Anheuser-Busch Cans Water for Firefighters; Kirin Tests Plastic Beer Bottles

Plus, rapper E-40 is releasing branded malt liquor.

— Mixed news for fans of French wines. A lack of rain is causing a 1 percent drop in French grape harvests this year, with the Burgundy and Champagne regions experiencing a particularly steep 11 percent decrease in production, according to France 24. But on the bright side, the industry is expecting a particularly exceptional 2015 vintage thanks to all that heat.

— Anheuser-Busch is once again spreading the good will vibes. According NBC, the brewery giant is sending 51,744 cans of water to firefighters battling blazes in Washington state. Approximately 16 wildfires are plaguing the region. In May, the company also briefly halted production at its Georgia brewery to send canned water to Texas and Oklahoma flood victims.

— Plastic bottles may be the future of beer. The Wall Street Journal reports that Mitsubishi Plastics is working with Kirin to bring plastic beer bottles to market. Until now, plastic bottles have been off limits to brewers because they allow for carbon and oxygen gass to permeate into the beer. The new bottles are coated with a special carbon film prevent the quality of the beer from deteriorating and have the advantage of being lighter and more durable than glass.

— Rapper E-40 is deep in the beverage game with a line of energy drinks, wines, and a pre-made "Sluricane Hurricane" cocktail to his name. But those products aren't stopping him from expanding his branded beverage horizons. On Monday, the California-based artist announced via Instagram that he's bringing a new drink, E-40 malt liquor, to market. Appropriately, it's available in 40 ounce bottles.

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