Do you Seek the Seal?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Todd, Sep 16, 2021.

?

Do you look for the Independent Craft Brewer Seal when buying beer?

Poll closed Oct 16, 2021.
  1. Yes

    88 vote(s)
    20.7%
  2. No

    292 vote(s)
    68.5%
  3. Never heard of it

    46 vote(s)
    10.8%
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. officerbill

    officerbill Pooh-Bah (2,228) Feb 9, 2019 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    :wink:
    [​IMG]

    Learn to code?

    Wasn't aware of that. I thought BA membership automatically allowed use of the logo. Are there different levels of membership?
     
    BigIronH, PapaGoose03 and MNAle like this.
  2. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Yes there are but as regards which breweries are permitted to use the logo they must meet:

    “What Defines a Craft Brewer?

    The Brewers Association defines an American craft brewer as a small and independent brewer.

    Small: Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less (approximately 3 percent of U.S. annual sales). Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships.

    Independent: Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by a beverage alcohol industry member which is not itself a craft brewer.

    Brewer: Has a TTB Brewer’s Notice and makes beer.”

    So, for example Anchor Brewing is a member of the Brewers Association but is not permitted to use the logo since are not compliant to the above conditions.

    The fact that there is no logo on an Anchor Brewing beer will not stop me from buying it.

    Cheers!
     
    Rug, PapaGoose03 and officerbill like this.
  3. TheGreyBrewer

    TheGreyBrewer Aspirant (259) Mar 19, 2006 Colorado

    While I eschew macros, and do everything I can to support local craft breweries over national brands, regardless of the ownership status of the latter, I don't necessarily "seek the seal" because like other food labels (I'm looking at you, "USDA Organic"), it often doesn't really mean what you think it means. I wouldn't find it hard to believe that beers with the seal are, on average, higher quality than those without, but it's no guarantee. Labels can keep us from thinking critically, turning buying products into mindless cheerleading. Cheer for craft beer, but think for yourself when it comes to which parts of the industry you support.
     
    rgordon and PapaGoose03 like this.
  4. officerbill

    officerbill Pooh-Bah (2,228) Feb 9, 2019 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Gotcha, I thought those were the requirements to join the BA and didn't know they had members that didn't fit their definition of “craft”.
     
    PapaGoose03 likes this.
  5. bauers

    bauers Devotee (346) Feb 6, 2011 California
    Trader

    I buy more beer direct from breweries than I do at stores, so no need to seek a seal for those. When I do go to a store, I'm shopping (a) brands, and (b) styles (i.e., a Moonraker DIPA). And given what brands I'm looking for, I don't need to check for the seal.
     
  6. HoppyDude421

    HoppyDude421 Aspirant (230) May 16, 2012 California

    Yep, I only buy/drink indie, and get a lot of my beers thru Tavour. Otherwise it's local craft bottle shops.
     
  7. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,274) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Point taken, good thing I have fellow bas like yourself willing to support these companies who continue to promote unequal and biased payscales, consolidation of monies, and unethical business practices. It affords me the opportunity to not be guilted into supporting companies who practice wage inequality by people making the argument "what about the workers?".
     
    rgordon and Rug like this.
  8. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    :rolling_eyes:
     
    rgordon, ChicagoJ and officerbill like this.
  9. emdub

    emdub Initiate (0) Aug 22, 2010 New York

    I don’t specifically seek it out, but I’m always pleased to see it.
     
  10. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    The Brewers Association is happy to accept money from breweries like Anchor and even Anheuser-Busch (each brewery pays their individual dues) and then they implement things to exclude them. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    Cheers!
     
    PapaGoose03 and officerbill like this.
  11. gueuzegeek

    gueuzegeek Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2003 New Jersey

    I definitely prefer to support independent brewers! I feel I am pretty savvy to the ones that are owned by the big guys, but occasionally, If the only tasty thing on is not independent, I have gone astray. It is far less often now, as more and more places do feature independent craft brewers.
     
  12. JamFuel

    JamFuel Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,480) Mar 26, 2009 Sweden
    Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society

    No, I try keeping tabs on what breweries are NOT independent instead. Easier to keep track of!
     
    Jaycase and Rug like this.
  13. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,862) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Obviously those bigger breweries are getting some value from their membership (my guess is a mix of market data, industry networking, and the ability to help direct lobbying efforts). The BA isn't forcing anyone to join them. The seal in question is a targeted marketing program relevant to a subset of BA members, it isn't the only service they offer.

    Like others, I don't actively seek out the seal because I'm an overly informed consumer in this sector so I'm usually already looking for something somewhat specific when I shop. When I'm out of my home market though, and looking at shelves full of beer from brewers I'm not familiar with, I do notice the seal. It isn't a make or break factor in my purchases but it certainly doesn't diminish the beer that sports it in my mind.

    Where I do somewhat actively seek it out is in the windows of establishments if I'm away from home. Its not super common, but my experience is that a bar or store that sports it in their window is a reliable source of good beer.
     
    PapaGoose03 likes this.
  14. Agee66

    Agee66 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2021 Florida

    I don’t look for the seal on any of the beers I drink. Treehouse is my beer of choice and they don’t have this seal on their products
     
    officerbill likes this.
  15. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Or perhaps those breweries are following the advice of Sun Zhu:

    “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”

    Cheers!
     
  16. 40ontarget

    40ontarget Pundit (974) Feb 7, 2012 Colorado
    Society

    I always look for the seal both on the can/bottle and at the breweries as well (it is usually displayed on the front door or front window). With that being said it is not a qualifying reason of why I buy or visit though. I do look for it anyway.
     
  17. woemad

    woemad Grand Pooh-Bah (5,145) Jun 8, 2003 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I do not seek it out but well over 90% of what I drink fits the criteria for it, so I'm not worried.
     
    ZebulonXZogg likes this.
  18. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,822) Feb 24, 2008 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Curse you for planting that earworm! Even if, “...it says we're able to make it in the U.S.A” :angry::stuck_out_tongue:
     
    JackHorzempa likes this.
  19. dcotom

    dcotom Grand Pooh-Bah (5,503) Aug 4, 2014 Iowa
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Not quite. I didn't say I didn't buy Big Beer™, just AB InBev. It's a pain in the ass trying to keep track of whom and what they own. A seal (maybe the Budweiser bow tie, or whatever the hell they call it) would make things a whole lot easier.
     
    PapaGoose03 likes this.
  20. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,274) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    So your argument is to support corrupt companies to ensure good people are taken advantage of from what I'm reading. I can't support that, wouldn't need a union to support the workers if the brewery owner supported their staff in a way that was fair an equitable. All the emojis in the world can't change that.
     
    PapaGoose03 and BBThunderbolt like this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.