Anheuser-Busch Invests $13 Million to Accelerate Production of Michelob Ultra, Cutwater

(Photo: Anheuser-Busch)

Brewing giant Anheuser-Busch has announced a $13 million investment in Baldwinsville, New York, that will support two of the conglomerate’s fastest-growing brands. The expansion is one piece of a multi-year $600 million investment plan that aims to cement US manufacturing through brewery operations, workforce development and veteran hiring.

On Thursday, the company revealed that the expansion will increase production capacity of Michelob Ultra through upgraded can and bottle lines. The Baldwinsville facility — which has been owned and operated by Anheuser-Busch since 1983 — will also receive new capabilities to accelerate production of Cutwater, the popular ready-to-drink cocktail.

“Anheuser-Busch is committed to supporting the communities where our employees live and work,” Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth remarked in a news release. “Investments in facilities like our Baldwinsville Brewery help us strengthen our operations while creating and sustaining jobs and continuing to drive economic growth throughout Central New York State.”

Long synonymous with Budweiser and Bud Light, Anheuser-Busch has pivoted toward Michelob Ultra as its main breadwinner in the beer aisle. The lager has grown by 15% in total volume since 2020 and received prime placement at the 2026 World Cup with a star-studded marketing campaign featuring Lionel Messi and actor Billy Bob Thornton.

Cutwater, meanwhile, has exceeded expectations and then some. The hit canned cocktail was recently announced as the fastest-growing alcohol brand across all categories, rising by 104% in dollar sales over the past 12 months. Anheuser-Busch claims it’s now the largest spirits-based cocktail brand in the US, over 4.5 times bigger than its nearest competitor.

The company has invested over $100 million into its Baldwinsville Brewery since 2021, saying that it remains committed to being a key economic driver in the state. To that end, Anheuser-Busch has opened a technical skills training center inside the facility to upskill employees across mechanical, electrical, digital and operational areas.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul welcomed the initiative, adding a statement of support to the news release circulated to press outlets.

“New York has a proud manufacturing heritage that continues to fuel economic opportunity across the state,” Hochul added. “Anheuser-Busch’s latest investment in its Baldwinsville Brewery, alongside the apprenticeship opportunities developed in partnership with Anheuser-Busch, New York State, MACNY, and the Teamsters, helps to create new pathways to long-term careers right here in New York and a bright future for the Central New York region.”

As Anheuser-Busch continues to double down on what works, the company has trimmed operations on the peripheries. In May, management finalized the $360 million sale of its longtime brewery site near Newark Liberty Airport. The 87-acre property was around a five-hour drive downstate from Baldwinsville.