Exclusive to Syracuse: A Labatt Blue that’s also Orange

Labatt Blue & Orange

A new version of Labatt Blue available exclusively in the Syracuse-area market: Labatt Blue & Orange is flavored with blood orange extract. Photo shot at the Orange Crate Brewing Co. bar near Marshall Street. (Don Cazentre photo).

SYRACUSE, NY -- How do you turn one of the Syracuse area’s most popular beers into something with even more local appeal?

You might add orange.

Labatt USA this week is rolling out a new limited edition version of its Labatt Blue. It’s called Labatt Blue & Orange. It’s available in bottles and on tap only in Central New York.

The beer itself starts with a base of regular Labatt Blue. Then a dose of natural blood orange extract is added.

“We tried about 50 different orange varieties, trying to get just the right flavor,” said Rob Hertenstein, a Labatt USA brand manager. “We went with the blood orange. Its give it just the right mix of sweet and tart, with a little complexity.”

The blue and orange color scheme on the packaging may look familiar to fans of Syracuse University athletic teams.

“This is not affiliated in any way with Syracuse University,” said Hertenstein, who was aware of a recent trademark dispute in which SU forced Lock 1 Distilling of Oswego County to discontinue an orange liqueur called Cuse Juice. “But we do know the color orange is very important in this market.”

And the initial distribution of Labatt Blue & Orange focused on bars and stores in the neighborhood around the university (see list below).

Labatt is already the second-leading beer brand sold in the Syracuse market, Hertenstein said.

“Syracuse is one of our strongest markets,” he said.

The Blue & Orange was developed at the Labatt Brew House in Buffalo, which opened last year in the city’s Cobblestone District, just down the street from the KeyBank Center, home to the Buffalo Sabres.

Labatt Blue & Orange

A new version of Labatt Blue available exclusively in the Syracuse-area market: Labatt Blue & Orange is flavored with blood orange extract.

The Labatt Brew House combines a brewery taproom and bar/restaurant with what the company calls an “innovation brewery.” The brewery experiments with new takes on Labatt products -- it started last year with Labatt Blue Citra.

Blue Citra is in wide distribution in Labatt’s markets, while the Blue & Orange is directed at the Syracuse area, where it is distributed by Onondaga Beverage.

Labatt USA recently unveiled a Blue & Gold Ale at the Brew House in partnership with the Sabres. The Sabres, like the NFL Buffalo Bills, are owned by Pegula Sports & Entertainment, which is also a partner in the Labatt Brew House.

Labatt USA is the company that owns the rights to market and distribute Labatt’s beers in the United States. It is owned by FIFCO USA (formerly North American Breweries) of Rochester, which is also the parent company of Genesee Brewing and other brands. It is a separate company from Labatt Brewing of Toronto, which is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Here are the locations near the SU campus that have already take shipments of Labatt Blue & Orange:

  • SU Corner Market, 701 S Crouse Ave, Syracuse
  • Students Choice, 161 Marshall St # 1, Syracuse
  • Syracuse Market, 324 Irving Ave, Syracuse
  • Graby’s, 748 Westcott St, Syracuse
  • Casa de Cuse, 742 S Beech St, Syracuse
  • The Orange Crate, 731 S Crouse Ave, Syracuse
  • DJ’s on the Hill, 161 Marshall St, Syracuse
  • Faegan’s Café and Pub, 734 S Crouse Ave, Syracuse
  • Ramzi Market, 1202 E Colvin St, Syracuse

Related:

-- Are you ready for Blue Citra? Labatt Brew House opens in Buffalo

-- Labatt Brew House hops on the haze bandwagon

-- Pumpkin beer in August: Why can’t brewers read a calendar?

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Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.

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