Boycotting Is a Slippery Slope

Funny you say that. I actually shop in their Riverside showroom. MoreBeer/MoreWine is the best.

Cheers!

 

I think it's interesting how much hypocrisy in on display. So do the Inbev haters refrain from purchasing from all big businesses? No Nikes? No Toyotas? Where was your computer/phone built and by whom? Do you buy major brand appliances? Do you not cheer for any sports teams? Because everyone takes advertising dollars from big businesses. There are many more businesses that have worse practices than Inbev and most are probably not taking a stand against them. Inbev is a business, and their business model has worked for years. Must of done something right. I don't like most Bud products, taste is important to me, but yes I'll be line for some BCBS. I've toured several Budweiser facilities, and found them very informative. Unbelievable volumes, and outstanding quality/repeatability in their processes. My beer buying is mostly from regional craft or SN, It just kills me how too many folks are holier than thou about this issue. If you don't like the beer fine, but if you don't like big business, few can really walk the walk.

 

The difference here is that most other industries aren't taking the stance against their "big business" counterparts like the craft beer industry has. Craft beer consumers are boycotting ABI owned brands because non-ABI owned brands, their direct competition, are telling those consumers to do so. There's no other reason.

As have a lot of the others that you mentioned. The people who turn a blind eye to the Wal-Marts of the world, yet decry ABI need to take a long, hard look in the mirror.

This strikes me as the most hypocritical bit. The people that basically say: "Man . . . I HATE ABI! But BCBS is SO amazeballs, I just can't pass it up!"

They are pretty cool. Especially the horses. They're awesome.

Same here. I drink mostly homebrew and whatever good beer is on tap at the pub, and occasionally whatever tickles my fancy at the packy. Can't remember the last time that I drank an ABI owned product. Matter of fact, was just in Chicago and managed not to drink any GI beer.

Indeed.

 

The definition of hypocrite: A person who pretends to have virtues, morals, religious beliefs or principles, etc that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs. (Dictionary.com)

The word is widely misused, especially on the internet where it's a pejorative word used to shame or attack. What you and others are trying to say - and I totally agree with you - is that most people are not acting consistently with their convictions. This doesn't mean their convictions aren't true, but that we live in a society so complex that it makes it hard to practice what we preach.

I can only speak for myself, but I have never in my life walked into a Walmart and successfully avoid most of the corporations that have been thrown around in this thread (including ABI), but not all of them. In fact, right now a third party advertiser is flashing credit cards at me and unless I ditch BA there's nothing I can do about it. But does that mean I should just throw up my hands and give up?

In a world with complex, intricately woven advertising, product placement and endorsement the best most of us can do (barring becoming a monk and retreating from society) is to withhold our money from companies that we know are hurting us, others, fair business or whatever it is you care about. And when it's too difficult to do so, it's ok to acknowledge that it's not always possible. I've learned this both in parenting and at my job. You've got to choose your battles - you can't always be at war.

What I object to is the idea that if we can't practice our convictions uniformly that we can't practice them at all. There is no logic that says because you can't do everything you should do nothing.

 

The problem with this sentiment is the "why" of which battles that you choose to fight. If you eschew some battles because they are too difficult to fight, but fight others because they are easier, then that says volumes about your convictions. It says, "I have standards, but only if it's easy for me to stand behind them". Since beliefs determine behaviors, that would indicate that a person of this ilk is, indeed, a hypocrite because their actions speak MUCH louder than their hollow words.

 

There has been a bit of discussion about independent craft breweries not wanting to 'support' ABI.

As a reminder, Wicked Weed had to cancel their beer event of Funkatorium Invitational (was to have occurred last month) since a significant number of independent craft breweries pulled out post the sale of Wicked Weed to ABI.

I am hesitant to utilize the verbiage of "boycott" here but there is certainly an anti-ABI message being sent by the independent craft breweries that pulled out of the event.

Cheers!

https://www.brewbound.com/news/last...pones-beer-fest-speakeasy-sale-price-reported

 

Not at all trying to insult, but this is a poor example.

Because of all the rules and regulations on most of the above listed items, I can't go to a small business to buy my car. I can't buy running shoes from a local running shoe maker. Phones and computers and appliances are generally all built by a handful of factories and purchased and branded by companies; all of these markets are monopolized and cannot be muscled into by the little guys. Luckily for us, the beer market is an easier nut to crack-generally speaking- for the smaller businesses. Moreover, how many small breweries do you see support and uplift other small breweries just getting started? That's the competition they are helping out. Doubtful you'd see Ford endorse Chevrolet, or Samsung endorse Apple. Really makes you think about the craft beer community.

Personally, I can't say anything about sports as I don't watch sports or TV for that matter.

With that being said, I don't practice small business purchasing habits only with beer- I do my best to support local whenever I can. But because of the way the cookie crumbles, sometimes I (and the rest of us) are forced to buy from the big guy.

Hope you're having a productive week.

Cheers!

 

Question, are most BA's against ABI/big business or against fizzy yellow water/beer?
Are we buying craft beer from small local brewers because they fill the niche the the big buys left open because our forefathers and ancestors didn't know any better or, are we buying from the small guys because they're small?
Anyone buying gas from a small Ma & Pa gas station? Frequent a small local grocery store or butcher shop?

 

Maybe you could start a new thread (with a poll) on this topic.

I can anecdotally report that I have not read any posts on BA where the level of vitriol for non-ABI breweries was of the magnitude as the anti-ABI posts.

Some BA, who I can't recall as I type this message, assigned an Evil Index value of 666 for ABI with lower values assigned to Miller-Coors, Heineken, Constellation,...

Cheers!

 

What rules and regulations? The big businesses do a good job at keeping competition down. Either by controlling materials or pricing. Nike started out of some guys trunk, selling shoes at track meets, sounds pretty "craft" to me. I think Big Beer left the door open in this case, and were slow to react to changing taste. It would be surprising to see big beer not react by buying their way in, just as other big companies have swallowed up their competition. The tech industry comes to mind. Many small tech companies jump at the chance to get bought out by Apple or Microsoft. So we have to play with kid gloves in the beer industry? I don't mind Inbev, I just like most of their beers.

 

Sure, I'm not saying people can't be hypocrites, but the point I was trying to make is that the issue is too complex to simplify in the way that some are trying to simplify it and the attempt to turn this into a black and white issue is resulting in faulty logic.

By definition, choosing to abandon your convictions when it's inconvenient might make you a hypocrite, failing to act on them because it isn't possible ( for whatever reason) might make you weak or contradictory or just plain human. But it wouldn't make you a hypocrite.

 

Just like the Prius driver/owner is responsible for mining more rare earth elements than their gas mileage will ever save them, they might as well be getting 5 mpg lol. I mean sure we can't all be perfect but I can avoid big beer and not loose any sleep over it... or buy big beer and not loose any sleep

 

I've read thru the last few posts from Pico, have to say I've not really a clue about railing against local breweries. Difficult to follow a theme or point. Data? They pay taxes into the community, they bring outside businesses into the community who do the same. They hire local. A little armchair sociologist , a bit of a troll, other than that it's a wee bit of the gas bag. I don't drink local just to support local, and what's local? Asheville is 4 hours away, Raleigh well over an hour. There's no real local here except Haw River Farmhouse Ales. I drink what I choose like most here.

 

Austin Homebrew Supply is another option.
http://www.austinhomebrew.com/

 

I live in Texas and if I order any ingredients online it is either from Austin Homebrew Supply or TX Brewing Inc. https://www.txbrewing.com/

There are a number of homebrew supply stores along I-35, in San Antonio, Austin, DFW, and between. As well as Houston, and I think one in El Paso.

There may also be good places there to order deliveries from.

 

Agree. BA as of late has been "educating" us on the tactics of big beer and the possible damage that can come of it. A lot of folks saying if BA needs the money to run then so be it because they don't want to lose BA. Would we still be ok with that if BA was bought by ABI? What if they solely started advertising ABI products because of the advertising dollars it brought in?

See when you take someone's money it is an endorsement it is voting. When you accept that money you accept the fact that you may sway someones opinion about a brewery by placing their ad in YOUR magazine. People weigh informations importance based on the source. If your buddy who know's nothing about beer tells you about an awesome new beer to try, meh, maybe you go buy it maybe not. If a trusted source that as of late has seemingly been about exposing the damage Big Beer has been causing runs an ad for Big Beers money can Big Beer really be so bad?

"Do the Sadies of the world boycott all bars, restaurants, and stores that sell ABI products?"

No they don't. Why? Because it doesn't make sense to. Bars are there to sell alcoholic beverages not educate you on them. Restaurants to sell food not teach you how to cook. You get the point Beer Advocate is here to ADVOCATE beer and provide a place for people to discuss and educate themselves on beer. So if they Advocate by running and ad while simultaneously bash Big Beer they lose credibility in my book. You can't shame a brewery for selling out and then run their ad for money.

It all comes down to money what is your price?

 

Today, when checking my e-mail, I saw an invitation to become a supporter.

I have been active (off and on) on this website/forum for roughly the last two years. I get a lot out of reviewing beers, the other reviews of beers (It's amazing what other people get from the beers that I don't; still those 'notes of apricot' or whatever challenge me to go deeper with my tasting experience), and the experience and wisdom of many of you out here.

Further, I find that the community rating of a beer is nearly always withing a few points of my own experience of it (eg. If the rating says its an 87 at 'really good', I will very likely think it is 'really good'). I'm not sure I have found another rating system for any product to be as close to my tastes as this one is. That has considerable value to me. Before I buy just about any beer (unless it is from a local brewery), I check this website first.

Recently, with this article coming out, and all the brouhaha surrounding it, I witnessed how Todd got involved (as he has in other threads as well) and responded in a way that I judge is admirable. I don't agree with all of the decisions they have made, but so what? I like to look at the big picture, and from that vantage point, I like what I see.

As another member posted, did the Alström Bros 'lose credibility' by accepting ad money from 'big beer' while bashing big beer? Perhaps. But first, that's purely a judgement, and secondly even if you judge that, is that a 'big deal', or a 'little' deal? Have I ever made decisions that seem to others be contradictory to my value system? Hell yeah! If someone wants to judge me harshly, I can't stop them. And when I was younger, I tended to judge harshly, Yet, being a wee bit older now, I prefer to be more accepting of the 'small things'.

All that to say, my gut reaction to that e-mail was, something to the effect of, Joe, you really like this site, and you respect the founders, why are you holding back? I went with my gut, and subscribed for a year.

(No, BeerAdvocate.com nor anyone affiliated with it payed me or in any other way incentive-ize me to write this).

I judge I know value when I see it. And I want this site to stick around.

 

I am honored that what I wrote had a positive impact on you all. : - )

It truly is amazing how close my tastes seem to be aligned with the community rating. That said, I also take into account what you and your bro judge as well. I was a part of a beer club for a year, and I got an idea that each beer style has fairly strict guidelines for what to expect out of a beer. My guess is, you rate the beers based largely on those expectations, so I take that into account when I see your rating. For example, a scotch ale should NOT be hoppy at all, so if it is, it's gets 'dinged' for that; that doesn't mean it isn't 'good', just that it's isn't 'to style'.

Glad to read you are turning down money from ABI. I do hope, you communicate to the community that you are in need or more revenue before selling out or, God forbid, 'going out of business'. I talk you guys up all the time, to the point that I bring up with others what rating the beer has on BA.

Recently, Brooklyn Brewing began distributing to MO. Just a few weeks ago, while in my favorite beer store (the Wine and Cheese Place in STL), someone was looking at a 6-pack of Sorachi Ace
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/45/51480/, thinking about buying it, and I said to him something like, I haven't had it, but it's rated as outstanding on Beeradvocate. He hesitated a moment at most, then picked it up. You guys DO make a difference!

 

I don't call for boycotts; I vote with my dollars. If a brewery sells out, they have every right to do so, as I also have every right to not give them any more of my money.