Black Label Beer is a lager distributed by the Carling Brewing Company. Although it is primarily associated with South Africa, where it has been sold for over 40 years, it is also available in the USA. In the US, Black Label is owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company and is still available in select markets, notably metro Detroit.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Company | Carling Brewing Company |
Brewer | Molson Coors Brewing Company |
Type | Lager |
Colour | Straw, Golden |
Smell | Malt, Sweetness |
Taste | Spicy Hoppiness, Light, Clean, Fruity Notes |
Alcohol Percentage | 5.5% |
Availability | Available in select markets in the USA |
What You'll Learn
Black Label Beer's availability in the USA
Black Label Beer, distributed by the Carling Brewing Company, is available in the USA. It is a lager that was first brewed in the 1870s and was known as Black & White Lager until 1927 when it was renamed Black Label.
Black Label Beer is currently owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company and, although it is no longer widely distributed in the U.S., it is still available in select markets, notably metro Detroit.
Black Label Beer has a long history in the United States, dating back to the repeal of prohibition in 1933 when the Peerless Motor Car Company purchased the American rights to brew the beer. It became widely popular and was even available to GIs in Vietnam.
Today, Black Label Beer is still available for purchase in the USA, with limited quantities available in some stores and online retailers. It is described as a light, clean-tasting blond lager with a subtle hint of hops, perfect for any occasion.
In addition to Carling's Black Label, there are other beers with similar names that are available in the USA, such as Pabst Brewing Company's Black Label Beer and South African Beer's Black Label Beer. These beers may have different characteristics and flavours, so it is important to distinguish between them.
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Black Label's history
Black Label, also known as Carling Black Label, is a lager distributed by the Carling Brewing Company. The company was founded by Thomas Carling, an English farmer who immigrated to Canada in the 1800s and began brewing his own ale. By 1840, he had established a brewing company in London, Ontario.
In 1878, Carling's sons, John and William, built a new six-story brewery in London, and by the 1870s, the company had started brewing lager-style beers. In 1927, the company's Black & White Lager was renamed Black Label as part of a corporate rebranding.
In 1930, Carling was purchased by Toronto businessman E. P. Taylor and became part of Canadian Breweries Limited (CBL). Black Label was promoted as CBL's flagship brand and became the first beer to be brewed on a mass international scale, gaining popularity in Commonwealth countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, the Peerless Motor Car Company acquired the American rights to brew Carling beers, including Black Label. The introduction of Black Label helped expand the company's presence in the United States, and it became available nationwide. During the Vietnam War, Black Label was even provided to American GIs.
In the post-World War II era, the Brewing Corporation of America, the parent company of Carling, decided to discontinue the Black Label brand in favour of the more profitable Red Cap Ale. However, this decision was reversed after a significant drop in sales, and Black Label was reintroduced with the famous "Hey Mabel, Black Label!" advertising campaign.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Black Label sales soared due to increased advertising and the introduction of cans. The brand was featured in the popular "I bet he drinks" series of advertisements, which contributed to its success.
However, in recent decades, Black Label has faced competition and pressure from other major brewing companies. In 1979, Carling was bought out by the Heileman Brewing Co., and it has since changed hands several times. While Black Label is no longer widely distributed in the United States, it is still available in select markets, such as metro Detroit, and remains the official beer of Beer Frisbee.
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Black Label's taste and aroma
Black Label Beer, distributed by the Carling Brewing Company, is a lager that has been available in the USA. It is currently owned by the Molson Coors Beverage Company and, although no longer widely distributed in the US, it is still available in select markets, notably metro Detroit.
Black Label is described as a contemporary lager with a light, crisp, refreshing aroma and taste. It has a pale gold colour and a lightly hoppy aroma. It is said to have a crisp, refreshing flavour and a clean finish.
One review describes the beer as having a "light, straw-coloured body with fruity notes in the aroma and taste". Another review describes the taste as "corny and wet, with a bit of tart". Other reviews describe the taste as "smooth", "good", "sweet and refreshing", and very easy drinking.
Black Label Beer is also available in South Africa, where it has been sold for over 40 years, and in the United Kingdom, where it was introduced in 1952.
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Black Label's marketing campaigns
Black Label Beer, a lager distributed by the Carling Brewing Company, has had a long and varied history of marketing campaigns. Here is an overview of some of their notable campaigns:
"Hey Mabel, Black Label!"
When Carling temporarily stopped producing Black Label to focus on a more profitable lager, their sales took a hit. They re-introduced Black Label with a new campaign featuring a beautiful blonde named Mabel, portrayed by Jeanne Goodspeed. The slogan "Hey Mabel, Black Label!" accompanied the campaign and helped turn their sales around. This twenty-year marketing campaign cemented the name in the popular culture of America.
"The Legend is Black"
Around 1990, Black Label Beer ran an advertising campaign in Canada with the phrase "The Legend is Black".
"I Bet He Drinks..."
In the 1970s and 1980s, Black Label Beer sales soared due to increased advertising support. One of their most successful campaigns was the "I bet he drinks" series of advertisements. These ads showed someone doing something impressive, with a bystander commenting, "I bet he drinks Carling Black Label". This campaign helped Carling Black Label become Britain's best-selling brand of beer in 1971.
"Black Label sê die bybel"
In South Africa, Black Label Beer took on a different tone with the anti-apartheid movement. The brand's slogan in Afrikaans, "Black Label sê die bybel" ("The Bible says (one should drink) Black Label"), resonated with native Africans due to the racial connotations of the colour black. This campaign contributed to the brand's popularity in South Africa.
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Black Label's brand ownership
The history of the Black Label brand begins in 1818, when Thomas Carling, a farmer from Yorkshire, England, and his family settled in Upper Canada, now the city of London, Ontario. Thomas Carling brewed an ale that became popular, and eventually, he took up brewing full-time. In 1840, Carling established a small brewing operation in London, selling beer to soldiers at a local camp. In 1878, his sons, John and William, built a five- or six-storey brewery in London, which was destroyed by fire in 1879.
In 1927, the company, now known as the Carling Brewing Company, renamed its Black & White Lager to Black Label as part of a corporate rebranding. In 1930, Carling merged with the Brewing Corporation of Ontario (BCO) and entered the US market in 1932 through a joint venture. In 1933, the Peerless Motor Car Company purchased the American rights to brew Carling beers, including Black Label, which became very popular.
Over the years, the brand changed hands several times. In 1979, the Carling Brewing Company was bought out by the G. Heileman Brewing Co. of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Heileman went through several ownership changes in the 1980s, and in 1991, they filed for bankruptcy. In 1994, Heileman was bought out by The Stroh Brewery of Detroit, Michigan. In 1999, Stroh's assets were divided between Miller Brewing and Pabst Brewing. Today, Black Label is brewed at Miller breweries under contract to Pabst.
Black Label is currently owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company, which was formed when the Molson Brewery merged with Coors. Although it is no longer widely distributed in the US, it is still available in select markets, notably metro Detroit, and remains the official beer of Beer Frisbee.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can buy Carling Black Label beer in the USA. It is not widely distributed, but it is available in select markets, such as metro Detroit.
The alcohol percentage of Black Label beer is 5%.
Black Label beer is a light, crisp, refreshing lager with a subtle hint of hops. It has a straw-coloured body with fruity notes in the aroma and taste.