Pawtucket-based Willie’s Superbrew has added another flavor to its line of craft alcoholic sparkling beverages.
The company announced this week the addition of Sparkling Mango & Passionfruit, the third flavor released since the company launched last May. Willie’s Superbrew existing flavors include the Sparkling Ginger & Lemon, which is kind of like a lighter version of a Moscow Mule, and the Sparkling Pomegranate & Acai flavor.
“Willie’s was born on the beach. So, when it comes to creating a new flavor, we’re always looking to find unique flavor profiles that pair well with that perfect summer afternoon."
Like the other flavors, the Sparkling Mango & Passionfruit is composed of six simple ingredients: water, alcohol, mango, cane sugar, passionfruit and lime. The beverage contains 4.5 percent alcohol, four grams of sugar, 110 calories and is gluten free.
“Willie’s was born on the beach. So, when it comes to creating a new flavor, we’re always looking to find unique flavor profiles that pair well with that perfect summer afternoon,” said Nico Enriquez, founder and CEO of Willie’s Superbrew. “With this new flavor, we wanted to capture the true taste of mango and passionfruit. Most seltzers will only leave you with a hint of fruit flavors, but with our Sparkling Mango & Passionfruit, you get that full-bodied flavor of the real fruit in every sip, which creates a beautiful, tropical experience.”
Willie’s Superbrew was born with the intention of disrupting the malt beverage, alcoholic seltzer and cider industry in a similar way that craft beer changed the beer industry. The company makes refreshing alcoholic beverages that employ simple ingredients and avoid chemicals that other drinks tend to use such as artificial flavoring and sweeteners.
The concept is the brainchild of a goat farmer on Cape Cod named Willie Fenichel, who first started brewing the original version of the Sparkling Ginger & Lemon in his basement, with no intention of starting a business.
But when Enriquez, his friend and fellow beachgoer, tasted the brew, he knew he had to bring it to the world. Enriquez, a published neuroscience researcher, worked with Fenichel to perfect the recipe — meanwhile Fenichel is a silent partner, and considered the “soul of the brand.”
The goal of Willie’s Superbrew is to not only provide delicious alcoholic beverages, but also to get people to look at alcohol the way they look at other foods and drinks.
In a short amount of time, Willie’s Superbrew, which is distributed out of Isle Brewers Guild, has become a top seller at major and select retailers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, such as Wegmans, Whole Foods and Star Market.
