Gluten Beer

A new Gluten Beer has been rolled out;

Anheuser-Busch, the brewer said yesterday that Redbridge, the first nationally-available sorghum gluten beer, will be available in US stores which carry organic products and restaurants. Sorghum is a safe grain for those allergic to wheat or gluten, A-B highlighted.

Knowing the recent upturn in demand for beer gluten free We set out to create a fine, hand-crafted specialty beer made without wheat or barley," said Angie Minges, product manager at A-B. "We've made Redbridge nationally available to make sure adults who experience wheat allergies or who choose a gluten free or wheat-free diet can enjoy the kind of beer that fits their lifestyle."

The branded gluten beer or better beer gluten free Redbridge contains 4.8% alcohol per 12-ounce serving, and will be available in 12-ounce, six-pack bottles.

Separately, A-B said yesterday that it has introduced "a new, more aggressive leverage target to enhance shareholder value". The brewer plans to increase leverage and reduce its cash flow to total debt target from the previous range of 30%-40% to 25%-30%


A-B has linked a 100m share repurchase programmed to this target, representing around 13% of outstanding common stock. The company said it expects to repurchase about US$2.5bn of shares during 2007.

About Anheuser-Busch:
Among the 13 companies that make up Anheuser-Busch Companies, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. is the leading American brewer, holding 50% of the US beer market. The company is American-owned and operates and brews the world's largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser-Busch is the oldest American-owned major brewer in the US.

Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc. also holds a 50% share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico's leading brewer, as well as equity investments in China's Tsingtao Brewery Co.Ltd. and Compañía Cervecerías Unidas Argentina.

In 2004, Anheuser-Busch purchased Harbin Brewery Group Ltd., the fourth-largest brewer in China.

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