A new buzz in beer

Back in the old days -- the '80s and '90s -- we used to drink caffeine as a post-party pick-me-up, something to make us alert enough to end the night safely. Clubgoers of the new century, however, discovered the stimulating effect of mixing high-caffeine energy drinks such as Red Bull with alcohol to give them a buzz that keeps on buzzing. Could caffeinated beer be far behind?

In fact, it wasn't. Anheuser-Busch has been releasing a caffeinated beer with ginseng and guarana called B(E) (about $6 for four 10-ounce cans) in Boston and other national test markets since November. It hit the shelves in the rest of New England last week. But even before A-B brought its product to town, Massachusetts beer lovers could get a caffeine kick from their brew.

In September, New Century Brewing in Randolph released MoonShot (about $7 for six 12-ounce bottles), a Pilsner with 45 milligrams of caffeine. New Century founder Rhonda Kallman was inspired to create the beer while dancing at a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert. She was drinking light beer, then switched to caffeinated cola. The sensation she got from the combination made her think, "Wow. How can I bottle this feeling?"

Anheuser-Busch is betting that the young demographic that has embraced cocktails and mixed drinks will take to the tartly sweet B(E), with its 54 milligrams of caffeine and aromas of blackberry and cherry. "They're drinking [B(E)] in glasses over ice, just like a mixed drink," says Dawn Roepke, A-B's brand manager for new product development. Kallman says MoonShot, which "is still the only caffeinated beer that tastes like beer," is doing very well "in places where people are there to dance or bowl or, frankly, party."

B(E) is distributed by August A. Busch, 800-222-8724. MoonShot is distributed by United Liquors, 800-323-9666.