Anheuser- Busch InBev isn’t a company usually associated with craft beer, but the brewing giant realizes the growth of the craft beer industry and it continues to expand in this direction, even if at a glacial pace.
Shock Top, Anheuser- Busch’s answer to craft beer, has been around for several years and most beer drinkers already know it for its Shock Top Belgian White- a beer that was apparently brewed to compete with the popular Blue Moon Belgian White. The success of Shock Top Belgian White encouraged more semi- craft creations such as Shock Top Raspberry Wheat, Shock Top Lemon Shandy, Shock Top Wheat IPA, and Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat.
If we weren’t shocked enough already, Shock Top is planning to release even more products before the end of the year. Next in the lineup is Shock Top Honeycrisp Apple Wheat. According to official sources, this beer will be made with cider, spice, natural honeycrisp, and natural apple and, like other Shock Top products, it will be brewed using a wheat malt base.
Besides the familiar wheat base, it looks like, once again, Shock Top is going for the fruit – enhanced beer to expand its popularity and presence. I am not so sure the fruity brew is going to be a hit with craft beer lovers, but it appears that what Shock Top is doing is taking baby steps by appealing to those who may not necessarily like craft beer very much (yet), but would like something a little more interesting than the typical mass produced lager. In other words, Shock Top is continuing to follow the same strategy that has produced beer products that emphasize the flavors of orange, raspberry, and lemon with a malt base that is tame by most standards and a hop level that is very subdued- Exactly what a craft beer lover wannabe would find acceptable.
Expect to find Shock Top Honeycrisp Apple Wheat in stores before the end of the year.
I live in New York and wanted to know when the shock top honeycrisp apple wheat will be available
Shock Top Honeycrisp Apple Wheat is presently available in only a limited area and there is no word yet from Shock Top as to when it will be distributed nationwide. The best way to check is to logon to the Shock Top web site and use its locator feature to see if there is any beer sold near you. Go to:
http://www.shocktopbeer.com/s/index.php/store-locator/
Enter your zip code, select Honey Crisp Apple Wheat, and ask for both Bars & Restaurants and Stores & More to broaden your search. This tool will tell you quickly if this beer is sold near you.