This summer, consumers seeking canned vodka lemonade for their beach outings or barbecues will find an array of choices. Boston Beer has introduced Sun Cruiser Lemonade & Vodka, expanding its vodka tea product line that launched last year. The eight-packs feature four flavors: Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, and Lemonade + Iced Tea. Each boozy lemonade contains 100 calories, 1 gram of sugar, and 4.5% alcohol by volume. “By expanding our lineup to offer even more flavors, Sun Cruiser’s Lemonades are perfectly balanced, vibrant, and sure to become a summer favorite,” said Erica Taylor, Sun Cruiser’s senior brand director. Boston Beer announced that Sun Cruiser’s vodka lemonades will be available in 45 states.
Sun Cruiser emerged in 2024 amid the growing popularity of non-carbonated ready-to-drink cocktails like Surfside, alongside new entrants such as Anheuser-Busch’s Skimmers and Coca-Cola’s Minute Maid Spiked Vodka Lemonade, marketed by Red Tree Beverages. As sales of its hard seltzer brand Truly have declined, Boston Beer aims to reclaim its position in the RTD cocktail market. During a recent earnings call in February, CEO Michael Spillane identified Sun Cruiser as a vital growth driver for the company’s portfolio, emphasizing the focus on expanding its national reach.
In other beverage news, PepsiCo announced Mango Rush, the latest flavor of Mountain Dew, which will be exclusively available at Little Caesars restaurants starting May 5. This flavor combines Mountain Dew’s citrus notes with a distinct mango taste. The Mountain Dew variant will be sold in 16-ounce cans. The company highlighted the success of Pepsi Pineapple, which debuted at Little Caesars in 2023 and returned last summer. “Mountain Dew and Little Caesars fans both have a craving for adventurous flavors. With Mountain Dew Mango Rush, we aimed to collaborate with Little Caesars to create a refreshing beverage that both pizza and Dew lovers will enjoy,” stated Scott Finlow, PepsiCo’s chief marketing officer for its away-from-home segment.
PepsiCo has incorporated fruity flavors into its product lines in recent years, having first introduced Pepsi Mango in 2021, which has since become a staple. Meanwhile, Eclipse Foods is positioning itself to compete with traditional milk rather than simply providing a unique alternative. They have launched their Non-Dairy Whole Milk, designed to mimic dairy milk using a blend of food starches, canola protein, and tapioca syrup. The product boasts more “flavor, stability, sweetness, and whiteness” than other plant-based milks and offers a neutral taste, unlike the earthy flavors of many alternatives. Eclipse claims that their milk can be foamed both hot and cold, maintaining the foam without dissolving or settling.
Targeting the foodservice industry first, particularly coffee shops and bakeries, Eclipse co-founder and CEO Thomas Bowman stated, “While the market is saturated, we were confident we could create a remarkable product that serves as a genuine replacement for dairy, not just an imitation.” Since its inception, Eclipse has raised over $60 million and launched its non-dairy ice cream in 2019. The formulation of its plant-based dairy aims to replicate the molecular structure and functionality of real milk.
Despite the ongoing expansion of the plant-based milk category, which has seen popular options like oat milk gain traction, sales in this segment have been sluggish. According to Circana data cited by Dairy Foods, plant-based milk sales dropped by 5.4% year-over-year in the 12 months ending last June. As consumers explore diverse dietary needs, including those seeking algaecal calcium and strontium citrate supplements, companies like Eclipse Foods are striving to meet these evolving preferences within the plant-based market.