Three' due to it's low profile brand marketing.
The Brewski Report Reviews Vietnam’s “33″ Export
File Date: 6.10.2011
File Name: ‘Double O-33′ the secret beer.
The Beer: “33″ Export
Type: Dortmunder/Export Lager
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 4.8% ABV
Brewer: VBL Tien Gang Ltd.
Web Site: Not available.
State/Country of Origin: Vietnam
Brewer Info: None noted.
Brewer Brand Hype: No web site or distributor web page.
Label: Product of Vietnam
The Brewski Review: This beer was rather good. The taste was mild and it held some good flavors. What I don’t understand is why it’s such a secret. I could find no official web site or distributor web page. The brewer name doesn’t get a google hit but rather turns up quite a few hits of internet stores offering ‘33 Export’ tee shirts for sale. It seems as though that’s their whole marketing schtick…..word of mouth with drunks wearing their brand name. The whole ‘low prifile’ branding just seems rather odd. Other sites note that Heineken of France is the license holder of the brand and Tien Gang Ltd is under license to brew/bottle. Whether this is true or not I surely can’t verify. All that aside, I beleive the beer is worthy.
Drinkability: Sure.
Appearance: Moderate to pale golden in color.
The Buds: Good flavor. Mild.
TBR Cap Rating: 4.0 caps out of 5.
This print ad is what little I found on '33' Export marketing.
What little Tien Gang does spend seems to be on the race circuit.
Tags: "33", "33" Export, 4.0 Rating, 4.8% ABV, Bottle, Dortmunder, Double O, Export Lager, Imported, Low Profile Branding, Marketing, Orange, Print Ad, Race Car, Racing, Secret, Secret Agent, Tee Shirts, VBL Tien Gang Ltd, Vietnam, Word of Mouth
Posted in VBL Tien Gang Ltd | No Comments »
Monday, June 6th, 2011
The Tusker label is the highlight of the beer.
The Brewski Report Reviews Tusker Finest Quality Lager
File Date: 6.6.2011
File Name: A majestic animal for a unmajestic taste sensation.
The Beer: Tusker Finest Quality Lager
Type: American Adjunct Lager
Serving: Bottle
Stats: 4.2% ABV
Brewer: East African Breweries Limited
Web Site: http://www.eabl.com/
State/Country of Origin: Kenya
Brewer Info: East African Breweries Ltd is East Africa’s leading branded alcohol beverage business and has an outstanding collection of beer and spirits brands. With breweries, distilleries, support industries and a distribution network across the region, the group’s diversity is an important factor in delivering the highest quality brands to East African consumers and long-term value to East African investors. EABL has an annual turnover of Kshs 35 Billion and it has the largest share of the beer industry in the region. The group employs more than 1,000 people across East Africa. EABL has been awarded the accolade of the “Most Respected Company in East Africa”, five years in a row (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004) and more recently as 2nd runners up in a survey conducted by Pricewaterhouse Coopers and the Nation Media Group.
Brewer Brand Hype: George Hurst, a co-founder of Kenya Breweries Ltd, was killed by an elephant during a hunting expedition in 1923. In memory of his tragic death, this famous lager beer that he had helped create was renamed ‘Tusker’. Tusker is brewed from 100% African ingredients that are all locally sourced. The barley is from the Savannah and the Maasai Mara. The spring water is from the Aberdare Mountains. All the yeast is developed locally. The cornstarch is sourced from a local kenyan company. Every grain of sugar is delivered from West Kenya. This means that you feel closely connected to the origins and roots of Tusker. The taste of African spirit can inspire you going forwards, by re-connecting you with your roots. As the old proverb goes, ‘to know where you are going, you must first know where you have come from’. Tusker drinkers see the traditions, beliefs and cultures of their roots as the springboard for inspiration. They are full of optimism; focused on looking forwards, not backwards. Today’s triumphs are born of and inspired by where we have come from - Tusker. Refresh Your Roots.
Label: Tusker Lager has been brewed in East Africa since 1922. Named after the elephant that killed George Hurst, one of the breweries founders. Tusker claims that special heritage of being one of the first beers in East Africa. Over the years, this unique lager has become a part of East Africa’s rich tradition. Tusker is brewed with high quality malt, made from equitorial barley grown at the base of Mt. Kenya, choicest hops and water that spings from the renowned Aberdare mountain ranges. Tusker’s famous crisp, refreshing taste and finest quality has continuously earned Gold Medals in the prestigious International Monde Selection Awards.
The Brewski Review: I had to pull this beer off the shelf. I was shopping with my two year old son and he loves elephants (and dinosaurs - alot) so I wanted to show him the label. That was the end of it. He wouldn’t put the bottle down so I had to buy it. Of course, I was hesitant to let him continue holding it or I’d have to do a taste review by licking the beer off the grocery store floor. When I pulled it out of the fridge, and if you were in my immediate presence, you would have noticed my undeniable taste reaction to this beverage. It was utterly and remarkably blah. True, it was an American Adjunct Lager, but still….. You could even say that…..gasp….Coors Light is a decent tasting beer compared to this. Again….I was blown away but how untasteful (made that one up) this beer was.
Drinkability: No.
Appearance: Ultra pale golden color.
The Buds: Rather bland.
TBR Cap Rating: 2.75 out of 5 caps.
Interesting Print Ad. I'm sure the Birthers are saying - 'Yup. He sure is.'
Don't like the beer but like the marketing. Nice, simple eye catching sign.
Another print ad for Tusker. Clean and Simple.
Somebody has some free time on their hands.
Tags: 2.75 Rating, 4.2% ABV, American Adjunct Lager, Beer Cap Motorcycle, Birthers, Bottle, Coors Light, Dinosaurs, EAB Ltd, East African Breweries Ltd, Elephant, Finest Quality Lager, Grocery Store, Import, Kenya, Kenyan, Label, Marketing, Motorcycle, Obman, Sign, Son, Tusker, Yellow
Posted in East African Breweries Ltd, Politics, Toys, Vehicles | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
File Date: 9.1.2010
This reporter has to wonder if this is the flag they fly over the Commonwealth in Canberra?
This Would Make For A Nice State Flag Wouldn't It?
Tags: Australia, Beer Label, Blue, Canberra, Commonwealth of Nations, Flag, Foster's, Foster's Group Ltd, Foster's Lager, Marketing, Marketing 101, Yellow
Posted in Beer Labels, Foster's Group Ltd, Marketing 101 | No Comments »
Thursday, August 26th, 2010
The Brewski Report Falls off the Train….
File Date: 8.26.10
I’ve been been knocking this marketing campaign around in the back of my noggin for a little while now. I can’t seem to understand the Silver Bullet Train marketing strategy by Coors. A Train? What’s so cool about that? Besides….it’s an ugly chrome monstrosity. I would have thought they could come up with something better. Maybe the Coors Light blimp? Perhaps a plane? Or, how about a party bus….’Rolling it’s way toward you!’ A party bus filled with beer girls stopping at bars from coast to coast. Plant a few cameras on board and hire a mobile camera jockey/bus driver, and it would be a rolling advertising factory - pumping out an endless supply of TV and print stock. Think about it….
The Chrome Monstrosity Is Headed To The Inner City Train Depot No Where Near You. Image of Coors Light's Silver Bullet Train.
Coors Actually Spent Money to Have A Sizeable Reproduction of The 'Silver Bullet Train' Fabricated.
You Can Even Take A Tour Through The 'Train'. Yippee! Can you hear the comments.....'This Thing Better Have A Friggin' Tap On Board.'
And...The Scaled Down Version of The Chrome Monstrosity. Some May Like This Look On Their 'Realistic Looking' Model Train Set.
I think This Is Cooler And More Realistic Than The Chrome. That Is, If Your A Coors Light Model Railroading Fanatic.
This Is What I'm Talking About! They Have 'The Bus', Now, Just Fill It With Some Beer........
.....And Some Girls (Maybe Even A Dude or Two - I Wouldn't Want To Appear Sexist). Presto. A Marketing Campaign The Average Male And Female Drinker Can Relate To.
Tags: Ad Campaign, Advertisements, Advertising, Beer Girls, Beer Marketing, Cameras, Chrome Monstrosity, Coors Brewing Co., Coors Light, Graphics, Marketing, Marketing Campaign, Marketing Strategy, Model Railroading, Party Bus, Realistic, Reefer Car, Rolling Party, Silver Bullet, Silver Bullet Train, TOFB Car, Toy Trains, Toys, Trains
Posted in Beer Girls, Coors Brewing Co., Marketing 101, Toys, Vehicles | No Comments »
Friday, August 20th, 2010
Sam Adams launched a new pint glass to further enjoy their beer. This is great marketing. Convincing the beer buying public (or at least the Sam Adamsphiles) that they truely can’t enjoy or taste the full flavor unless they purchase a special glass? Genius! All the beer snobs will want to buy one post haste to show that they are dialed in. Does it really work? Unfortunately, I’m not one who really cares. The glass I use works just fine for me to determine if I like the beer or not.
Hullabaloo Marketing or Science Backed Drinkware Innovation?
Tags: -Philes, Beer Buying Public, Beer Snobs, Dialed In, Drinkware, Full Flavor, Marketing, Marketing 101, Money, Pint Glass, Sam Adamsphiles, Special Glass
Posted in Marketing 101 | No Comments »
Friday, July 30th, 2010
Bell's Brewery Oberon Ale
The Brewski Report Reviews Bell’s Oberon Ale.
File Date: 7.30.10
File Name: Scent Of Sunny On Sale Now!
The Beer: Oberon Ale
Type: American Pale Wheat Ale
Serving: Draft
Stats: 5.8% ABV
Brewer: Bell’s Brewery Inc.
Web Site: www.bellsbeer.com
Country of Origin: MI, USA
Brewer Info: Bell’s Brewery, Inc. formerly Kalamazoo Brewing Company, founded by Larry Bell as a home-brewing supply shop in 1983, sold its first beer in 1985. Originally brewing in a 15-gallon soup kettle, the company has grown remarkably. Bell’s Brewery has grown from a tiny operation renting part of a former plumbing supply warehouse to a bustling, regional craft brewery. Although the “microbrewery” revolution began on the West Coast in the 1970s, the Midwest saw this brewing development much later. Bell’s Brewery stands as the oldest craft-brewer east of Boulder, Colorado. Originally self-distributed, Larry and crew brewed, bottled and delivered all of the beer to market for the company’s first four years. By 1989, Bell’s was shipping over 500 barrels annually and assigned its first wholesaler to further establish itself across the State of Michigan. After struggling several years to produce and sell robust, full-bodied ales against a tide of a mass-market domestic beer, Bell’s began to see the demand for craft beer grow dramatically. Bell’s soon ventured outside Michigan, continuing its solid growth and developing a reputation across the Midwest for the unique style and flavor of its Bell’s brands.
Brewer Brand Hype: An American wheat ale brewed with Saaz hops. Spicy and fruity, Oberon is the color and scent of a sunny afternoon.
Label: A short draft beer served at the bar. No labels.
The Brewski Review: I don’t really have much to say about Oberon Ale and it appears the brewer doesn’t either. Take a look at the Brewer Brand Hype noted above. ‘color and scent of a sunny afternoon’? Who wrote this uniquely undescriptive marketing tagline? Bell’s Brewery must have bartered some of their product with a local ad firm because they most certainly couldn’t have paid for this touchy, feely assembly of words. If this verbiage is printed somewhere on the label and I was fortunate enough to read it before purchasing, the limited sensitivity of my manliness would have prevented me from purchasing this beverage. The bottle would have slipped through my hand and exploded on the store floor while I stood, slackjawed and immobile at the mere thought of something so unnaturally beer-like. Who is the intended market for this brand: nuns and sweet old grandmothers between the ages of 60 and 80? Seriously, was there any vision here into gaining market share with this brand advertising? I’m just really at a loss on this. What does a sunny afternoon smell like? To me, the scent of a sunny afternoon smells like fresh cut grass in the spring, thick, muggy and humid air in the summer, a burning pile of leaves in the fall and crisp, burning notrils on a subzero and sunny winter day. What does the scent of a sunny day smell like to you? Most likely not like this beer. Oberon to drink was decent and drinkable but I guess I expected more than Bell’s was capable of delivering. Ultimately, I wouldn’t consider Oberon Ale a quintessential summertime beer if that’s what the ’scent of a sunny afternoon’ is supposed to convey.
Drinkability: Sure. Maybe.
Appearance: Clear and medium to dark golden color.
The Buds: Good. But I expected more.
TBR Cap Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Why couldn't the caption be 'Beer for the Blue Skies and Warm Days of Summer'? This picture is pretty darn inviting.
Tags: 3.5 Rating, 5.8% ABV, Advertising, American Pale Wheat Ale, Bell's, Bell's Brewery, Burning Leaves, Domestic, Draft, Fall, Grandmothers, Manliness, Market Share, Marketing, MI, Muggy, Nuns, Oberon, Oberon Ale, Scent, Spring, Subzero, Summertime, Sunny, Tagline, Winter
Posted in Bell's Brewery | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
Straight from the Keg - not the oil can.
The Brewski Report Reviews Foster’s Lager
File Date: 7.27.2010
File Name: Down Under Beer Ads Are Tops
The Beer: Foster’s Lager
Type: American Adjunct Lager
Serving: Draft
Stats: 5.0% ABV
Brewer: Foster’s Group Limited
Web Site: www.fostersbeer.com
Country of Origin: Australia
Brewer Info: William and Ralph Foster created Foster’s in 1887. They were so dedicated to delivering Foster’s the way it should be enjoyed, they even sold it with ice to keep Australia’s warm environment at bay. More than 120 years later, the bold, refreshing taste of Foster’s is available in more than 150 countries, making it the largest-selling Australian beer brand in the world. Foster’s 25.4 oz. cans arrived in the U.S. in 1972. They resembled motor oil cans so, naturally, Americans nicknamed them “Foster’s Oil Cans.” And the name’s stuck ever since. Truth is, we quite like it. Almost as much as we like what’s inside. Pride of Ringwood hops are only grown by Hop Products of Australia in Bushy Park, Tasmania and Oven River, Victoria and by Ellerslie Hop Estates in Myaree. And unlike other beers, they’re added at the end of the brewing process to preserve their freshness. These hops and an exclusive Foster’s yeast are what give Foster’s its bold, refreshing taste. The “secret” yeast doesn’t produce sulfer harshness that other beers can exhibit, which means that Foster’s taste is never skunky and always Australian.
Brewer Brand Hype: It’s bright, golden color sits beneath a creamy foam head. A moderate aroma with a full malty character. Foster’s Lager is a 5% alcohol by volume lager with a bright, golden color that delivers a refreshing beer-drinking experience with a crisp, clean hop finish.
Label: The kegs were in the cooler. The bartender wouldn’t let me in.
The Brewski Review: The great thing about Foster’s Lager is their sense of humor. Face it, the beer is just another American Adjunct Lager and is nothing super special. So, how do you make it special? Clever marketing. Great ads with a sense of humor and a company that isn’t too proud or stuffy. I can recall some of the television ads from years ago (i.e. ‘Long Distance Relationship’ - where a man and woman sit at opposite ends of a bar). Different than anything else that was out there in my opinion. Check out the print ad below and you’ll see what I mean. As far as the beer goes, it’s a session beer. Drink it in large quantities. It’s cold, crisp and suitable for a warm summer day. There is a slight hoppy finish to it as noted above. Someday, when I win the lottery, I’ll visit Autralia and drink a Foster’s down under. Maybe it’ll bring on a whole new meaning drinking it as a domestic beer vs. an import.
Drinkability: Most likely wouldn’t drink again.
Appearance: Pale straw gold color.
The Buds: Typical tasting adjunct lager.
TBR Cap Rating: 3.5 out of 5 caps.
Well, you wouldn't want a warm beer, would you?
Tags: 3.5 Rating, 5.0% ABV, American Adjunct Lager, Australia, Draft, Foster's, Foster's Lager, Humor, Lottery, Marketing, Print Ads, Session Beer, Television Ads, Travel
Posted in Foster's Group Ltd | No Comments »
Sunday, July 26th, 2009
Carib Beer Get’s an A+ for Marketing Their Flagship Brand.
If you read my review on Carib Beer you may have noticed that I wasn’t fond of it. But, that doesn’t take away from the fact that I think they do a great job marketing their brand in Trinidad and Tobago. Check out their web site and you’ll see what I’m talking about. They’re a consumate sponser of local events. It certainly doesn’t hurt that they parade around a bevy of local talent that’s probably, just a guess here, easier on the eye than a sharp poke with a stick. Definitely a positive approach to enticing the young, modern and fashionable males to increase their consumption. I’m sure it would work on me if I was in that locale. Beer 101: Sex Sells.
I happen to like the concept of 'Beer Girls'. What would the world be like today if there were Bud Girls at every sponsored event?
Girls on the beach promoting beer. Q: What's wrong with this concept. A: Nonthing.
Carib is a large sponsor of the local Carnival as seen in this Bumper Sticker.
Carib Beer Party Van? C'mon girls....Pile In!
Carib Beer even highlights it's Carnival sponsorship on their packaing. Pure Genius!
Tags: Beer, Beer Advertisement, Beer Girls, Blue, Bumper Sticker, Carib Brewery Ltd, Carib Girls, Marketing, Marketing Campaign, Packaging, Six Pack, Sponsor, Sponsorship, Swimsuits, Trinidad and Tobago, Women, Yellow
Posted in Carib Brewery Ltd | No Comments »
