There are alcohol contents that the ATF (Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms) set up for what can be considered a beer in the US. Over a certain percent either by volume, content, or both, the beverage can't be sold as a beer.
You can sift through tons of government documents if you google beer +"alcohol content" +ATF
I've had the version I speak about in Toronto, and my brother-in-law had it in Jamacia. I also will advise that the texture is slighty different than the American counterpart as well.
(I found out all this concievably random data while looking up stuff on malt liquor, but it becomes relevant here as well)