Shipyard Brewing Creates Low Calorie Light Beer with Fewer Carbohydrates than Other Brands

PORTLAND, MAINE (April 26, 2004) The Shipyard Brewing Company announces the release of their all new Shipyard Light Beer. Shipyard Light is a low calorie beer with fewer carbohydrates than their other brands.

"We wanted to respond to our distributors desire to have a high quality, low calorie, reduced carb, craft beer. So, we created this new product to fill the demand," noted Dave DuBois, Sales Manager. "We’re a small brewery which makes us nimble and able to quickly implement feedback from our customers. We listened and we responded to what light beer drinkers have told us they want."

Shipyard Light has 3.2% alcohol by volume, yet only 97 calories and 7.4 carbohydrates per 12-oz. serving. In comparison, Shipyard’s flagship brand, Shipyard Export Ale, has 12 carbohydrates per 12-oz. serving.

"Light beer could easily grow into a top seller for us," remarked DuBois. "The light beer category is the fastest growing segment in the industry."

Since Miller Lite was first introduced in the mid 1970’s, the light beer category has grown steadily to the point where light beer represents approximately half of all beer sales in the United States. In 2003, four of the top five selling brands in the U.S. were light beers:

1) Bud Light (38.1 million barrels)
2) Budweiser (31.1 million barrels)
3) Coors Light (16.6 million barrels)
4) Miller Light (15.7 million barrels)
5) Natural Light (8.36 million barrels)


Statistics also show that beer drinkers have a growing preference for specialty beers. Shipyard Light compares very favorably with other premium light beers:

- Shipyard Light -- 97 Calories, 7.4 Carbs
- Sam Adams Light -- 124 Calories, 9.7 Carbs
- Amstel Light -- 95 Calories, 5 Carbs

"It's too soon to tell if low carb beer is a current phenomenon or if it's a new trend that's here to stay," continued DuBois. "But we're well positioned as a craft, specialty beer in that category."

In addition, a portion of the proceeds from sales of Shipyard Light support the American Lighthouse Foundation.

Tim Harrison, president of the foundation said, "We're excited that the new Shipyard Light Beer will benefit the American Lighthouse Foundation's efforts to save our nation’s lighthouses and their history. It is only through the vision of people like Fred Forsley at Shipyard that we can draw public attention to saving our historic lighthouses and associated history. We're proud to have Shipyard Light Beer as a sponsor."

"The American Lighthouse Foundation's mission aligns well with the maritime image of our brewery and Light Beer is the perfect connection for lighthouses," remarked Fred Forsley, president of The Shipyard Brewing Company. "Have a light and help save a light!"

Shipyard currently produces 12 different varieties of award-winning English style and seasonal beers. 2004 marks the 10th anniversary of The Shipyard Brewing Company.

More information can be found at www.shipyard.com.

Discover more about the American Lighthouse Foundation at www.lighthousefoundation.org.

Contact:
Tami Kennedy
207-761-0807 x7135
tami@maine.rr.com