USA: A special new beer brewed up by Anheuser-Busch

Anheuser-Busch has brewed up a special new beer that it knows won't be a big seller. In fact, they don't plan to even try to sell Front Range Fresh Harvest Hop Ale, News-Democrat communicated on January 3.

The brew, which was created as an experiment, is only available in the hospitality room at Anheuser-Busch's four tour centers, including the one at its St. Louis brewery, brewmaster Jane Killebrew-Galeski said.

"In the new product group, we're constantly experimenting with new types of beer and new recipes," said Killebrew-Galeski. "Front Range is an English style fresh hop ale. In most beers, the hops used have been dried so they will last longer. In this case, however, they're used fresh off the vine, right after they are picked."

The result is pale ale with a bolder hop flavor. But why would the world's biggest beer seller make a brew they don't plan to market? Killebrew-Galeski said it can only be made for a short time in the fall when the hops are fresh, so it would be impractical to mass market. But if Front Range is as well received by tour-goers as it was by brewers, more may be in the works for next fall.

"We think it can be a special thing -- like Christmas cookies -- that you enjoy one time a year," Killebrew-Galeski said. "When we made it, we knew it wouldn't be practical to sell year-round. But the results were so good that we came up with having it at the tour centers as a way to share it."
Anheuser-Busch spokesman Kelli Powers said it's not unusual for the brewery to sell seasonal creations. She gave Winter's Bourbon Cask Ale, a seasonal beer, as an example.

"It's available at several spots in your area, including Laser Rock at 701 S. Belt in Belleville, Outback in Swansea, Stagger Inn Again in Edwardsville, and Diamond Mineral Springs in Highland," Powers said. Front Range is named after the plains of Colorado because it was concocted at Anheuser-Busch's Fort Collins, Colo., brewery. It will be available until supplies run out, which is expected to be sometime in February.

05 January, 2006