NEW BEERS FROM MICHELOB

The family of brews from St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch Cos. already includes Porter, Marzen, Pale Ale, Wheat, Honey Lager and Amber Bock — on top of the basic Michelob rolled out in 1896 and Michelob Light, which followed in 1978.

Now, Anheuser-Busch appears poised to stock its Michelob cabinet even tighter. It has received label application approval from the Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau for Michelob Red Ale, Brown Ale, Dunkel Weisse and Bohemian Pilsner. The approvals were first reported on Brewblog.com, a blog sponsored by Miller Brewing Co. of Milwaukee.

The Michelob beer family is making a bid for swankiness and trying to tap into growth in high-end beers. Its Michelob advertising tagline, “crafting a better beer,” is a broad wink at the fast growth of craft brews.