Reviewed by: Grace Howard
New beer makes its national debut in Birmingham thanks to this local partnership
Reading time: 5 minutes
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Birmingham is a beer town through and through. But it’s also a city where people come together to support one another, uplift our community and simply enjoy a good time with a great, drinkable beer.
The newest brew to hit the scene? Martens BeLite. It’s a crisp, light beer from the heart of Belgium, but it’s making its United States debut right here in Birmingham. It’s all thanks to a chance encounter with members of the Buffalo Rock and Piggly Wiggly teams, as well as local restaurants and purveyors who are helping raise a glass to all of the reasons this smooth, refreshing light beer is the perfect companion to a hot Birmingham summer.
What is Martens BeLite beer?
We tried the new Martens BeLite beer on a steamy Alabama day by the river and on a recent trip to Mentone. (Nathan Watson / BhamNow)
Our team was thirsty to get their hands on the new Martens, so we carried our cans to the mountains of Mentone, a day at Logan-Martin lake and for a river float just outside of Birmingham. The consensus: It’s super refreshing, light, crisp-tasting and crushable for warm days out in the Alabama sunshine.
Here’s what to know about Martens BeLite beer:
- It’s brewed by the 2nd largest brewery in Belgium with nine generations of family expertise.
- In fact, the Martens family has been brewing since 1758!
- This light, drinkable lager offers 4.2% ABV (alcohol by volume), about what you find in most domestic beers.
- Nutrition: 90 calories, only 2.2g carbs
- Flavor profile: well-balanced with Noble hops, a floral aroma + a hint of spiciness.
- Price: from $7.99 for an 8-pack
Why Birmingham is one of the first places you can try Martens BeLite in the U.S.
Birmingham may not be the typical test market for nationwide rollouts, but the story about how this came to be is pretty magic.
When Buffalo Rock President and CEO, Matthew Dent, visited the Martens brewery museum 15 years ago, he was impressed with their deep family history and commitment to craftsmanship. Dent knew that when the time was right for Buffalo Rock to expand into alcohol distribution, he wanted Martens to be their partner. In just six months, Martens had developed a brew that mixed Belgian know-how with American tastes, and they entrusted Buffalo Rock to intro Martens BeLite into the United States market, starting right here in Alabama.
“Buffalo Rock is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, it’s family-owned and we’ve got multiple generations working for us. To work with a ninth-generation, family-owned brewery, and to launch it for the first time in the whole world right here in Birmingham, Alabama…that is really cool.”
Carl Valentine, Corporate Director of Alcohol and Strategic Partnership at Buffalo Rock
When the Buffalo Rock team was in the development stages for Martens BeLite, they reached out to another local family-owned business with deep Alabama roots, Piggly Wiggly. Andrew Virciglio of Piggly Wiggly Birmingham was part of the focus group that developed the brew.
“Our stores have long been a destination for beer, so we take tremendous pride in being able to accommodate our customers, and we always try to do a lot in the local game.
While BeLite may not be from Alabama, we look at it as a family-owned and operated brand too—just like Buffalo Rock and Piggly Wiggly—and we think our customers will really enjoy it. It’s at a good price point, too. It’s great quality, but right in line with domestic beers for pricing.”
Andrew Virciglio, Piggly Wiggly Birmingham
Where to find Martens BeLite in Birmingham
You can find Martens BeLite all around Birmingham, at retailers (like Piggly Wiggly and others) and restaurants (like Soho Social in Homewood). The brew began expanding distribution to neighboring states in 2025, and will eventually spread to all 50 states. Find a local retailer here.
In the meantime, we’ll count ourselves lucky that Alabama remains a player in the nationwide—and even global—beer conversation. And that it all began through connecting family roots with local flavors.
“I think there’s been a fundamental shift in the craft beer world over the last 5 to 7 years. You see folks trying to bridge the domestic drinkers of the world to craft beer—and Martens found a way to do it with a less caloric option. It’s crisp, refreshing and a great price point.”
Andrew Virciglio, Piggly Wiggly Birmingham
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