Big brewers battle it out in calorie-cutting (AP)

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- How low can beer makers go? Having conquered the beer-belly set, some of the nation's biggest brewers are trying to win over the six-pack-ab crowd with ultra-low-calorie suds....

You might think that one beer can is the same as any other. Big beer companies and craft brewers alike say different, and they’re rolling out new cans with wider mouths and funky designs that they claim make for vastly superior beer drinking. Beer makers around the U.S. are trying to draw the attention (and thirst) of drinkers lately with something of an aluminum revolution. The most talked-about new beer vessel has to Budweiser’s angular “bowtie” can, which kinks in at the center—and, interestingly, holds less beer than the usual can.

You might think that one beer can is the same as any other. Big beer companies and craft brewers alike say different, and they’re rolling out new cans with wider mouths and funky designs that they claim make for vastly superior beer drinking. Beer makers around the U.S. are trying to draw the attention (and thirst) of drinkers lately with something of an aluminum revolution. The most talked-about new beer vessel has to Budweiser’s angular “bowtie” can, which kinks in at the center—and, interestingly, holds less beer than the usual can.

By Dutch Trader: The world's biggest three breweries continue to have an insatiable thirst for empire expansion.In September Heineken bought the missing stake in Asia Pacific Breweries for $4.6 billion. It comes two years after it bought Femsa Cerveza, makers of Sol beer, in Mexico for $7.6 billion.The Dutch brewer is not alone - last year rival SABMiller snapped up Foster's for $11.2 billion.

Until recently, if you ordered Japanese beer, there weren't many to choose from. But the domination by brewers such as Asahi, Sapporo and Kirin is ebbing. And some longtime sake makers are now devoting part of their breweries to beer.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Until recently, if you ordered Japanese beer, there weren't many to choose from. But the domination by brewers such as Asahi, Sapporo and Kirin is ebbing. And some longtime sake makers are now devoting part of their breweries to beer.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

As economic development and political stability pull more people out of poverty, multinational beer makers are trying to quench their growing thirst for alcohol.

Boiling down the last of the season maple sap and brewing a strong dark beer to share in the summer was a common tradition on Vermont farms a couple of generations ago. The practice had all but died out, but is being revived now, thanks to a handful of local brewers.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us