What's hitting the shelves? New beverage launches

Brewgooder and Brooklyn launch UK’s first fonio grain beer

UK purpose-led beer brand, Brewgooder, has collaborated with America’s Brooklyn Brewery to create the UK's first beer using West African ‘super-grain’ fonio (pictured above).

One of Africa’s oldest cereals, fonio has ‘strong sustainability credentials’ due to its drought resistance and ability to grow in nutrient-poor soil without fertilizers and pesticides. 

The collaboration between Brewgooder and Brooklyn Brewery has the dual benefit of purchasing goods from West African farmers, while also re-investing part of the funds to support the development of rural communities within fonio farming countries.

The beer is a Session IPA canned at 4.3% ABV with a light finish. The beer ‘pours a hazy full gold and forms a nice fluffy white head. Bitter orange, jasmine, lychee fruit, gooseberry and mango aromatics waft out of the glass. On the palate, the beer has a quick, sharp, focused dry bitterness, bright fruitiness and a fast clean finish.’

The Brewgooder and Brooklyn collaboration is available as a 4-pack from Co-op stores for £6, while Castle Pubs will also be stocking the beer on draught across the UK.  

Sales of the Fonio Session IPA will enable The Brewgooder Foundation to support clean water projects in Mali, unlocking more than 20 million liters of water in a country where fonio farming is prevalent.

Non-alcoholic whiskey

Cut Above Zero-Proof Spirits has introduced a non-alcoholic whiskey to its portfolio: joining existing products zero-proof gin, agave blanco and mezcal.

The zero-proof whiskey production process follows that of all offerings in the brand portfolio. Starting with neutral pH water, a Master Blender combines natural flavors derived from flowers, herbs, plants, fruits, roots, barks, leaves and vegetables to create an all-natural, low calorie, no carb zero-proof spirit with less than 1 gram of sugar.

“Cut Above Whiskey is designed to replicate the flavor profile, nose and mouthfeel of a traditional whiskey spirit, allowing consumers to either reduce or replace the amount of alcohol they intake; all without sacrificing the enjoyment and experience of a properly crafted cocktail,” says the brand.

“Whether making a completely NA cocktail with 2 oz of Cut Above or a “Cut Cocktail” (lower abv / split base) made with 1 oz Cut Above and 1 oz full proof whiskey, the choice about ABV in a cocktail is always up to the Cut Above consumer.”

Cut Above Whiskey (750 ml) priced at $34.99 starts shipping across the US from June 1.

Volvic Touch of Fruit: Kiwi and Lime

Volvic’s sugar-free Touch of Fruit range has released a new flavor, kiwi and lime, in the UK.

The range – which combines natural mineral water with a ‘burst of flavor’ – has grown 46% compared to two years ago in value sales.

And 62% of the volume of last summer’s flavor innovation, Peach & Raspberry, was incremental to the flavored still water category, proving successful in recruiting new consumers to the category, says the Danone brand.

The new flavor combination was picked by consumers via a social media poll, which was posted by social media star Kyron Hamilton.

Carlsberg launches a 52% calorie-reduced Somersby Apple cider

Carlsberg Denmark is launching Somersby Apple Lite: which has 52% fewer calories than the original Somersby Apple Cider.

As well as containing fewer calories, the 4% ABV drink is less sweet to the original version.

“Danes' thirst for sugar-free and lower-calorie soft drinks and beer has increased significantly in recent years, and more diet and sugar-free products have entered their shopping baskets. But while the range of soft drinks and beer has grown, there has not been a reduced-calorie cider,” says Carlsberg.

“That's about to change as Carlsberg Denmark is launching the first of its kind with half the calories of Somersby Apple Original.”

New vitaminwater flavors

vitaminwater introduces two new flavors and reformulates zero sugar product

Coca-Cola’s vitaminwater has added two new flavors – ‘with love’ and ‘forever you’ – to its zero sugar lineup.

• ‘with love’ is ‘delightfully infused with raspberry and dark chocolate for a unique taste. The nutrient-enhanced water beverage features a liquid boost of magnesium (85mg) to help support heart health and 100% antioxidant vitamin C alongside vitamin A (25%) and vitamin E (30%).’
• ‘forever you’ contains ‘tropical coconut lime flavors with white curcumin (18mg) alongside 100% antioxidant vitamin C, vitamin A (25%) and vitamin E (30%). Both drinks are a great source of vitamin b3, vitamin b5, vitamin b6, and vitamin b12.’

The new products use a new reformulated recipe, which has been extended to all six zero sugar flavors. Monk fruit and stevia are used in the company’s formula, in addition to added vitamins and nutrients.

Detox tonic and immunity tonic

Functional wellness brand Pressed has launched two new products: Immunity Tonic and Detox Tonic.

Detox Tonic is ‘packed with functional ingredients like Probiotics, Milk Thistle and Lavender Extract to pack a detoxifying punch,’ with 5 billion (CFU) of active probiotics.

Immunity Tonic – which is similar to Pressed’s best-selling Immunity Shot – ‘packs a mighty punch with functional ingredients like zinc, live probiotics Bacillus Coagulans, and camu camu; paired with vitamin C, lemon, turmeric, and ginger’, providing 400% of the daily value of vitamin C and 90% of zinc and with 5 billion (CFU) of live probiotics.

KDP focuses on iced coffee

Keurig Dr Pepper has expanded its iced coffee portfolio with the introduction of Keurig K-Iced family of brewers - featuring three new coffee makers - alongside the addition of five new Iced K-Cup pod varieties for the iced coffee experience.

“Together, the ICED suite of products delivers an unparalleled café-quality iced coffee experience in the comfort of consumers' own homes,” says KDP.

The Keurig K-Iced family features three new brewers: K-Iced Single Serve Coffee Maker; K-Iced Essentials Single Serve Coffee Maker; and K-Iced Plus Single Serve Coffee Maker.

Keurig has expanded its ICED K-Cup pod offerings within the new system, with several new K-Cup pods, including The Original Donut Shop ICED Duos Cookies + Caramel, McCafé At Home ICED One Step Mocha Frappe, McCafé At Home ICED One Step Hazelnut Latte, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Iced Vanilla Caramel and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters ICED Hazelnut Cream.

These K-Cup pods are specially crafted to stand up to ice and are compatible with all Keurig models. The new ICED K-Cup pod SKUs can be purchased on Keurig.com and in select national retailers.