La Combinacion Perfecta! Budweiser & Clamato Chelada and Bud Light & Clamato Chelada Arrive Nationwide

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As one of the hottest new products to hit markets in California and Texas cities, followed by tremendous success in Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska, Budweiser & Clamato Chelada and Bud Light & Clamato Chelada will arrive in convenience stores, supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide today.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080112/CLM048 )

Latinos, specifically those of Mexican descent, have been mixing beer with Clamato for decades. Budweiser & Clamato Chelada and Bud Light & Clamato Chelada honor that tradition by combining Anheuser-Busch's classic American- style lagers with the spicy, invigorating taste of Clamato Tomato Cocktail, made by Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (CSAB).

Due to their tremendous test market success, adults across the country are clamoring to enjoy this convenient, great-tasting drink. "This is a recipe that combines cultures and flavors," said Ana Vitrano, product manager, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "Budweiser, Bud Light and Clamato are all highly respected brands that, when combined, produce the authentic-tasting recipe many Latinos love. It's la combinacion perfecta!"

A savory beer, Budweiser & Clamato Chelada and Bud Light & Clamato Chelada were developed with the adult consumer in mind. Budweiser, a classic American-style lager, and Bud Light, a classic American-style light lager, are the world's best-selling beers, and Hispanics have been enjoying the great taste of Clamato since its introduction in 1969.

An estimated 60 percent of all Clamato is purchased with the intention of using it as a mixer, so the combination of the three brands means the adult consumer can more easily enjoy a recipe they already love. To best enjoy Budweiser & Clamato Chelada and Bud Light & Clamato Chelada, gently rotate the chilled can once before pouring. Then, serve cold, or pour over ice, into a traditional goblet-style glass and garnish with a slice of lime or celery stalk. Salting the rim of the glass or adding a dash of hot sauce to the beer allows adults to further customize Chelada. The beers also pair well with traditional Latino dishes such as ceviche, chicken enchiladas and tamales.

"The combination of Clamato with Budweiser and Bud Light provides a refreshing beverage -- one that Clamato fans have been mixing themselves for ages," said Andrew Springate, vice president, marketing, CSAB. "This is a convenient way for consumers to enjoy the flavorful and authentic recipe they've come to crave."

The launch of Budweiser & Clamato Chelada and Bud Light & Clamato Chelada marks the first time Anheuser-Busch and CSAB have worked together. The agreement between the two companies specifies that CSAB will supply Clamato to Anheuser-Busch for use in mixing the Budweiser and Bud Light Chelada, and that Anheuser-Busch will produce, package and distribute the beers through its network of wholesalers.

The name Chelada is a shortened form of the Spanish word michelada which loosely translates to 'my cold beer.' To order Budweiser or Bud Light & Clamato Chelada, one might say: "Una michelada con clamato, por favor." To shorten that but still keep the beer recognizable as the traditional recipe, Anheuser-Busch focused on the name Chelada.

"One look at the can and you know that this beer is the real thing -- Budweiser and Bud Light mixed with authentic Clamato," Vitrano said. "This is a savory beer that will appeal to adult beer drinkers, particularly those who enjoy beer mixed with Clamato."

Brewed at Anheuser-Busch's St. Louis brewery, Budweiser Chelada contains 5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) and Bud Light Chelada contains 4.2 percent ABV and is available in 24-ounce single-serve cans and 16-ounce, four-pack cans.

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.4 percent share of U.S. beer sales. The company brews the world's largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser-Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico's leading brewer, and a 27 percent share in China brewer Tsingtao, whose namesake beer brand is the country's best-selling premium beer. Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired U.S. and Global Companies lists in 2007. Anheuser-Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world's largest recyclers of aluminum cans. For more information, visit http://www.anheuser-busch.com/.

Clamato is a leading brand in the beverage portfolio of Plano, Texas-based Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (CSAB), a subsidiary division of Cadbury Schweppes plc . CSAB is one of the largest producers of soft drinks and premium beverages in the Americas. CSAB's brand portfolio includes Dr Pepper, 7UP, Snapple, Accelerade, Mott's Apple Juice and Sauce, RC Cola, A&W Root Beer, Sunkist Soda, Canada Dry, Hawaiian Punch, Schweppes, Diet Rite, Clamato, Mr & Mrs T Mixers, Holland House Mixers, Rose's, Mistic, Yoo-hoo, Orangina, IBC, Stewart's, Nantucket Nectars and other well-known consumer brands. For additional information on CSAB and its products, visit http://www.brandspeoplelove.com/.