Thank You InBev

She's a friend of mine, so I trust her. I guess I should have threw her on the polygraph test, but I didn't have it with me, so it wasn't possible.

 

Evidence of this?

People have been saying it for 20 years, but as they get bigger the cooperation between craft brewers stays strong. Oh, there is infighting and lawsuits here and there, but the level of cooperation remains high.

There seems to be a general agreement that everyone can make money without being cutthroat. Will they change some day? Maybe. Probably. But at this point Im waiting until I see it before I say it.

Oh, and I dont hate on a company for wanting to be #1, but for the methods they choose to employ to get there.

 

The strong armed tactics of BMC are no good, I think we can all agree with that...So all you store owners, bar owners out there, have YOU been forced to "make" cooler space for Goose? I know I haven't. My distro works with me, lets me put on tap what I choose, and I choose to have Matilda on tap because a: I like the beer b: I think it's a good beer c: my customers like it and purchase it. He's never said I have to have 312 on tap, or Honker's in a bottle in order to get the beers I want. So I haven't personally been subject to the strong arm tactics, but I do see them and understand.

 

Lol if you choose to buy BMC, why would they pick on you?

 

How many brewery owners have you talked to? Yes they want to make money but a fair amount that I have personally had conversations with are not out to get rich, they want to make a comfortable living, take care of their family all while doing something they love. Everyone may be out there to make money but many craft brewers are out there to make money in a much different way than the big boys.

I have often found the big craft breweries who have use their size to influence others not only use this power to benefit themselves but to benefit their community of peers. This is a bit different way to operate compared to inbev.

 

BMC does not have the power to stop an establishment from purchasing their products. Nor can they force one to purchase them either.
I sell the beers I want to sell in my store (no BMC).

 

Honestly, guys. To boycott all the corporate giants you're going to have to grow and raise all your own food, weave and sew your own textiles for clothes, restore an older vehicle to commute in so you don't have to purchase a new one, and so on...

It sounds extreme, but they have their hands in every supply chain. And if you boycott one, you really should boycott them all since they exercise the same types of business practices. And only boycotting the ones that you choose to is pretty hypocritical if you think about it.

I definitely understand the reasoning, because I find myself doing it as well. And I don't fault anyone for using this logic. Unfortunately, this is really the practice of business in general in this day and age. And it's damn ugly.

 

let's be clear. i didn't say there is any scarcity in barrels. i said what we know as the proven GOOD tasting barrels are fading fast. likewise it's going to be harder to find "any specifics" because the specifics are... fading fast.

in summary, InBev is now our friend. they're going to increase BCBS production to year round status. hip-hip-hurray. the flip side of the coin is you keep ignoring a logical fact unanswered multiple times. why is InBev waiting to be our friend? where the heck is that secondary installment & bottling of BCBS we were promised this year? how about that promised wheated BCBS release? hopefully your source regarding the newly anticipated warehouse(s) is more reliable than GI's website & the promises its brand manager offered since InBev stepped in.

 

You're correct, but a lot of distributors do operate in a manner where they have to sell a certain percentage of their B, M, or C. So maybe you can buy what you want, but somewhere along the line at another retail outlet, some small brewer is going to get squeezed out because of some 80/20 rule.

 

1. I dont see it as hypocritical. Maybe the boycotters only give a damn about big beer companies and not other industries.

2. I dont see the problem with hypocrisy in general. Have never understood it. If someone is right on A and wrong on obviously related issue B, Im not going to criticize them for being right about A.

 

But they won't squash the smaller breweries as long as we keep drinking those other beers, too. And let the little guys make something that has the appeal of a BCBS if they want/deserve business (whether that reason be a desire to help local industry, a similar quality at a better price point, something better quality, etc.)

 

it's an excuse people use to rationalize bad behavior.

 

Now, i may be the exception to the rule when it comes to Goose because A: I'm right across the street from the pub and B: the largest GI account in the world, BUT: Nothing has changed sales tactics wise with Goose. I've had yet to have anything strong armed happen, and dont expect to. Because ABInBev is leaving Goose alone to be Goose, and do everything ABInBev cant.

As i'm typing this, a Sam Adams commercial is on the radio. Food for thought.

 

I think this argument would be appropriate if the playing field were level.

 

It is not they are the # 1 seller of beer. It is the means by which they are unfairly trying to suppress competition.

If. You have a store in your area that refuses to sell BMC. Products you. Should support them whenever possible.
But you go keep on going. To Walmart and buying BMC. Then wonder why you can't get good beer.

 

I dunno, I'm seeing craft beer selection improving at nearly every beer shop I go to. If BMC is trying to suppress competition they aren't doing a very good job. Besides the shop I mentioned that doesn't carry BMC the Total Wines near me are super heavy into craft and while they carry BMC it isn't prominently displayed. Even the grocery stores are starting to carry more and more craft options.

 

One would think this, but if anything I'm sure price would go up. Supply and demand.

 

I guess I don't know the mechanics/structure of the distribution and other mechanisms. I'll defer to your knowledge.

 

I completely agree. What we have to keep an eye on even more than their quality control is what InBev does to the community. If they decide to use their craft resources to bully their way onto tap handles, that's the line in the sand.

 

I dont know we just got goose island friday, and the pale ale and the 312 and they just left me wanting. I don't know if I'm a victim of hype or what. The 312 was nice and yeasty up front and then.... ... and the pale was hoppy I guess, but the Sofie and Pepe Nero are 12 13 dollar 4 packs and its gonna take more than that to get me to buy those. From what I've had even buying these beers at wholesale doesn't really appeal to me. They seem like interesting enough beers but I'd rather buy 13 dollar six packs of mana wheat or a 14 dollar 4 pack of coconut porter. we get those beers a long time after the canned date and they are just fantastic. I cant imagine what the product taste like fresh. I've never had GI pre inbev but I'd almost be more disappointed if they weren't bought. But who knows I might get a wild hair up my ass and go for a 4 pack or 750ml and fall in love. I'd like that and its happened before but not frequently enough for me to go for it just yet. I'm sure plenty of people love GI and I'm not saying they shouldn't, I'm just saying for now I haven't seen anything thats really impressed me. Granted those are the only two offerings I've had from them.