Sun Cruiser Squeezes More Sunshine into its Lineup with New Lemonade & Vodka Flavors
Boston Beer Company (SAM) has announced the expansion of its Sun Cruiser brand with new Lemonade & Vodka ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages. The launch follows the success of Sun Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka, which became the #1 new RTD brand of 2024.
The new lineup features four flavors: Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, and Lemonade + Iced Tea. Each variety contains 4.5% ABV, 100 calories, and 1g of sugar per 12 oz serving. The products are non-carbonated and available in 8-count variety packs across 45 states.
Sun Cruiser's Classic Iced Tea style currently holds the position of #1 fastest-moving vodka iced tea 8-pack, and the brand recently received the Best Alcoholic Beverage award at the Bar & Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas.
Boston Beer Company (SAM) ha annunciato l'espansione del suo marchio Sun Cruiser con nuove bevande Lemonade & Vodka pronte da bere (RTD). Il lancio segue il successo di Sun Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka, diventato il marchio RTD nuovo più venduto del 2024.
La nuova gamma comprende quattro gusti: Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade e Lemonade + Iced Tea. Ogni variante contiene 4,5% di alcol, 100 calorie e 1 g di zucchero per porzione da 12 oz. I prodotti sono non gassati e disponibili in confezioni assortite da 8 pezzi in 45 stati.
Lo stile Classic Iced Tea di Sun Cruiser è attualmente il tè freddo alla vodka in confezione da 8 più venduto, e il marchio ha recentemente ricevuto il premio come Miglior Bevanda Alcolica alla Bar & Restaurant Expo di Las Vegas.
Boston Beer Company (SAM) ha anunciado la expansión de su marca Sun Cruiser con nuevas bebidas Lemonade & Vodka listas para beber (RTD). El lanzamiento sigue al éxito de Sun Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka, que se convirtió en la marca RTD nueva número 1 de 2024.
La nueva línea incluye cuatro sabores: Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade y Lemonade + Iced Tea. Cada variedad contiene 4.5% de alcohol, 100 calorías y 1 g de azúcar por porción de 12 oz. Los productos no son carbonatados y están disponibles en paquetes surtidos de 8 unidades en 45 estados.
El estilo Classic Iced Tea de Sun Cruiser actualmente es el té helado con vodka en paquete de 8 que más rápido se vende, y la marca recibió recientemente el premio a la Mejor Bebida Alcohólica en la Bar & Restaurant Expo de Las Vegas.
Boston Beer Company (SAM)가 Sun Cruiser 브랜드를 확장하여 새로운 레몬에이드 & 보드카 RTD(즉석 음료) 제품을 출시한다고 발표했습니다. 이번 출시는 2024년 최고의 신제품 RTD 브랜드가 된 Sun Cruiser 아이스 티 & 보드카의 성공에 따른 것입니다.
새로운 라인업은 레몬에이드, 핑크 레몬에이드, 딸기 레몬에이드, 레몬에이드 + 아이스 티 등 네 가지 맛으로 구성되어 있습니다. 각 제품은 알코올 도수 4.5%, 12온스당 100칼로리, 설탕 1g을 함유하고 있습니다. 제품은 탄산이 없으며 45개 주에서 8개입 다양 세트로 판매됩니다.
Sun Cruiser의 클래식 아이스 티 스타일은 현재 8팩 보드카 아이스 티 중 가장 빠르게 판매되고 있으며, 최근 라스베이거스 바 & 레스토랑 엑스포에서 최고 알코올 음료상을 받았습니다.
Boston Beer Company (SAM) a annoncé l'expansion de sa marque Sun Cruiser avec de nouvelles boissons Lemonade & Vodka prêtes à boire (RTD). Ce lancement fait suite au succès de Sun Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka, devenu la marque RTD nouvelle la plus vendue en 2024.
La nouvelle gamme comprend quatre saveurs : Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade et Lemonade + Iced Tea. Chaque variété contient 4,5% d'alcool, 100 calories et 1 g de sucre par portion de 12 oz. Les produits sont non gazeux et disponibles en packs variés de 8 unités dans 45 états.
Le style Classic Iced Tea de Sun Cruiser est actuellement le thé glacé à la vodka en pack de 8 le plus vendu, et la marque a récemment reçu le prix de la Meilleure Boisson Alcoolisée lors du Bar & Restaurant Expo à Las Vegas.
Boston Beer Company (SAM) hat die Erweiterung seiner Marke Sun Cruiser mit neuen Lemonade & Vodka Fertiggetränken (RTD) angekündigt. Der Start folgt auf den Erfolg von Sun Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka, der zur meistverkauften neuen RTD-Marke 2024 wurde.
Die neue Produktlinie umfasst vier Geschmacksrichtungen: Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade und Lemonade + Iced Tea. Jede Variante enthält 4,5% Alkohol, 100 Kalorien und 1 g Zucker pro 12-Unzen-Portion. Die Produkte sind nicht kohlensäurehaltig und in 8er-Mischpackungen in 45 Bundesstaaten erhältlich.
Der Classic Iced Tea Stil von Sun Cruiser ist derzeit das am schnellsten verkaufte 8er-Pack Vodka Eistee, und die Marke erhielt kürzlich den Preis für das beste alkoholische Getränk auf der Bar & Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas.
- Sun Cruiser achieved #1 new RTD brand status in 2024
- Classic Iced Tea style holds #1 fastest-moving vodka iced tea 8-pack position
- Won Best Alcoholic Beverage award at Bar & Restaurant Expo
- Wide market presence across 45 states
- None.
Insights
Boston Beer expands successful Sun Cruiser RTD line with new lemonade varieties, capitalizing on premium RTD growth potential for incremental revenue.
Boston Beer Company's expansion of its Sun Cruiser brand into vodka lemonades represents a strategic portfolio diversification within the rapidly growing ready-to-drink (RTD) spirits segment. The original Sun Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka line has demonstrated early market success as evidenced by being named the #1 new RTD brand family of 2024 and holding the fastest-moving vodka iced tea 8-pack position in its category.
This expansion introducing four new lemonade varieties comes at an opportune moment when premium RTD beverages are experiencing unprecedented category growth. With consumers increasingly seeking convenient, pre-mixed cocktail options, this launch allows Boston Beer to capture additional shelf space and market share in the spirits-based RTD segment, complementing their established beer portfolio.
The product positioning is particularly noteworthy - at 100 calories, 1g sugar, and 4.5% ABV, Sun Cruiser aligns perfectly with current consumer preferences for lower-calorie, lower-sugar alcoholic beverages while maintaining full flavor profiles. The variety pack distribution strategy is also industry-standard for successful sampling across the flavor range.
For Boston Beer, which has experienced challenges in its core beer business amid changing consumer preferences, this expansion represents potential for incremental revenue through category diversification. The RTD spirits segment provides higher margins than traditional beer, potentially improving profitability if the expansion gains meaningful traction.
SAM's new vodka lemonades align perfectly with key consumer trends: premium RTDs, better-for-you positioning, and flavor variety that could drive summer sales.
This expansion of the Sun Cruiser line demonstrates Boston Beer's acute understanding of evolving consumer behavior in the alcoholic beverage space. The company is directly addressing three critical market trends that have been reshaping the industry.
First, the shift toward spirits-based RTDs over traditional beer continues to accelerate, with premium RTDs outpacing budget options. Consumers are increasingly choosing convenient, portable, pre-mixed cocktails over beer, particularly during outdoor social occasions - exactly the positioning Sun Cruiser is targeting with its "carefree hangs" and "outdoor fun" messaging.
Second, the better-for-you positioning with 100 calories and only 1g sugar per serving addresses the growing consumer demand for transparency in nutritional content. Modern consumers remain calorie-conscious even when indulging, and this formulation hits the sweet spot between flavor satisfaction and health-consciousness.
Third, the strategic timing for summer consumption aligns with peak RTD sales cycles. The flavor profile expansion - particularly the nostalgic lemonade selections - offers variety without overwhelming consumers with excessive options, creating a cohesive brand identity while appealing to different taste preferences.
The non-carbonated formulation is another distinctive feature in a category dominated by seltzers, potentially attracting consumers experiencing "seltzer fatigue" while providing a smoother drinking experience. The 4.5% ABV positioning also sits in the optimal range for session drinking occasions, encouraging repeat purchases for extended social gatherings.
The #1 new RTD of 2024* is adding new, ready-to-drink vodka lemonades that offer perfectly balanced sweetness for all-day sipping.
BOSTON, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just over one year after the launch of Sun Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka, the fast-growing, spirits-based brand from The Boston Beer Company is adding NEW Sun Cruiser Lemonade & Vodka – a four-flavor lineup of smooth, deliciously refreshing lemonades made with real fruit and premium vodka. Bright, balanced, and easy to enjoy, Sun Cruiser Lemonade & Vodka is crafted for carefree hangs, anytime sipping and old school outdoor fun, wherever the sunshine takes you.
The new line-up features four refreshing flavors:
- Lemonade
- Pink Lemonade
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Lemonade + Iced Tea
Landing at a time when the premium ready-to-drink (RTD) category is seeing unprecedented growth, Sun Cruiser Lemonade & Vodka meets drinkers’ demands for full-flavor, spirits-based options with light, easy-to-drink profiles. As the #1 new RTD brand family of 2024, Sun Cruiser is off to a hot start. Currently holding the #1 fastest-moving vodka iced tea 8-pack in its Classic Iced Tea style**, and recently awarded Best Alcoholic Beverage at the Bar & Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas, Sun Cruiser is proving to be a fast fan-favorite.
“In just the first year, Sun Cruiser has been able drive impressive growth and become a go-to choice for drinkers looking for a high-quality, spirits-based option that pairs best with fun under the sun,” said Erica Taylor, senior brand director for Sun Cruiser. “Expanding our lineup to bring even more flavor to fans, Sun Cruiser’s Lemonades are balanced, bright and about to be in your frequent rotation this summer.”
Coming in at just 100 calories, 1g of sugar per 12 oz. serving,
For more information about Sun Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka or Sun Cruiser Lemonade & Vodka, visit www.drinksuncruiser.com. To find Sun Cruiser at a retailer near you, check out the brand’s product finder.
About Sun Cruiser
Made for those who enjoy the sun on their face and hanging outdoors with friends, Sun Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka and Sun Cruiser Lemonade & Vodka are made with real ingredients and premium vodka for a perfect choice to sip and share. At
About The Boston Beer Company
The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM) began in 1984 brewing Samuel Adams beer and has since grown to become one of the largest and most respected craft brewers in the United States. We consistently offer the highest-quality products to our drinkers, and we apply what we've learned from making great-tasting craft beer to making great-tasting and innovative "beyond beer" products. The Boston Beer Company has pioneered not only craft beer but also hard cider, hard seltzer and hard tea. Our core brands include household names like Angry Orchard Hard Cider, Dogfish Head, Truly Hard Seltzer, Twisted Tea Hard Iced Tea, and Samuel Adams. We have taprooms and hospitality locations in California, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio. For more information, please visit our website at bostonbeer.com, which includes links to our respective brand websites.
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Media Contact:
Elizabeth Walter
Ewalter@golin.com
*CY 2024 Total US MULO + Conv + Circana Liquor Markets
**L13wk Total US MULO + Conv + Circana Liquor Markets
Attachments
- Sun Cruiser Squeezes More Sunshine into its Lineup with New Lemonade & Vodka Flavors
- Sun Cruiser Squeezes More Sunshine into its Lineup with New Lemonade & Vodka Flavors
Taylor Jette Sun Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka taylor.jette@bostonbeer.com
FAQ
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