McKenzie River Corporation
Encyclopedia
McKenzie River Corporation is a beverage marketing firm based in San Francisco, CA. Founded in 1987 by Minott Wessinger with the help of his father, Fred Wessinger, the McKenzie River Corporation has launched a number of successful beverage products to the US market.
, the Pacific Northwest brewing pioneer. Wessinger is a part of a family tradition of brewing which began in 1856.
announced it had completed the purchase of Sparks
and Steel Reserve
brands from McKenzie River Corp. for $215 million. Miller had been producing both products prior to this purchase.
History
Minott Wessinger began the McKenzie River Corporation, previously known as McKenzie River Partners, to follow in the footsteps of this great-great grandfather, Henry WeinhardHenry Weinhard
Henry Weinhard was a German-American brewer in the state of Oregon. After immigrating to the United States in 1851, he lived in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and California before settling in the Portland, Oregon, area...
, the Pacific Northwest brewing pioneer. Wessinger is a part of a family tradition of brewing which began in 1856.
Products
- St. Ides Premium Malt LiquorSt. IdesSt. Ides was originally a non-high gravity malt liquor, marketed since the 1980's. Now, St. Ides is a potent brand of malt liquor that is manufactured by the Pabst Brewing Company. The beverage contains 8.2% alcohol by volume, which puts it at the high end even for the high-alcohol malt liquor...
– St. Ides is a malt liquor that was introduced to the US market in 1987. It contains 8.2% ABV (alcohol by volume). A number of St. Ides Special Brews were also introduced in a variety of fruit flavors. St. Ides was endorsed by celebrity artists and rappers including, Ice CubeIce CubeO'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
, Wu-Tang ClanWu-Tang ClanThe Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
, Dr. DreDr. DreAndre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
, and Snoop DoggSnoop DoggCalvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
, among others. Currently, St. Ides is manufactured by Pabst Brewing Co.Pabst Brewing CompanyPabst Brewing Company is an American company that dates its origins to a brewing company founded in 1844 by Jacob Best and by 1889 named after Frederick Pabst. It is currently the holding company contracting for the brewing of over two dozen brands of beer and malt liquor from defunct companies...
- Black Star Double Hopped Golden LagerBlack Star BeerBlack Star Beer is a double hopped golden lager made with two-row malting barley and a combination of Mittelfruh and Czech Saaz hops. The Great Northern Brewing Company located in Whitefish, Montana is the original producer of Black Star Beer.- Beer :...
– After building the Great Northern Brewing CompanyGreat Northern Brewing CompanyGreat Northern Brewing Company is a traditional “gravity flow” brewery located in the northernmost block of downtown Whitefish, Montana. The brewery opened in 1995 under the stewardship of Minott Wessinger, the great-great grandson of Henry Weinhard. It is approximately and has a maximum annual...
in Whitefish, MT in 1994, Black Star Beer was launched in early 1995. Black Star is a double hopped (dry hopped) golden lagerLagerLager is a type of beer made from malted barley that is brewed and stored at low temperatures. There are many types of lager; pale lager is the most widely-consumed and commercially available style of beer in the world; Pilsner, Bock, Dortmunder Export and Märzen are all styles of lager...
with 4.5% alcohol by volume. Black Star is McKenzie River Corporation’s flagship brand.
- SparksSparks (drink)Sparks is an alcoholic beverage that debuted in the US market in 2002. The original formulation contained caffeine, one of the first alcoholic beverages to do so. Its other original active ingredients included taurine, ginseng and guarana, common to energy drinks.Packaged in a can, its labeling...
– Sparks was one of the first alcoholic energy drinks to enter the US beverage market, launching in early 2001. Sparks has 6% ABV and is also available in higher alcohol variations; Sparks Plus (7% ABV) and Sparks Red (8% ABV).
- Steel Reserve High Gravity LagerSteel ReserveSteel Reserve is an American lager brand owned and produced by Steel Brewing Company. MillerCoors is the company listed on Steel Reserves' Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions pages. The drink comes in "Black" and "Silver" varieties, also known as "Triple Export Malt Liquor" and "High Gravity...
– Steel Reserve was introduced in early 2000 and was the first “High Gravity” lager. It still maintains its leadership position in the segment.
- Howling Monkey Energizing Elixir – Howling Monkey is a caffeinated energy drink that was introduced 2007. Howling Monkey was one of the first energy drinks to be offered in a cola flavor.
- Le Tourment Vert Absinthe FrancaiseLe Tourment VertLe Tourment Vert is an absinthe-like liqueur imported from the French Distillerie Vinet EGE, near the French commune of Cognac...
- McKenzie River Corporation began importing Le Tourment Vert to the United States from Distillerie Vinet Ege, near Cognac cityCognacCognac is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Cognac is situated on the river Charente between the towns of Angoulême and Saintes. The majority of the town has been built on the river's left bank, with the smaller right...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in early 2008. Le Tourment Vert is an absintheAbsintheAbsinthe is historically described as a distilled, highly alcoholic beverage. It is an anise-flavoured spirit derived from herbs, including the flowers and leaves of the herb Artemisia absinthium, commonly referred to as "grande wormwood", together with green anise and sweet fennel...
made with aniseAniseAnise , Pimpinella anisum, also called aniseed, is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. Its flavor resembles that of liquorice, fennel, and tarragon.- Biology :...
, fennelFennelFennel is a plant species in the genus Foeniculum . It is a member of the family Apiaceae . It is a hardy, perennial, umbelliferous herb, with yellow flowers and feathery leaves...
and grand wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). It is 100 proof (50% alcohol by volume) and is available in major cities across the US.
Miller Purchase
On August 14, 2006, Miller BrewingMiller Brewing Company
The Miller Brewing Company is an American beer brewing company owned by the United Kingdom-based SABMiller. Its regional headquarters are located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the company has brewing facilities in Albany, Georgia; Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; Eden, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas;...
announced it had completed the purchase of Sparks
Sparks (drink)
Sparks is an alcoholic beverage that debuted in the US market in 2002. The original formulation contained caffeine, one of the first alcoholic beverages to do so. Its other original active ingredients included taurine, ginseng and guarana, common to energy drinks.Packaged in a can, its labeling...
and Steel Reserve
Steel Reserve
Steel Reserve is an American lager brand owned and produced by Steel Brewing Company. MillerCoors is the company listed on Steel Reserves' Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions pages. The drink comes in "Black" and "Silver" varieties, also known as "Triple Export Malt Liquor" and "High Gravity...
brands from McKenzie River Corp. for $215 million. Miller had been producing both products prior to this purchase.