Bud Light's Margarita-in-a-Can: Women Love It

The problem with mixed drinks, Anheuser-Busch thought, is the hassle of mixing them. You have to buy the ingredients, measure them out, and shake them up. A total pain—and the inspiration for the beer-based margarita in a can known as “Bud Light Lime Lime-A-Rita,” which was launched in 2012. It spawned such flavor extensions as Straw-Ber-Rita, Mang-O-Rita, and Raz-Ber-Rita and turned into one of the biggest success stories in recent beer history.

Sales of Bud’s ‘Ritas hit $462 million in 2013, up from $150 million the year before, according to data from IRI, a Chicago market research company. Bud says Straw-Ber-Rita (which outsold the original lime flavor last year) was the most successful product launch in the beer industry in 2013. Seasonal flavors, such as apple for the fall, are on the way.