SELECT 55 -- The Lightest Beer in the World -- Launches Nationwide

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Following its success in test markets, SELECT 55 -- the lightest beer in the world -- will launch nationwide on Feb. 1, answering a growing demand among a segment of adult drinkers who are seeking lower-calorie alcohol beverages to complement their busy lifestyles.

Whether adult drinkers are looking for light refreshment after a busy day or if they simply enjoy delicious low-calorie foods and beverages, SELECT 55 offers an unparalleled clean, crisp flavor with fewer calories than any other beer currently available.

Hitting store shelves across the country as the football season draws to its dramatic close, SELECT 55 will receive a boost in initial awareness when it airs its first national TV ad during CBS' broadcast of Super Bowl XLIV.

"We'd be hard-pressed to find a better way to introduce millions of adult beer drinkers to the lightest beer in the world than to feature the brand as part of our Super Bowl ad lineup," said Keith Levy, vice president of marketing, Anheuser-Busch, Inc.  "We've been encouraged by the positive response SELECT 55 has received in test markets and are pleased to now offer it to consumers nationwide.  Our Innovations and brewing teams have once again successfully collaborated to give the consumer what they want."

A smooth, light golden lager with 55 calories and 1.9g carbohydrates per each 12-ounce serving, SELECT 55 is made with caramel malts and a blend of imported and domestic hopping.  Brewed to complement the full flavor of Budweiser SELECT, SELECT 55 features a unique recipe that gives the beer its crisp finish with aroma notes of toasted malt and subtle hopping.

SELECT 55's launch will be supported by an all-new Web site -- Select55.com -- that will provide a unique online community for adult beer drinkers, with daily news and updates via "The Lightest Blog in the World," and a place for fans of SELECT 55 to interact.

Brewed at Anheuser-Busch's Los Angeles, St. Louis and Williamsburg breweries, SELECT 55 is available in 12-ounce, clear glass bottles in 6-, 12- and 24-packs, and 12-ounce aluminum cans in 12- and 18-packs.

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 49.2 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.  Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired Global Companies list in 2009.  Anheuser-Busch is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world's largest recyclers of aluminum cans.  The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo.  For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or www.Select55.com.

SOURCE Anheuser-Busch