Rhode Island Testing Cusquena

Chicago, Ill. (October 8, 2008) – Beginning this week, legal-drinking-age consumers in Rhode Island will have the opportunity to try Latin America’s premium all-malt lager and the best-selling premium beer in Peru: Cusqueña. Renowned for its natural ingredients, Cusqueña is made using the finest quality Saaz hops and pure glacier water from a source at 18,000 feet in the Andes Mountains. The result is a full-flavored European-style lager with Latin American flair. 

 “Consumers around the world have embraced Cusqueña and we’re eager to get this product in the hands of American beer connoisseurs who are intrigued by Cusqueña’s interesting origins,” said Mike Browne, vice-president, above premium for MillerCoors. “Cusqueña isn’t like anything beer drinkers in the U.S. have tried before.   We’re sure that the beer’s quality and crisp flavor will create a demand that will reach beyond Rhode Island in a short amount of time.”

With a unique heritage that began 100 years ago, Cusqueña, pronounced “CUS-KEN-YA,” was created by German entrepreneurs who founded the Cervesur Brewery in 1908 in Cusco, the seat of the Ancient Inca Empire. The brewery is located near Machu Picchu, the mystical lost city that is an extraordinary example of the superior craftsmanship of the ancient Inca civilization – craftsmanship that is echoed in the way Cusqueña is brewed. 

The product is available wherever beer is sold in Rhode Island and comes in 6-packs of 11.2-ounce bottles. Cusqueña has 130 calories per 11.2-ounce serving and 4.8 percent alcohol by volume. Cusqueña’s bottle is a tear drop shape that features an embossed depiction of the 12-angle stone, an example of Inca masonry that can be found in the walls of Cusco. Pricing is at parity with other premium Latin beers. 

Because of the beer’s strong cultural link to Cusco and Machu Picchu, recently named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Cusqueña will benefit the World Monuments Fund, a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of endangered architectural and cultural sites around the world. Since 1965, the World Monuments Fund has helped preserve more than 500 monuments in 90 countries. 

Cusqueña is rare given that it possesses quintessential Latin American flavor but is brewed in accordance with German Purity Law – only water, malted barley, hops and yeast. The absence of additives or preservatives helps ensure an intensely refreshing taste that is reminiscent of the highest-quality European Pilsners.   Cusqueña received gold medals at the Monde Selection, Selection and Quality Awards in 2007 and 2008 and is a seven-time winner of superior award ratings in international taste competitions, including the “Superior Taste Award” given by the International Taste and Quality Institute of Belgium. 

About MillerCoors

Built on a foundation of great beer brands and more than 288 years of brewing heritage, MillerCoors continues the commitment of its founders to brew the highest quality beers.  MillerCoors is the second largest beer company in America, capturing nearly 30 percent of U.S. beer sales. Led by two of the best-selling beers in the industry, MillerCoors has a broad portfolio of highly complementary brands across every major industry segment. Miller Lite is the great tasting beer that established the American light beer category in 1975, and Coors Light is the brand that introduced consumers to refreshment as cold as the Rockies. MillerCoors brews full-calorie beers Coors Banquet and Miller Genuine Draft; and economy brands Miller High Life and Keystone Light.  The company also imports Peroni, Pilsner Urquell and Molson Canadian and offers innovative products such as Miller Chill and the Sparks line of caffeinated alcohol beverages. MillerCoors features craft brews from the Jacob Leinenkugel Company, Blue Moon Brewing Company and the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company.  MillerCoors operates eight major breweries in the U.S., as well as the Leinenkugel’s craft brewery in Chippewa Falls, WI and two microbreweries, the Leinenkugel’s 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee and the Blue Moon Brewing Company at Coors Field in Denver.  MillerCoors vision is to become the best beer company in America by driving profitable industry growth. MillerCoors insists on building its brands the right way through brewing quality, responsible marketing and environmental and community impact. MillerCoors is a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company.