Do you #SeekTheSeal when buying beer?

I generally know what I'm buying when I buy it.

 

No but I would if the beer was judged and the seal printed in Bronze,Silver,Gold or Platinum.

 

It's hard enough to keep up with the definition much less whose in and whose out. I don't waste gray matter or time on made up political bullshit anyway. I buy and drink what I like - I'm a beer advocate.

 

MillerCoors audits random retailers in every distributor territory every year. (Probably) every distributor agreement every brewery has states retail quality is a distributor responsibility. I imagine some distributors are better and/or care more than others. I saw an NBWA report from a year or two ago that the average beer distributor loses a little over 2% of their gross profit due to out of code and damage.

 

No. I'm opposed to the very nation of labeling in any form. All it does is attempt to create exclusivity around an arbitrary set of rules that will inevitably leave someone out, and likely creates barriers to entry for deserving breweries. It's poor philosophy on its face.

However, most of the beer I drink has the seal, just because that's what I drink.

 

It's important to avoid supporting the big beer companies. It's the independent brewers that are moving things forward. Most all of those great beers and beer styles that you enjoy are around because of the independents. If it was up to the big brewers, only adjunct lagers would be sold. So, their long-con is to buy up craft brands, get people hooked, then drop their prices over time until all the independents are gone. Then they can choose to drop all of their "craft" brands, which will add value to their core brands. And this leaves only adjunct lagers, just like the old days.

 

You might want to retire that tin foil hat and read some beer history.

 

No, Seals make no difference, I buy what I like

 

Hah!

Well, yeah, but on the other hand this is exactly the sort of top-down thinking that is implicit in the mythology that the BA started pushing a few decades ago. Is it any wonder that it's taken hold?

 

Same here. When I do notice it is typically when looking when looking for a brewed-on or best-by date.

 

I guess not, but it is ignorant of history (and, fundamentally, not true).

 

I have passed on this a few times, the flavor profile seems interesting to me. I do not mind a Gose that it is becoming something I have to get used to, much like my coming around to the daunting IPA selections available.

 

The seal really means nothing to me, I buy what I enjoy.
Regarding dates, grocery stores pull product and give to food pantries, maybe breweries should start beer pantries.