HOW DOES THE BEVERAGE INDUSTRY CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN?

Halloween is a particularly important holiday for members of the GAP team. Many of us live in or near Salem, Massachusetts, the Halloween Capital of the World. If you haven’t been to Salem for Halloween, you don’t know what you are missing. People from all over the world gather to share in the Haunted Happenings – it’s always an amazing spooktacular time! 

Beer and spirits companies across the country also celebrate the wicked day of October 31st in many different ways. Some offer safe rides, others sponsor parties, while others create special spooky drink recipes. We wanted to share one particularly cool example of what our clients are doing in order to get others into the spirit – pun intended.

Regardless of your drink preferences, Miller Lite wants to see that you get home safely. The company’s 3rd annual Halloween Free Ride program “ride the bus on us” runs Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 7pm to 1am. The company partners with the Nashville Metropolitan Transit to provide residents with rides to popular Nashville destinations such as bars, restaurants, and even local Halloween celebrations. Anyone 21 years of age or older can access the routes and scheduling by calling or texting a number on the Miller Lite website. 

 

The “Free Ride” program promotes the concept of celebrating holidays and events responsibly by never drinking and driving and encouraging people to plan ahead. The company’s current program includes free safe rides for all Packers’ home games in Green Bay, WI and for Halloween in Nashville, TN. To-date, the company has provided safe rides for more than 2.7 people safe rides during these events and holidays.

Please terrify others responsibly.

Ketel One and Captain Morgan are sponsoring an annual Halloween Masquerade Ball in Scottsdale, AZ on October 29. The party will be held at the Talking Stick Resort and Casino with two-levels of gaming tables, slot machines, multiple bars (with $6 cocktail specials thanks to the sponsors), restaurants, a DJ, and at midnight a cash prize for voted best female, best male, and best couple costume. This is just one out of the many events that will take place in celebration of Halloween. If you are looking for somewhere to go, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a party sponsored by beer or spirit companies offering great cocktail deals.

So, where ever you live or will be on that night, you now have some options of where you can go and how you will get there. However, most importantly, you still need some yummy themed drink ideas appropriate for the holiday. Below are a few recipes that won’t spook you away.

Scream Soda
 

1 1/4 oz. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
 

5 oz. lemon-lime soda 

1 slice lemon (optional 

1 slice lime (optional)

Add Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum and lemon-lime soda in tall ice-filled glass. Garnish with lemon and lime slices, if desired

(www.drinkoftheweek.com)

Who doesn’t like cider in the fall? Here is a great recipe for those of you who may decide to stay in on Halloween and enjoy some great festive cider:

1.5 oz. Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea Flavored Vodka (25 oz. per bottle)
0.5 oz. Ketel One Citroen Flavored Vodka (25 oz. per bottle)
0.5 oz. apple schnapps
3 oz. apple cider
0.25 oz. cinnamon syrup

Preparation:
Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice
Shake well
Strain into an ice filled highball glass
Garnish with a lemon wheel, mint, and cinnamon stick (optional)

(www.thebar.com)

However, you choose to spend your Halloween whether it’s dressed up as a witch or even the Captain himself, GAP does not judge (we just want to see pictures). We hope you have a great time and please be responsible.

GAP PROMOTIONS RETURNS TO THE NBWA ANNUAL CONVENTION

We’re heading to Vegas, baby! The National Beer Wholesalers Association returns to Las Vegas October 16th through the 19th for its 74th Annual Convention and Trade Show and we couldn’t be more excited! 

This is GAP’s fourth time exhibiting at the NBWA and our second time at the Las Vegas show. This year’s event, at the renowned Caesar’s Palace, will feature keynotes from industry leaders such as President and CEO of MillerCoors LLC, Tom Long, and former CEO and President of Walmart, Lee Scott. The show will also include a huge floor accommodating over 250 booths. Industry representatives from across the country will descend on Las Vegas for this amazing opportunity to network with brewers and vendors, make new contacts and, of course, get together with old friends and colleagues.

The GAP Promotions team will return to Vegas with its iconic Black and Gold booth – we’ll be in the Octavius Ballroom in Booth 913. We’re all totally excited about this year’s booth which will feature a number of our favorite new displays, POS, and dealer loaders. Stop by and check out our Tailgate-themed displays, take a seat and catch some sports in our Man Cave, or join us in a game of foosball. Our talented team members will also be available, on site, to work with you to design your own custom display or rack!

Be sure to take advantage of our Complimentary Custom Plaque Program – your concept, designed, produced, and delivered free of charge! And, on your way out, pick up a GAP Promotions Cigar to enjoy during your stay in Sin City. We look forward to seeing you at the show!

Please enjoy Vegas responsibly.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE BEVERAGE INDUSTRY: A MATCH BREWED IN HEAVEN

Beer, wine, and spirits have strong social components and, not surprising, a large and growing connection with social media. These relationships go well beyond tweets and status updates reflecting a great night out on the town. We’re seeing that most of the key players in the industry are increasingly relying on social media to deepen connections with consumers. 

In 2010, LIFT9, reported that there are more than 7,000 wine tweets each day. In 2011, Palate Press reported 452 total wine-related iPhone apps. Wine word-of-mouth is made more powerful through mechanisms such as #winewednesday 

In the spirits world, Diageo’s Smirnoff has been said to be the number one beverage alcohol brand on Facebook, worldwide, and the company has attributed a 20% increase in sales to its Facebook activity. Altogether, Diageo brands had an astounding 12.6 million fans across Facebook in 2011. 

If you have a little Captain in you, you might be familiar with Diageo’s “The Captain's Island” campaign. This Facebook-based global competition was designed to strengthen the connection between the brand and the Captain's Crew (those who “liked” the Facebook page). The five keys that had to be collected in the contest could be gathered from special promotional packs, through online challenges and at experiential events. Crown Royal also has a campaign where once consumers “Like” their page, they can write a message to a member of the military that will be embroidered onto a special camo Crown Royal bag. 

Captain Morgan- The Captain's Island Commercial

New Belgium Brewing, best known for Fat Tire Amber Ale, has also taken full advantage of the social media trend and has an incredibly storing presence. In 2011, New Belgium was said to be perhaps the only true craft brewery to have over 100,000 fans on Facebook. The brewery focuses on engaging and empowering fans to take part in the brand experience while also providing them opportunities to participate and get involved on the local level. 

Blue Moon is also utilizing social media. They are calling for the consumers to share their ideas about what Blue Moon's next beer should be like. On Facebook, once you “like” the Blue Moon Brewing Company's page you are given the opportunity to answer questions about what you would like to see in the next Blue Moon beer. The interactive experience doesn't end there though, the user is also able to use a photo crafter. Here you can use your own pictures and make it look like a Blue Moon ad. Blue Moon is so invested in connecting with social media, when entering their web site they have a popup box regarding their “Next Blue Moon Beer” competition, if you want to share your ideas then you are linked directly to Facebook. Opportunities like this only come around, “Once in a Blue Moon”. 

Here at GAP we are no stranger to social media so… Follow us on Twitter. Like us on Facebook. And please post post responsibly.

Lift9 

Palate Press

ZDNet

Mashable