Manufacturer Steel Brewing Proof (US) 12 Introduced 2002 | Country of origin United States Color FD&C Yellow No.5 | |
 | ||
Variants Sparks Light, Sparks Plus, Sparks Red, Sparks Lemon Stinger, Sparks Blackberry Similar Malt beverage, Malt liquor, Cocaine, Energy drink, Vodka Red Bull | ||
Sparks is 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.
Contents
Packaged in a can, its labeling states a 6% alcoholic content by volume. Its flavor is similar to other energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster Energy, and Rockstar, with a tart, sugary taste.
Sparks' current formulation does not contain caffeine or taurine. It is packaged in 16oz silver cans 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 include 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.
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. Between 2003 and 2005, it had a 107% compound annual growth rate.
On August 14, 2006, Miller Brewing Company announced it had completed the purchase of Sparks from McKenzie River Corp. for $215 million cash. Miller had been producing Sparks prior to this purchase. 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. Three months later, at the behest of San Francisco and 13 states, distributor MillerCoors LLC announced it would remove the caffeine from its Sparks line of energy drinks, and would change its marketing campaign. "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.
Nutritional information
Sparks Light (per 12 oz / 355 mL) 133 Calories 3.3 grams of carbohydrates 0.0 grams of fat.