Brewers Association Updates Craft Brewer Definition

It is good that you should argue for fair representation amongst all dues paying members of The Brewers Association. It is fine instinct and admirable...My close association and often friendships with a number of A-B and MC management personnel has proven through time to show a real duplicitous set of behaviors. At first they belittled and berated small wholesalers and craft beer, then they learned, targeted the market and joined the club. This is history. That the big brewers would want to be part of BA is perfectly understandable. So many of the big brewer's reps are very well intentioned and love beer. It really is all very convoluted. We fought tooth and nail.

 

I agree that you have explained your position well. (I disagree with parts of it, but I do understand it.)

 

One thing I believe we can all agree on is that a lot of BAs hate 'evil' AB and also (likely to a lesser degree?) Miller-Coors.

Cheers!

 

What if some of the members have conflicting interests?

 

The so-called "big brewers" organization, The Beer Institute - which descended from the old United States Brewers Association, founded during the Civil War - has no problem with "craft" brewers being members* or even officials (as this 'snip' from a recent Annual Report shows).


For some reason, the BI no longer has an easily found membership list (but they do have one of the most annoying websites). Here's just some examples of "craft" brewers from older versions of their site - A thru B:
Abita Brewing Company, Inc.
Alaskan Brewing Company
Allagash Brewing Company
Anchor Brewing Company
Anderson Valley Brewing Co.
Atlantic Brewing Company

Bayhawk Ales, Inc.
Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Bent River Brewing Co.
Berkshire Brewing Co., Inc.
Bloomington Brewing Company
Boston Beer Company
Boulder Beer Company
Boulevard Brewing Company
Brewery Ommegang
Broad Ripple Brewing Company
Brooklyn Brewery Corp.

 

They should professionally and respectfully try and reach compromise solutions.

How about this for a 'theme': all of the brewery members produce beer, come up with a way to promote beer.

Cheers!

 

While I agree, this isn’t always easy, and in some cases may not be possible.

Also, breweries voluntarily join, and voluntarily pay, correct?

Why would they change if they continue to receive money? I realize this may not be the most respectful and professional way to do things, and that they do in fact change their definitions routinely.

 

And the Brewers Association voluntarily accepts the money. Did you see my comment above where I opined that Greenpeace would refuse money from ExxonMobile?

You and I are in complete agreement here.

Cheers!

 

Craft beer is so mainstream now why are people bending over backwards to claim they are still "small".

"When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master" - Darth Vader

 

@JackHorzempa, do you have any first-hand experience with trade associations?

It certainly seems as if you don't.

They are not a club. They are advocates for the trade as defined by their By-Laws and statement of purpose.

I don't know how the BA is set up, so I'll speak from my experience with other trade associations.

The members ARE the association. The trade association has By-Laws that specify who can be a member, how they become a member, what membership categories they have, the rights of members of each category, and the cost to become a member in each of the membership categories. The By-Laws also specify how each of this things get changed.

There are typically issues that are decided by the employees of the association (under the direction of the board, if necessary). There are also issues that are decided by the board, and there are issues that are decided by the membership as a whole, typically one company (member), one vote.

If AB-Inbev (or any other member of the BA) disagrees with anything the BA is doing, whether that be policies, lobbying, publications, marketing, etc., etc., the By-Laws would specify how a member company would go about trying to get that changed.

A trade association is under no obligation to reach consensus with any single member who may have a disagreement. Their only obligation is to their membership as a whole.

One other small (but important) fact: a trade association is typically an organization made up of competitors in the given trade. Therefore, the trade association must not engage any any activity where they may find themselves in violation of the anti-trust laws.

 

In 1976, when the "Reduced Excise Tax Rate" which defined a "Small brewer" as under 2M bbl/yr, was first passed by Congress, there were 13 "Large" brewers.

1. A-B – 29,051
2. Schlitz - 24,162
3. Miller - 18,403
4. Pabst - 17,037
5. Coors - 13,650
6. Olympia - 6,367
7. Stroh - 5,765
8. Schaefer - 5,256
9. Heileman - 5,210
10. Carling - 4,459
11. Falstaff - 3,991
12. Schmidt - 3,402
13. Genesee - 2,500

Today, even though the total number of breweries in the US has increased more than 100 fold (from 52 to well over 6,000), there are only 4 "Large" breweries (w/Pabst's ~5M bbl. are contract-brewed, primarily by MillerCoors):

1. AB - 89,550
2. MillerCoors - 52,300
3. Boston Beer - 3,775
4. Yuengling - 2,705

(Figures in thousands of barrels).

 

If you ever obtain information on how the BA is set up I would be interested in that information.

 

their website brewersassociation.org has all that info

 

I haven't read them, but here they are...

Brewers Association GOVERNANCE BYLAWS

 

"Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer."

This may be why the BA continues to accept the big breweries in. Take their money, learn what they're trying to learn from you, and try to use that back against them.

 

As a small wholesaler and on a level playing field dealing with independent retailers, I relished the opportunities selling against the large companies. Our company provided an eclectic portfolio of beer and wine, superior service, and a very good level of product knowledge and general market conditions. We ceded the large chains to our competitors from the beginning, but we took hold as an efficient and nimble operation. We flourished and continually found new products as the dynamic market was morphing towards what it is these days. We never ceased carrying very cool and iconic imports, but we knew USA beers were on the advent and got in early. The big brewers were watching, not quite knowing. (circa 2003-2010).

 

Or vice versa?

Cheers!

 

Certainly, both sides are looking for whatever edge they can find. But you keep hammering on the "be fair to all your members" point. Maybe the BA doesn't want to be fair, as most certainly the the big companies, especially Inbev, care nothing for fairness.

I hope the BA charges Inbev, MC, et al, MORE to be in. Squeeze the bastards for every last penny.

 

Sounds like an episode of The Americans.

 

Duly noted.

And instead I hope that the BA is professional and respectful to all of their members.

Merry Christmas to you!