Brewers Association Launches New National Campaign: "That's Independence You're Tasting"

What the independent craft brewer seal means to me:
Minhas can put it on their labels and Founders can't.
'Nuff said.

 

According to the Brewers Association:

Yeah, but you don't have a seal.

See above (and the yet to posted comments below ).

Ya think?

 

@jesskidden, you posted:

BREWERS ASSOCIATION: Use of the Independent Craft Brewer Seal is Free for Breweries that:

• Have a valid TTB Brewer’s Notice.
• Meet the Brewers Association’s craft brewer definition.
• Sign the licensing agreement

Isn't there a fourth bullet of the brewery needs to be a member of the Brewers Association (and pay the commensurate membership fee)?

Cheers!

 

Here’s my take on it: I’m not Jewish. But I’ve got no problem with food items bearing a “certified kosher” image. Same with the “non GMO” one. The BA has concluded that enough consumers care about this to include this seal.

If you don’t care about it, it’s not for you. It’s not like it’s presense is going to make the beer more expensive or shave an oz off the total volume.

I know it’s an Internet forum and the whole point is for people to express their opinions, but personally, I don’t bother getting upset by things that have zero impact on my life.

As for the ‘quality certification’ angle. In theory, there are already federal institutions tasked with assuring your beer is safe to drink. Beyond that, what standards would one use for ‘quality’? There’s people on this site think underattenuated or DMS-laden beer isn’t intrinsically flawed. I’m betting the BA coming out with a list of requirements for ‘good quality’ would be as, if not more controversial than their ‘independent brewer’ requirements.

 

You have to ask them - it doesn't say it on their page
https://www.brewersassociation.org/breweries-independent-craft-seal/
(and I, too, was somewhat surprised at that). Perhaps it's in the "licensing agreement" - accessible only with a brewery email.

Of course, what non-member would want to use it, assuming that any qualifying "craft" brewery which doesn't belong probably has some philosophical problem with the organization. Or, maybe just financial problem with paying the dues.

 

They've already said, back when the seal was first introduced in 2017:

"The seal is available for use free of charge by any of the more than 5,300 small and independent American craft brewers that have a valid TTB Brewer’s Notice, meet the BA’s craft brewer definition, and sign a license agreement. It is available to both member and non-member breweries of the BA."

https://www.brewersassociation.org/...aunches-new-seal-designate-independent-beers/

@JackHorzempa

 

From a BA press release dated 2017-06-27:
"The seal is available for use free of charge by any of the more than 5,300 small and independent American craft brewers that have a valid TTB Brewer’s Notice, meet the BA’s craft brewer definition, and sign a license agreement. It is available to both member and non-member breweries of the BA."

 

Isn't this an "us vs them" sort of appeal?

When I go see a doctor I don't care if he's an independent private practitioner or on staff at a local hospital associated with other hospitals nationally. I only care about the quality of his diagnosis.

I support the local brewers because I can get a fresh, quality, unpasteurized, unfiltered product made with no concern about shaping the formula to appeal to a broad audience or to extend shelf life. I also like that they are independent and locally owned but don't believe their employees are any more deserving of a job than our other neighbors who drive the Bud truck. The driver's kids go to the same school as ours, his family goes to the same churches as ours, and his job provides income which he spends locally. Why should I ignore him and instead support the job of a brewery employee far away who doesn't contribute locally solely on the basis that the distant people are labeled independent.

 

That is objectively funny. Would love to see a Beer Me Anything with this guy.

 

It does not have to be a “list of requirements”.

Since you are a professional brewer you likely have more familiarity with the Brewers Association initiatives on quality vs. us non-B.A. members.

From information available from the B.A. website:

Basics of Beer Quality Workshop

They conduct a one day workshop periodically (and at differing locations). Is a one day course long enough? Is there a fee involved here? Is there a way (e.g., via certification which can be advertised) for the B.A. t0 incentivize their members to attend?

Needless to say but for B.A. brewery members to attend the course but choose to not implement what was taught (e.g., due to cost implications) does not result in full completion here.

https://www.brewersassociation.org/best-practices/quality/beer-quality-workshop/

Quality Management: Essential Planning for Breweries

They sell a book for $95.

From the book’s forward (with emphasis in bold by me):

“Making great beer is hard. Making the same great beer every day is harder. Ensuring that your great beer is still great after packaging is harder still. And the hardest thing of all is ensuring that every customer gets the great beer you brewed, whether they drink it in your pub or another establishment, or from a glass, bottle or can…Our collective success is built on quality. I hope that both established and aspiring brewers will learn and benefit from many of the fundamentals that Mary details in this book.”

–Ken Grossman, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Can the B.A. do more to ensure that craft beer customers who purchase beer are getting “the great beer you brewed” when they pick it up off their local retailers’ shelves?

https://www.brewersassociation.org/...-management-essential-planning-for-breweries/

As a commercial brewer you likely have ideas on how the Brewers Association can better promote quality brewing. Ensuring that there is improved beer quality in the craft beer industry seems like a worthy goal to me as a consumer.

Cheers!

 

@jesskidden

So now they are defining independent the same as craft?

 

Well, no - "Independent" is one of their 3 criteria for a "Craft Brewer" :

• Small
• Independent
• Traditional

(with a few tweaks in the last decade, re: annual barrelage and ingredients, same as their original definition from circa 2006-7)

 

I was referring to this guy and the shitstorm it provoked:



I predict that trying to do something similar for “quality beer” would have the same result.

It has been previously noted, and I’ve brought it up in other threads. The BA does have tools available for brewers to improve quality. As @drtth put it, it’s very much of a, “leading a horse to water” kinda thing. There are plenty of resources that teach the correct approach to properly brewing conventionally high quality beer.
Is there opportunity for improving educational modules? Sure! There are multiple surveys every year to improve their programs. There is always room for improvement.
But that is vastly different than maintaining a “quality seal” standard. Take, proper attenuation. Do you mandate that brewers with this hypothetical seal maintain a mandatory maximum terminal gravity? How do you test that? Random, unannounced quality visits to members?
The controversy would be high, the cost would be insane, and the benefit would be minimum.

 

It's like you pulled the thoughts right out of my mind!

 

I truly believe good Sir, that if more people thought the way you do, the world would be a much better place.

 

In my opinion the money spent on "That's Independence You're Tasting" would have been more wisely spent here.

Cheers!

 

You are certainly not alone in this opinion, including many BA members. But you know how these things work - voting and elected representatives. Their official stance is probably “why not do both?”.

Personally, in my opinion, I’m somewhat in the middle. I don’t agree with some that this is a non-issue that deserves zero attention, but I think that some of the campaigns - most notably that ridiculous “Take Craft Back” thing was a waste of time and money.

I will say that this whole issue is about <5% of what the BA does, but gets probably over 50% or the press here and at similar sites, which can skew perception of how much time and effort the BA actually commits to it. The other 99% is decidedly unexciting but equally valuable industry resources.

 

I have tasted hype (overrated) and rare (expensive), not sure what independence tastes like

 

My questions would be where he gets his ingredients and where he got his brewing equipment. Hope he's using local producers or at least ones from California. You know, to support the local economy and all.

 

That is definitely the association that they're attempting to make, no matter how incorrect it is. The problem, as has been discussed ad nauseam, is that they are the ones who get to define "independent".