Supporting the "enemy"...I broke down

Definitely surprised by many of the responses in this thread. Getting into craft beer has informed almost every aspect of my life as a consumer, as it's given me a very strong sense of business ethics. I've since stopped going to major supermarkets, and instead frequent my excellent local grocer. I haven't been to Applebee's in years, in spite of their frenzied attempts to make appetizers so cheap that they pay you to eat them. I find that any time I support a massive international corporation over a small, privately owned option that is objectively better, I'm full of guilt. If I ran a small business and did everything right and made superior products, I'd be endlessly frustrated by the public's tendency to always just do what's cheapest and easiest. Golden rule. Plus, I'm not an economist, but it's not hard to see that sending your money towards the small guys who run great businesses is a powerful way to support both the economy and our culture.

And truly this is all spurred on by my adventures in the beer world. I guess I'm just surprised that more people here haven't had the same experience that I have. I've recently made the decision to never again buy beer from a business that is all or partly owned by an international megacorporation, and that includes BCBS. I just find that responsible consumer practice, regardless of how goddamn good BCBS tastes. And I will miss it. But it will feel so good to have it gone.

For anybody pointing out that we're all using HP computers connected by Verizon internet service and driving Hondas insured by Allstate, those are industries where there are no reasonably accessible "craft" options yet, making that line of reasoning essentially a straw man argument.

 

I was at a music festival over the summer. They had Goose Island IPA and nothing else that appealed to me. I was quite satisfied with the flavor. Doesn't seem to have changed. Never my favorite but a decent IPA.

 

Not true. I'm sure there is a local business not too far away that will custom build you a computer to your specs with Linux and LibreOffice installed. You can also buy everything you need to build your own computer ("home brewing"). You have numerous options for internet service, including some smaller providers (at least I do here). You don't have to "support" a large auto company for transportation, with options ranging from buying used to bicycles to, well, horses! And, a couple of those don't even require insurance, and those that do, there are independent agents who can set you up through smaller companies. It's all a matter of how dedicated a person is to a "support your local sheriff" life style.

I have no issue with people drawing a line in how far they are willing to go on this "buy local" thing; it does not need to be an all or nothing thing. Just don't lecture those who draw the line somewhere else.

 

I looked at bulding my own PC with the help of a shop. First question - Intel or AMD. If your local shop builds your bike, you will still get gears and shifters from Shimano in all likelihood. I do not know the much about say the malting business, but my sense is that what happens in the brewery is more important in beer than assembly is in desktop PC's or in bikes. I certainly respect everyone's decision about how far yo go to be moe local or less corporate, including the decision not to try to ve those things at all. But I do think the comparison of beers and some other products where going local and/or small is fairly easy, to PC's and cars (for which bikes are not a substitute but a different category and I say that as a bike commuter and bike advocate) to show the hypocrisy of locavores gets tiresome.

 

Which is why I said "reasonably accessible" in my last point. Dropping InBev and Nestle products for small-business (and almost objectively superior) equivalent alternatives is a far cry away from quitting your job because it's too far away and you want to stop supporting automotive and gas corporations.

Plus, I do use a computer that was custom built for me by my friend from parts purchased from a local computer shop but it still uses an Intel processor. There are some industries where there are almost no possible alternatives due to the extreme difficulty and expense of production, such as with a computer processors.

My intent was simply to express my surprise that more people here haven't had an experience similar to mine, since it's craft beer that lead me down this path and this is a forum populated by craft beer enthusiasts.

 

As does the lecturing (or is it hectoring...) from those who want to act like they hate all things corporate, whether it is beer or retail stores.

 

Good points. I know a few folks who also bicycle or bus to work so they can do without the cars & auto insurance. They grossly overtip because they think waiters deserve (what they perceive as) a "living wage". Same on other levels. You're right there has to be a line, but at the same time we shouldn't pretend that some lines aren't better than others. I point this out to "ethical vegetarians" who wear fur and leather. The thing with the craft beer folks is that all too often craft beer is the only thing or nearly the only thing where these values apply. I wouldn't mind their cherrypicking so much if they were quiet and didn't go about trying to convert others so much.

 

Hectoring is usually an ineffective way to spread a movement in my opinion.

I do not only drink local. That is because drinking local is for me only one value, that I balance against others. But I do not need to (inaccurately IMO) accuse others of hypocrisy to drink Stone.

I see as much hostility to locavorism and to anticorporatism on these forums as I do hard core locavorism. IRL I do not see such hectoring.

I am not close to a strict locavore. But I am definitely an anti-anti-locavore.

 

What ? I don't understand. "I will buy what I like because I know of these breweries want to be the big dog" ????

 

besch

See what I said above. Telling people they are not ethical will just get people's backs up. Better to promote and support local products, model the lifestyle. And explain specific benefits to society.

 

Bar mats, neons, menus, line-cleaning, "and many other things", is the problem. The old boy system is so corrupt it's amazing. I would never want a Bud Light neon under any circumstances.

 

True. Deleted my post. This subject is tread well enough on this site.

 

I am drinking a highlife right now and I don't give a shit what anyone thinks of it.

 

A good reason to not support mega-corporations is because their ultimate ambition is to destroy or absorb the smaller companies that are important in your life. You may consider Mr. Inbev a friend, but if one day you find out he's trying to murder your other friend Mr. Smallbrew, you should probably consider dumping Mr. Inbev.

 

Most would want you to support them if they give you something, but if you do, you think it is corrupt. I think the correct term is business. Calling something corrupt is a bully tactic that really works when your losing the point.

 

I'm fairly certain this is happening very deliberately. local restaurants & stores have been getting all kinds of deals on Goose Island products. Similar to how Walmart works... shop the area find the average price of an item & undercut the local business till it makes no sense to buy anywhere/anything else. I'm not going to lie, I bought some, I still feel dirty about it.

 

Wrong sir. Free stuff, because of budget availability, whether legal or not, is an inducement. I have been down this road many times...."well, they give me this and do this for me, why should I, etc, etc.." I'm losing no point whatsoever and will stick to my guns and call corruption what it is. Sorry.

 

I would imagine Goose Islands showing up because it is being told to some of these establishments that it is a craft beer offering that their customers will enjoy, so the plop it on a tap. Truth be told, not a bad thing. Most chains only carry the BMC offerings, so I will take this and Blue Moon when I am there

 

Two of the beers I enjoy most when I want to unwind are Pabst Blue Ribbon and Miller High Life, and yes, I know who brews and distributes them. I'm not exactly thrilled at the the BMC's of the world buying some of the little guys up but at the end of the day, I like what I like regardless of how big or small the company is. Beer is beer and I do my best to avoid the "small = good, big - bad" attitude that so many seem to have when it comes to the craft vs. macro debate. I just know what beers I love once I pour them out and see them outside of the bottle!

 

I do like the Goose Island IPA and Honkers Ale (some in the fridge right now) but neither of those is made in Chicago (at least not the ones sold here). I understand that GI continues to exist and brew other beer styles. I think it is actually a good thing that the BMC companies are brewing something other than AAL as it will cause some AAL consumers to try different styles. At least it seems to meet "the rising tide raises all boats" theme to me.