Supporting the "enemy"...I broke down

I guess my point about them not brewing the beer is about people. If the people involved in the making of the product are passionate and care about it, I'm okay with it. That's just me though.

 

I can well understand how OP, a small business owner, perhaps in direct competion with large corporations himself, may want to support small and local breweries. I think there is nothing wrong in that, in fact a lot right with that, and I try to do that myself. I do not think one needs to think of ABI as the enemy or feel guilty about buying large (I have not yet tried GI in my journey to lean to learn about beer, and maybe I won't, but I have bought beers from some of the larger craft breweries) every once in a while. I think its more about what you support than about what you avoid.

 

You knew what humor was all along.

 

Over salted.

 

No worries, I buy fresh Sophie anytime I see it!

 

Why should anyone feel guilty supporting a quality product if it comes from a "big corporation" over a "little guy"? Success for a brewer/distributor should be earned, not handed out b/c they're local and not as money making (hopefully they are making money) as higher ups. That doesn't mean I don't cheer on the start ups and wish them well, but that doesn't mean I want them to succeed if they brew subpar or worse beer.

 

I'll cop to this but generally speaking try really hard to avoid it.

 

Beer is just beer and business is business. InBev is playing "both" sides and a little research reveals interesting business practices. I watch the local Bud distributor and they are mostly clueless. They bring on and buy craft brands from smaller distributors- under pressure- and fail to carry all skus, don't know what or how much to buy, and generally drive some good brands into the dirt. I'll always place more trust in the more passionate, smaller distributors who recognized and built this modern beer revolution. InBev had nothing to do with it and is playing a very poor game of "catch up".

 

Again Principle alone would do, and for the same reasons the article laid out.

 

It's called a clique...and to many, is just as offensive as big corporations. Neither offend me but people are easily annoyed/offended these days and hyper-sensitivity seems to be the emotion of the day.

 

In the Florida case it's much more likely that the extremely well-connected old-boy network of distributors called AB-Inbev for a little assistance, and it was granted. They've been actively anti-consumer for decades, and this also jibes with what Peter was told (that his company has no real incentive to instigate this kind of action, as well as that they weren't involved). This could be interpreted as parsing of the language a bit, but that's what legal departments are for sometimes .

From what I've heard from friends in the industry, the distributors are always the black hats- not just from a legislative standpoint, but also all of that business about claiming tap handles and shelf space, etc. The way around them, imo, is not to boycott any large brewer, but to do what we can to finally reform local franchise laws. This will finally bring some needed accountability to that tier of the system.

 

Do we need a thread about buying (or not) macro every day? Aren't there better things to talk about, like 'post sours for a noob' or 'list your top ipas'?

 

Well, there have only been 13,990 threads in Beer Talk, that couldn't have possibly covered it all.

 

Yeah, we NEVER have threads about those topics!

 

I'm hoping a good 'is heady overrated' discussion fires up soon. It's about that time.

 

This is the internet and really good censors are needed. I can't remember the last time that I forgot to be amazed.

 

When I do buy BMC products, it is usually their lesser known products--Third Shift, Redd's, and Smith and Forge hard cider--but it has to be on sale for $1-$2 less than a craft 6-pack. I'm more apt to buy these at a bar that really doesn't have many craft beer options.

 

312 I had on tap at a bar, I don't even remember Red Hook. The only gift I've had that was a Goose Island beer was Boubon County Barleywine - which was divine. But since then I started working in the industry and my views changed. Which is why I don't mind at all other people buying any InBev product - I just no longer do

 

Was it the "flight pack"? They've got a 12 bottle variety pack at the BX on base here called the flight pack. It's $11! Holy shit.

 

Although money does always impact my choice of beers, I don't care one way or the other who made it. If it's quality beer I get it. And sometimes I will buy beers from the big brewers that I have not had before. My reasoning is that to be able to truly judge beer, you need to experience the full range - bad as well as good. Sometimes I have been surprised, and sometimes it bring back college memories.

I rarely buy more than individual bottles, however. I want to try as many different beers as I can. I am the beer supplier for family gatherings around the various holidays, though, so I will get a mixed 12-pack for that if it has some beers unique to that package. Usually most of it comes home with me, as my nephew drinks his own beer. No problem for me!

I suppose the biggest question I have for you is - why were you so determined not to support them after they were bought by In-Bev? They are a business, and the purpose of a business is to be profitable at the end of the day. If they were able to reach the agreement that In-Bev would not make them change their beers, and would open up their distribution system, sounds like a win-win to me. Now I can get Goose Island beers at my local supermarket, in 6-packs or singles. I don't have to drive 15 miles.