Sail into the Rich Caramel Flavor of Skipjack Amber, New Anheuser-Busch Beer for Mid-Atlantic Region

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (April 30, 2007) - Inspired by the iconic sailboats that are synonymous with Chesapeake Bay, Anheuser-Busch introduces today Skipjack Amber - a smooth, well-balanced amber lager brewed for beer lovers primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Available on draught in select bars and restaurants in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, as well as North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee, Skipjack Amber is a medium-bodied beer characterized by a rich caramel and roasted nut taste. It is balanced by a complex blend of citrus, floral and spicy hop aromas, and features a refreshing finish and a thick, creamy head.

Named in honor of the skipjack sailboats that sail the Chesapeake Bay, this specialty beer was crafted by a small, hand-picked group of beer experts from Anheuser-Busch's Williamsburg, Va., brewery. The group - which welcomed the opportunity to apply its extensive brewing knowledge and experience to local beer lovers' preferences and tastes - chose the beer style, created the recipe and selected Skipjack Amber's name and tap marker design.

"As members of the Williamsburg community for more than 35 years, we took great pride in crafting a beer that honors the Mid-Atlantic States and the Chesapeake Bay," said Dan Driskill, senior brewmaster of Anheuser-Busch's Williamsburg brewery. "The team tasted a wide variety of amber lagers to determine how to best differentiate this beer. We're confident adult beer lovers in this region will love it as much as we do."

Skipjack Amber is brewed with two-row and Munich malt, as well as two types of caramel malts, which give the beer a distinctive amber-red hue. It contains a citrus, floral and spicy blend of Saaz, Nelson Sauvin, Alsace and Hallertau hops for a balanced and pronounced flavor.

The beer's unique tap marker, designed to catch the eye of local beer lovers looking to try a new and different style of brew, features a fish donning a pair of sunglasses, holding the beer and a plaque with a picture of a skipjack sailboat.

"A fish wearing a pair of sunglasses is a real eye-catcher and not what you'd typically see as a tap marker at a bar or restaurant," said Driskill. "It's a fitting salute to this delicious, distinctive beer and the Chesapeake Bay icon for which it is named."

Skipjack Amber is best served in a tall, fluted glass with a wide opening, which showcases its thick, creamy head and allows the beer's aroma to funnel straight to the nose. The beer pairs well with fontina, cheddar and swiss cheeses as well as roast chicken and mild-flavored seafood such as rockfish, swordfish and the famous Chesapeake Bay crab.

Brewed at Anheuser-Busch's Williamsburg, Va., brewery, Skipjack Amber contains 5.5 percent alcohol by volume. Skipjack Amber is part of Anheuser-Busch's company-wide local specialty beer program, which was introduced to brew specialty beers that are uniquely tailored to regional taste preferences. The program was initially launched at Anheuser-Busch's Merrimack, N.H., and Columbus, Ohio, breweries in March 2006. It was later extended to the company's St. Louis brewery in September 2006 and its Fort Collins, Colo., and Jacksonville, Fla. breweries in April 2007.

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.