8.6 Black: Extra Strong in Both Taste and Design

The Bavaria brewery from the Netherlands is to launch 8.6 Black, a dark version of its classic Bavaria 8.6 beer on the African market. The 50 cl cans designed with the innovative Embossed Touch process are made by Ball Packaging Europe.

8.6 Black is the latest addition to the 8.6 range from tradition-steeped Dutch brewers Bavaria. The newcomer, a dark beer, comes in alongside Bavaria’s existing Original, Red and Gold beers. The new beer is brewed on the basis of the classic 8.6 Original. Likewise featuring an alcohol content of 7.9 percent, 8.6 Black hits the shelves first in Africa and Asia, where the stout beers segment is currently seeing enormous growth.

Catering to African consumer tastes in packaging, Ball Packaging Europe has created a very special can. While the 8.6 logo stands out in high-gloss gold, the remainder of the 50 cl aluminum can is embossed with the innovative Embossed Touch process for an exclusive haptic experience. “The far more pronounced embossing achieved with Embossed Touch projects the sense of masculinity characterizing our target group,” explains Benjamin Kaempf, Global Marketing Manager at Bavaria. “The design also enhances product differentiation and point-of-sale visibility.”

A black lacquered can end further underscores the beer’s premium quality. 8.6 Black targets well-off male beer drinkers aged 18 to 49 who are looking for stout beers with character.

8.6 Black will be launched to start with in Tanzania, Kenya, Mali and Burkina Faso. Thailand, Asia, Canada and the USA will follow. The market launch is to be accompanied by a mass promotion campaign and attractive design elements for brand enhancement at the point of sale. The campaign includes scratch cards with a chance to win a brand-new Mercedes Benz. Further prizes include packs of 8.6 Original and 8.6 Black.

Since its foundation in 1680, Bavaria has always used all-natural ingredients. The family-owned Dutch brewery in Lieshout solely uses top-quality water, hand-selected hops and malt from its own malt house.