Fleur-Revell posted on June 12, 2011 01:19
Fijian Brewery Launches World First Malt Beverage Product – an island brewery has launched what is thought to be a world first RTD.
A Fijian brewery has received export enquiries from the United States after launching what is thought to be a world first malt beverage product.
The Island Brewing Company – the makers of Fiji’s only local handcrafted beer Vonu Pure Lager - has launched Bully Hayes Hard Cola, an 8% cola malt beverage made with pure Fijian rainwater.
Sales Director Jonathan Ullrich says that as far as the company is aware, it is the first malt based cola in the world that has an alcohol content of 8%.
“The other malt based colas in the United States are only around 5% alcohol because breweries have struggled to make one at 8% that actually tastes good. The process has taken us nearly nine months to perfect but we are excited to finally launch the product to the local and international market,” says Ullrich.
Bully Hayes Hard Cola is made with a blend of bourbon and dry cola flavors and a hint of lime.
“The smooth and balanced flavour is attributed to the purity of the Fiji rainwater it is made with,” says Ullrich.
Already Bully Hayes Hard Cola is receiving considerable interest offshore, with export to the United States already a possibility.
“We are now in the process of creating several other innovative malt beverages to launch under the Bully Hayes name, which makes the future for this brand a very exciting one,” says Ullrich.
Ullrich says Bully Hayes Hard Cola was named after South Sea pirate, trader and adventurer Bully Hayes, who traded his way through the Fiji Islands in the 1800s.
“Bully Hayes is thought to have many descendants across the Fiji Islands and was renowned as the hardest man in the South Pacific, so that inspired us to name the drink after him,” he says.
Bully Hayes Hard Cola is packaged in 440ml cans and is currently available in both on and off premises throughout Fiji.
The beverage was created in consultation Sensient Technologies* - the world's leading global flavor development organization – and Island Brewing Company’s head brewer Brian Watson.
The Island Brewing Company was established by Jeremy and his brother Jonathan Ullrich, New Zealanders who share Fijian residency and whose family links to Nadi go back as far as the 1940s when their grandfather helped construct Nadi Airport for the military during World War II.