Carnival Cruisers Thirsty for Thirstyfrog

Carnival Cruises is bringing its private-label draught beer ThirstyFrog Red, which was introduced on the Carnival Magic in May, to the rest of its fleet. Fifteen Carnival ships have already received kegs of the brew, with three more set to get them soon. The beer sells for $5.50 a glass and debuted in the Caribbean-themed RedFrog pub, the cruise line’s first. USA Today notes that Carnival may introduce the pub concept to other ships along with the beer.Continue reading...

Newcastle Brown Ale isn't just hearty — it's also arty. The British beer is trying to lighten things up in San Diego this summer with public art installations building on Newcastle’s “Taste the Lighter Side of Dark” campaign.

First, Newcastle looked to get San Diego residents trapped at the Del Mar Race Track — in a giant pint glass of Newscastle.

“Trapped in a Schooner” is a 3-D optical illusion that allows one person to stand in a certain location, while another climbs inside a three-piece larger-than life replica of Newcastle’s traditional glass, the Geordie Schooner. In the photo, the person appears to be trapped in the drink.Continue reading...

If you’ve got a piece of $2.53 billion coming your way, do you try to stop it? Well, you do if you’re a minority shareholder in Brazil’s second-biggest brewery, Schincariol. The Associated Press reported that the brewer’s minority investors "are seeking an injunction against the … bid by Japan’s Kirin Holdings Co. for a controlling stake in the Schincariol Group."

The three shareholders looking to stop the deal, which emerged earlier this week? Gilberto, Daniela and Jose Augusto Schincariol, who own 49.55% of the family-held company’s shares.Continue reading...

Japan’s national men’s soccer team is ranked 19th in the world and has qualified for the last four World Cups. There’s no reason to think the team won’t be making it to Brazil for the next one in 2014. And when it does, it looks like their fans will be able to enjoy the fine taste of Kirin beer.

Japan’s beer giant Kirin Holdings just purchased a majority stake in Brazil’s second-biggest brewer, family-held Schincariol.

According to Dow Jones Newswires, Kirin is shelling out $2.56 billion for a 50.45% stake in Schincariol, which only accounts for 10% of Brazil’s beer sales. (Meanwhile, 70% of those sales are going to industry leader AmBev.)Continue reading...

Classy Coaster

If only this were more than a design concept. Designer David Riesenberg has come up with a “Ryesenberg” whiskey bottle (at right) with a detachable label that's intended to be produced from the actual barrel in which the whiskey is aged, The Dieline reports.

The wood from the barrel would be dried, pressed and silkscreened and removed to reveal the glass bottle embossed with the brand name. Each label is unique and (apparently) retains a slight wood-and-whiskey aroma.

Hopefully some smart distiller will wrap this idea around a real bottle of whiskey.Continue reading...

When it comes to alcohol, Virginia is one of the most conservative states in the nation. Bars can’t post their happy-hour times outside or hang neon beer signs in the window. Any place that serves alcohol by the drink is required by law to also serve food, and until the 1980s, a tavern couldn’t have the word “ale” in its name.

One thing that’s changing, however — liquor brands can now advertise on billboards across the Old Dominion State, as long as they are more than 500 feet away from schools, religious institutions, and daycare facilities, according to the Virginia Statehouse News.Continue reading...

Molson Coors’ announcement that it will launch Animée, a new “bloat-resistant” beer aimed at women, in the UK this fall has not exactly been welcomed with squeals of joy and air kisses by female commentators.

Many seem to view the new campaign as a cosmetic condescension that will likely do little to make up for decades of sexist marketing that have driven women away from beer in the first place.

As Melissa Cole puts on the sarcasm: “It's called Animee, because girls are drawn to anime and the name Aimee. It's pretty! It tastes like 'light, sparkling, finely filtered beer' (also known as Zima).”

Ouch. Kim Conte at The Stir is even more blunt: “Just because I'm female doesn't mean I like to drink crappy beer.”

The message? Try a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T ... it might be more effective than frou-frou marketing in enticing women to embrace beer.Continue reading...

While nothing comes for free in economy class on U.S. airlines anymore – not even the peanuts – airlines are trying to woo business- and first-class customers by upping the quality of the complimentary wine they serve en route.

The Associated Press reports that United, American and Delta are among the airlines that have sommeliers to pick out the wines that passengers in the expensive seats will sip, taking into account such factors as reduced sense of taste and smell in flight, menu pairings and the flight’s destination.

Delta is also training its flight attendants to be able to talk knowledgeably with passengers about in-flight wine options. Flying coach? No sommelier here, and be prepared to pay for your plonk.Continue reading...