Sparks (drink)

Sparks was 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.

Sparks
TypeMalt beverage/Energy drink
ManufacturerSteel Brewing
Country of origin United States
Introduced2002 (2002)
Proof (US)12
ColorFD&C Yellow No.5
VariantsSparks Light, Sparks Plus, Sparks Red, Sparks Lemon Stinger, Sparks Blackberry
Related productsBudweiser energy drink, Red Bull, Tilt, Four, Joose
Websitehttp://www.sparks.com

"Sparks was the innovator and creator of energy beer. The category didn't really exist before Sparks came out."

Pete Marino, spokesman, Miller Brewing Company, 2006[1]

Packaged in a can, its labeling indicates a 6% alcoholic content by volume. Its flavor was similar to other energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster Energy, and Rockstar, with a tart, sugary taste. Sparks' final formulation did not contain caffeine or taurine. Original packaging was a 16 oz (475 mL) silver can with bright orange tops, with a "+" printed near the top and a "–" printed near the bottom, intended to be reminiscent of a battery.

Other varieties included a sugar-free "Sparks Light" version with a bright blue top. Higher-alcohol versions, named "Sparks Plus" (black top, 7% alcohol), "Sparks Red" (red top, 8% alcohol), and "Sparks Stinger" (yellow top, 8% alcohol) are packaged in both 16oz and 24oz cans. Sparks rolled out an iced tea, lemonade and blackberry flavor in the early 2010s but quickly shrank their product line to only two flavors- original orange and blackberry. Those two flavors were available until August 2021 when current owners, Molson Coors, decided to discontinue the orange and blackberry flavors (the only two that existed at the time). A representative stopped short of saying the brand would be dissolved, but as it stands SPARKS has reached the end of their nearly two decade run.

History

Created in 2002 by San Francisco-based beverage marketing firm McKenzie River Corporation, early marketing relied on word of mouth primed by giving away large quantities of the beverage.[2] Between 2003 and 2005, it had a 107% compound annual growth rate.[3]

On July 3, 2006, Miller Brewing Company announced it had entered into an agreement to acquire Sparks from McKenzie River Corp. for $215 million,[4] with acquisition completed on August 14, 2006. Miller had been producing Sparks prior to this purchase.[5] It is currently producing it under the Steel Brewing Company label of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In September 2008, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit watchdog and consumer advocacy group, sued MillerCoors, claiming that its Sparks alcoholic beverages that include caffeine are a health hazard.[6]

Three months later, at the behest of San Francisco and thirteen states, distributor MillerCoors LLC announced it would remove the caffeine from its Sparks line of energy drinks, and would change its marketing campaign.[7] "We're doing it to protect the public health of our young people and to reform business practices," said S.F. City Attorney Dennis Herrera.[8]

Nutritional information
  • Energy: 350 Calories (1463 kilojoules)
    • from carbohydrates: 188 calories (787 kJ) (54%)
    • from alcohol: 161 calories (674 kJ) (46%)
  • Total carbohydrates 47 g 16%

Sparks Light (per 12 oz / 355 mL) 133 Calories 3.3 grams of carbohydrates 0.0 grams of fat.

See also

References
  1. Marikar, Sheila (July 12, 2006). "Energy Beers Boost Brewing Industry". abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  2. Smallwood, Christine (October 2004). "Malternative Marketing: The Sparks Story". The Philadelphia Independent. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  3. "Miller acquires Sparks, Steel Reserve brands". Business Journal of Milwaukee. July 3, 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  4. "Miller dives into caffeinated drinks with $215 million deal". Houston Chronicle. July 4, 2006.
  5. "Business News". Chicago Tribune.
  6. Daykin, Tom (September 9, 2008). "MillerCoors sued over Sparks: Health group says beverage shouldn't contain stimulants". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  7. Kesmodel, David (December 19, 2008). "MillerCoors Will Revamp Sparks". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  8. Ross, Andrew S. (December 19, 2008). "Sparks energy drink to drop caffeine". SFGate. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
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