Devils Backbone Brewing Company Partners with Anheuser-Busch

Another reason I don't really think I need these guys on local shelves here. Who knows what they would displace?

 

I didn't say they have to. In fact I specifically said:

(unless they're a brewery that doesn't even make an IPA)

However, I would argue that the IPA has become so synonymous with American beer, that if you want to be regarded as a great American brewery, rather than a great niche brewery (e.g. the Bruery), you better make a great IPA.

 

True, you didn't use the word "bad." But then nobody else said medals were the only measure for identifying good beer.

As for only "conventional beers" that are "to style" winning medals there are lots of folks who would disagree with you about a number of medal winning beers. For example, Victory's Prima Pils medaled at a GABF and is none the less soundly criticized by many on this site as "not being true to style." (Especially those who cut their Pils drinking teeth in Germany.) It is/was certainly not a carbon copy of anything else brewed in the US and/or prior medal winners in that category. Similarly every year after the GABF results are reported there are plenty of folks on BA who are quite vocal about such and such medal winning beer being "true to style."

So I suggest that your stereotype has a grain of truth but is not really an accurate assessment of outcomes.

Enjoy your evening.

 

I live in Va, have tried a bunch of DBB beers and generally have liked them. I'm not going to boycott them or berate them for their decision (and as far as I know they never said that corporate beer sucks) but when I have the chance I will try to support other breweries.

 

To add a bit, I always use this example. One of the breweries local to me, Saint Arnold, makes an Oktoberfest. Which has won 4 medals at GABF for that particular beer. Three of them are for the Scottish Ale category

PS: To be fair the first, was a silver for the Oktoberfest category.

PPS: At the moment I am drinking Saint Arnold's brand new 5 O'clock Pils, and is stunning. Every bit as flavorful, and enjoyable as any IPA, or whatever style I have had. We seem to be wondering way off topic

 

Just reading along through this thread along with their FB page and its comments. Lots of interactions and positive responses. I am actually sad more people aren't absolutely frightened. Are they allured by the words? I can see through the words. There is no partnership. YOU SOLD OUT. Typical press release. No one wants to tell us like it is.

I just don't know. EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR spent on their beers goes back to AB INBEV. Why should I support these guys who will now possibly push mediocre beers down my throat and take away tap space from local beers?

I'm more in line with @beernuts thinking. These will be the beers that are everywhere that are competing against true locals. It's becoming a serious uphill battle. You pretty much have to sell out.

 

Personally, if I was an American brewery, I wouldn't make an IPA. Unless you can take the world by storm and make a full-on elite one (a la Melvin, Bosque, La Cumbre, Comrade, Barley Brown's, etc.) you're going to get lost in the world.
It wouldn't shock me if a lot of places have one in their line-up just because someone claims they have to. Either that or they need something that is synonymous with "craft beer," which right now is an IPA of any sort.
I don't think DB's IPA was keeping their lights on.

 

Like I wrote in another thread, everybody who starts a brewery has the right to chose to sell, and we as consumers have a right to buy beer from companies we like.

Lots of people around here talk about buying Goose Island Bourbon County still..despite being owned by AB InBev for awhile now...

 

I like the fact that AB-InBev has named the new business unit the "High End". That's not saying much for their normal product....

 

If (as I believe I read) Vienna lager is 60% of sales, I bet the 8 Point IPA is at least 20%, just by way of thinking about shelf placements and tap handles I've seen in their market. IPA dominates retail craft sales, the IDI year-end sheet I believe has been posted here for 2014 (don't think 2015 is out yet) shows it pretty dramatically. But I'm just guessing.

 

In kansas, almost all of the beers that have won medals here are terrible crap. I put no stock into "medals" for beer.

 

Here's to great niche breweries! Cheers! (my favorite may be Crooked Stave but that could be only because I can never get to Glenwood Springs on the first Saturday of every month.

OT, I know, sorry.

 

Really? The independent wholesaler and their employees, and the retailer and its employees don't make anything on the beer? The Federal and state excise taxes aren't paid? AB doesn't pay their suppliers?

Damn - that AB InBev is even more powerful that I was led to believe.

--- Writes the guy who's been boycotting AB (along with Miller
and Coors) longer than many BA's have been alive, back
when AB had a whopping 23% of the US market. ​

 

This certainly cements your credibility as a beer commentator. I'll be looking forward to future posts.

dude seriously needs a beer. nobody better bring him a vienna lager though, or a czech pils.

 

Well if you'd been appointed the International Standar Palate and had the training of most GABF judges I'd think that was important. :-)

However, until then I'll just point out that what you decide is "terrible crap" is matter of your personal taste and its fine if you don't care for them, but that doesn't mean the rest of us would think so (as obviously the judges did not).

Enjoy your evening.

 

It saddens me. I am a DB fan.

 

I like their Vienna Lager, but thats all I've had from them.

 

That's still true, but I would imagine that the BMC would be after the breweries that are succeeding in sales, rather than the small ones or the ones that are failing. I do think that we'll see breweries fail in the future as their quality and standards won't be as high as the demand for their beer. In the mean time, the breweries that are getting withdrawn from 'craft" are those being bought by BMC. At least, from my point of view. And that's a very regional point of view.

 

I am amazed at all the Devil's Backbone hate here. Before it was readily available all I heard was look for this when it comes it is great stuff!! The Vienna is great and I think the Striped Bass pale was more than decent. I get the feeling that once they deal with the Devil their beer sucks to most people. Oh yeah-I love me some BUD!!!!

 

I was being a bit too simplistic I suppose. What I was getting at is moreso revenue and profits going right out of the local region and into AB INBEV big wigs pockets and shareholders. Now its true they will be employing local workers, pay local taxes etc. But they will be no different than a huge factory or call center that many towns and cities strive for/live off of. For awhile, craft breweries were bucking that trend and doing things on their own. A true mom and pop success story all around the country.

Bottom line, be aware of the beer drinking and buying decisions that you make. What seems like a non threatening buy is actually hurting the smaller local breweries (who likely are pushing much better quality).

I said it with BP. We helped them grow. We helped them become a viable asset for Big Beer. We made a family very rich. I think it's in everyones best interest (if you love beer variety as a whole) to think twice about how all this affects you. I'm seeing way too much praise on their Facebook page. More often than not, I tend to ask myself, Who am I actually helping? I get a sick feeling knowing big beers shady practices are who I am helping. And I'll admit, I help them once in awhile. I'm no saint. But at least I feel I am aware.