The already-crowded craft beer business is getting new competition from unlikely entrants.

Kraft Heinz Co. licensed Lombard, IL-based Noon Whistle Brewery to produce a Mr.-IPA Nut beer under its Planters brand, while Beekman 1802, better known for its home goods, is readying a goat milk stout with Ommegang Brewery.

And those follow Harpoon Brewery’s Dunkin Coffee Porter, which was released earlier this month and Keegan Ales’ IHOP Pumpkin Pancake stout that is made with the International House of Pancakes’ batter and was introduced in the New York Tri-State area in September to coincide with restaurant chain’s seasonal pancakes: Pumpkin Spice and Pumpkin Cinn-A-Stack. On a larger scale, Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Budweiser has been heavily promoting a lager developed with Beam Suntory’s Jim Beam in TV ads airing during the World Series.

A common thread is that most are available in limited quantities or select markets. The Beekman 1802 beer is being produced in a limited run of 630 cases and 182 sixtels (containers that are one-sixth of a full keg) and is available primarily in the Northeast U.S., says an Ommegang spokeswoman.  Ommegang and Beekman tested a stout and an ale during the summer, but the stout proved more popular with consumers and was moved into larger production, says the Ommegang spokeswoman. The companies, both located near Cooperstown, NY, also have co-developed other products, including beer jelly.

In the case of the Planters brew, Noon Whistle is launching sales of the beer on Saturday, but only in Illinois and coinciding with the National American Beer Day. The four-pack of 16-ounce beers, which have 6.3 percent alcohol content, retails for $9.99.

Contact:

Beekman 1802, Tomei Thomas, VP,  888-801-1802, tomei@beekman1802.com

Dunkin, Drayton Martin, VP Brand Stewardship, 781-737-5200, drayton.martin@dunkinbrands.com

Harpoon Brewery, Charlie Storey, SVP Marketing, 617-456-2322

International House of Pancakes, Kirk Thompson, SVP Marketing,  818-240-6055, kirk.thompson@ihop.com

Keegan Ales, Thomas Keegan, Owner/Brewmaster, 845-331-2739

Kraft Heinz Co., Liz Rubin, Senior Associate Brand Mgr. for Meals, 412-456-5700, liz.rubin@kraftheinzcompany.

Noon Whistle Brewing, Mike Condon, Co-Founder, 630-376-6895

Ommegang Brewery, Doug Campbell, Pres, 607-544-1800, doug@ommegang.com