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“We thought we had to wait at least two years before we expanded across the country, but the beer is flying off the shelf, so we decided it was time to go west,” Ted O’Connor, President Aladdin Beverage. Success in New York is not limited to Asian Restaurants. “We were pleasantly surprised to see the beer move in some cool bars and clubs in the City. They took in a case at first and called me two days later with a 5 case order saying people loved it.”
Macau Beer is imported from Macau, a former Portuguese colony located in the South of China. Macau is technically a part of China, having returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1999, but the beer is not marketed as a Chinese Beer. “We’re really not a Chinese beer, but more of a Euro-Asian Beer. Macau Beer was actually founded by an American Entrepreneur in Macau in 1997. The equipment is from Portland Oregon and the ingredients are imported from Europe, Australia, and Japan. The brewery is actually owned by the Kirin Brewing Company from Japan. Also most Chinese beers use formaldehyde as a preservative. Macau does not. It’s a real unique beer that is accepted by Chinese accounts and non-Asian accounts,” states Craig Kaufman, Managing Director of Brand Development for Aladdin Beverage.
Macau Beer just recently began selling in Boston and in Oregon. “I like those markets, because people are very educated about beer in Boston and Oregon and I think these markets, along with New York are trend setters for new beer brands in the US,” Ted O’Connor reflects.
Macau also began distributing in the Berkshires (Massachusetts) and Northern California. “I like fun Beer Markets and the markets we are in now are fun to be in. We’re having a blast promoting Macau particularly in the clubs. We signed a deal with a popular DJ to be our promoter in clubs throughout the country. It’s been very successful and so far our distributors love it!” says Kaufman.
What’s next for Macau? “Las Vegas! We’ve been waiting on this market because we want to do it right,” states O’Connor. “The Vegas/Macau connection is a natural. Macau is the Las Vegas of Asia. Some of the biggest US Casinos are in operation there like The Sands. Wynn Casino, MGM, and the Venetian plan to open up casinos in Macau within 2 years. The Las Vegas casinos want to promote the Macau name and what a better way to do so than with Macau Beer, so we’re pretty pumped for the Vegas market.”
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