BevBlog

Today, outside of the BevNET world headquarters in Harvard Square, Advertising Ace John McKenna spotted what could be a tea-leaf-like sign of Red Bull’s future. A passing car crushed a can of Red Bull like the first-moving energy drink once crushed its competitors, and the resulting splatter-pattern strongly resembled the logo of Dark Dog Energy Drink:

Dark Dog has a U.S. presence that’s about as strong as beer in Utah. While Red Bull has steadily lost market share to Monster over the past few years, it’s hard to imagine its Europe-based competitor would be able to make much of a move on it. Unless there are darker forces at work! We haven’t heard word that Dark Dog hired a witch doctor, but we can’t be sure. If anyone sees black swirling clouds over either Red Bull or Dark Dog’s HQ, let us know. And don’t make them mad.

In what may be the most high-brow examination ever performed on a beverage containing high-fructose corn syrup, New York Times wine critic Eric Asimov turned his attention to root beer this week.

Asimov and his tasting panel evaluated 25 root beers available to New York residents, and – amid light-hearted writing that seemed to poke fun at the writer’s own seriousness – managed to find some wisdom on the world of root beer.

Root beer comes in many varieties from many sources, Asimov wrote, not unlike craft beers. There is no definitive root beer formula, leaving root beer makers the room to experiment with different flavor profiles.

The article included the panel’s top ten brands, with grocery staple IBC and Wisconsin brand Sprecher taking the top two slots. Asimov and the tasters also took the time to compose short audio presentations on six of the top root brews.

Click here to see the article.

Anheuser-Busch has contacted Grupo Modelo about a possible merger to make the American brewery too expensive for InBev. See the clip below.

InBev offered Anheuser-Busch a $46 billion buyout. Watch the clip below for more.