The Unfortunate Corona Beer Confusion: Impact On Sales

Despite the name, drinking Corona beer will not give you COVID-19. However, the beer did become the subject of many jokes during the pandemic. Corona is a Mexican brand of beer, produced by Grupo Modelo and exported worldwide. It is the top-selling imported beer in the United States and is known for being served with a wedge of lime or lemon to add tartness and flavour. The beer is also associated with beaches, thanks to its marketing campaigns.

Corona is the top-selling imported beer in the US

Corona is a Mexican beer brand produced by Grupo Modelo and exported to markets around the world. Constellation Brands is the exclusive licensee and sole importer of Corona in the United States, Washington, D.C., and Guam. In all other markets, the beer is owned by the Belgian-Brazilian company AB InBev, which also brews it for the US market.

Corona's success in the US is surprising to many industry analysts and executives, who are unable to pinpoint the exact reason for its popularity. Some factors that have been suggested include its unusual clear bottle, its association with the surfing community, and its popularity in Mexican restaurants and bars. Its unique marketing campaigns, such as the "Find Your Beach" tagline, may have also contributed to its success.

Despite Corona's dominance in the imported beer market, it is important to note that imported beers only accounted for a small portion of the nation's total beer sales in 2022. Additionally, Corona faces competition from other imported brands such as Modelo, Heineken, and Guinness.

It's called Corona Extra

Corona is a Mexican brand of beer produced by Grupo Modelo in Mexico and exported to markets around the world. It is the top-selling imported beer in the United States and one of the top-selling beers worldwide. The brand's most popular variation is Corona Extra, a pale lager. It is called Corona Extra to differentiate it from other variations of the Corona beer brand, such as Corona Light, Corona Premier, and Corona Familiar.

Corona Extra was introduced to the U.S. market in 1981 and quickly became the fastest-growing beer in America's history. It is now the country's best-selling imported beer and the fifth most popular beer overall. The light variety of Corona is also successful, ranking as the top imported light beer and the sixth best-selling beer overall.

The name "Corona Extra" is fitting for several reasons. Firstly, the beer is extra in the sense of being exceptional or special. Secondly, the name reflects the fact that this variation of Corona is the original or classic version of the beer. Finally, the name may also be a reference to the sun's corona, as the beer's label features a yellow circle representing the sun.

Corona Extra is typically served with a wedge of lime or lemon, which adds a citrus taste and enhances the beer's flavour. While the exact origin of this tradition is unknown, it may have started as a creative way to keep flies out of the bottle or as a marketing strategy.

In conclusion, Corona Extra is a highly successful variation of the Corona beer brand, known for its refreshing taste and wide appeal. The name "Corona Extra" emphasizes the beer's quality and longstanding popularity.

It's served with a lime wedge

The Mexican lager Corona is often accompanied by a lime wedge, but the origin of this tradition is unclear. One theory is that the lime acts as a rust remover and steriliser, removing rust marks from the metal caps used to seal the bottles and disinfecting the bottle top. This is supported by the claim that the drinking water in Mexico is known to have deleterious effects on health. However, this theory is contradicted by the fact that Corona has been brewed for over a century, and locals were not known to add lime before recent times.

Another theory is that the lime helps to mask an altered taste that may occur due to the clear glass bottles that Corona uses, which can cause the beer to become "skunky" from exposure to light. The lime fragrance may help to hide this off-putting odour. In addition, the lime may serve as a natural bug repellent, keeping flies out of the beer.

The most likely explanation for the lime wedge tradition is that it began as a marketing ploy by a bartender in 1981. The bartender allegedly made a bet with a colleague to see if he could start a trend by adding a lime wedge to Corona bottles. This simple act caught on and is credited with helping Corona become the best-selling imported beer in the US market.

The brand has since embraced this tradition, with citrus appearing in practically every advertisement. In 2018, Corona even released branded limes in collaboration with Earth Source Trading. While the exact origin of the tradition may be unclear, it is now hard to imagine drinking a cold Corona without a lime wedge.

It's a Mexican beer

Corona is a Mexican beer produced by Grupo Modelo in Mexico and exported to markets around the world. It is the top-selling imported beer in the United States and is also popular in other countries. In the US, Constellation Brands is the exclusive licensee and sole importer of Corona. In all other markets, the beer is owned by AB InBev, which also brews it for all markets, including the US.

Corona was first introduced in 1925 and began its domestic distribution in Mexico in the same year. It made its debut in the United States in 1981 and has since become the No. 1 beer import in the country. The brand's most popular variation is Corona Extra, a pale lager, which has been the top-selling imported drink in the US since 1998. Other variants include Corona Light, Corona Premier, and Corona Familiar.

Corona is often associated with a laid-back, beach-themed image and is commonly served with a wedge of lime or lemon in the bottle. The brand has sponsored various sports events and teams, including boxing, NASCAR, and football. It has also been featured in the "Fast and Furious" film franchise.

Despite its popularity, Corona has faced some challenges, such as rumours circulated by a rival brand in the 1980s that the beer contained urine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was also some negative attention due to the similarity in name between Corona and the coronavirus. However, sales of Corona beer increased during the early months of the pandemic as people drank more at home.

It's unrelated to the coronavirus

Despite the name, Corona beer is unrelated to the coronavirus. The beer was named after the sun's corona, and it has been around since 1925—long before the first strain of coronavirus was discovered.

The beer is produced by Grupo Modelo in Mexico and exported to markets around the world. Constellation Brands is the exclusive licensee and sole importer of Corona in the United States, while AB InBev owns the beer in all other worldwide markets.

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was some confusion and speculation about whether people would stop drinking Corona beer due to its name. A survey by 5W Public Relations found that 38% of American beer drinkers said they wouldn't buy Corona "under any circumstances" at the time. However, among regular Corona drinkers, only 4% said they would refrain.

Constellation Brands, the owner of Corona, stated that they were not overly concerned about people confusing their beer with the coronavirus, believing that consumers understand there is no linkage between the two.

Indeed, sales of Corona beer increased during the early months of the pandemic, as people were drinking more beer and alcoholic beverages while staying at home.

So, while the name may have caused some initial concerns, it appears that Corona beer has remained popular and unrelated to the coronavirus.

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