Do you Seek the Seal?

At least you know if the beer you buy has this seal it can not be owned by inbev. And there are quite a few large operations that still qualify for this seal.

 

Both Deschutes and 10 Barrel are local breweries to me. Whichever brewery I choose, it’s my neighbors who are the Brewers, bartenders, and servers.

I have my own complex algorithm for which beers are “good”; the absence or presence of the seal is not a factor.

 

Really? AB's got breweries in the Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands?

 

I have seen it and it makes zero difference in my buying. Quality > business affiliation or size. I have read gobs of posts by people who are offended by some aspect or another of a brewer, whether it be their marketing methods or their size or their range of beer styles. Yawn...It can be tiresome. I buy what I like to drink.

 

It is a catchy tune!

Cheers!

 

boom, that’s it.

What the F am I gonna do with a shitty beer with an independent craft brewer seal on it? I prefer to support legit independent breweries but I REALLY prefer to buy and consume good beer.

 

I think its cute everyone assume independent brewers make bad beer... I mean I HAVE had most of the overhyped east coast and Midwest beers and agree there's better out there, but I promise you guys you have better options than wicked weed or goose island fellas...

 

When I got into craft beer in 2005/2006 it was about making a product that was bold and in your face (beer tastes like beer- hops, malt and water). Beers free of adjuncts were celebrated. Now independent brewers use corn, rice, and other adjuncts in their beers all the time. We’d never accept that 15+ years ago regardless of an independent label on the bottle. I personally think it’s BS to distinguish between independent and macro when independent has embraced adjuncts to expand their market share by making beer that appeals to a wider audience because it doesn’t taste like beer- desert stouts, hazy and milkshake ipas. Let’s just be honest, it’s not about craft or an artisanal product, it’s about making profit because if any brewery isn’t making a profit they cease to exist. I understand why people hate macro breweries because they use their pull to dominate consumer space, but that’s capitalism. I’m a liberal person myself but I also want the company that employs me to dominate our market within the bounds of the law. I used to be a beer snob but since craft or independent breweries embraced adjuncts I realized it’s all about making money so I drink whatever I’m in the mood to drink at that moment.

 

I’m campaigning for aroma hop rhizomes in the seed vault.

 

If the BA is promoting buying beers from breweries that display the logo, essentially they are pitting members against members, not just macro breweries. Larry Bell must be saying, "Whaaaaat!?"

 

Contrary to some other posts above, it is not necessary to be a member of The Brewers Association, only to meet their "Craft Brewer" definition.
Seal art is free. Brewers Association membership is not required.

Bell uses the seal on at least some of their beers. Here's the 'snip' from the first one I checked, Side Yard Ale from 2018:


Obviously, labels are printed far in advance and bought it quantity for flagship beers, so the seal probably wasn't immediately on all a brewer's beers. And I imagine some brewers chose to not change the existing art for some beers when new labels were printed. Although, the B.A. does not that *Packaging breweries: No COLA changes required with a pop-up explanation from the TTB.

 

I don't actively look for 'the seal.' That said, the primary reason for that is that I'm generally aware of whether or not a brewery I'm supporting is or is not independent.

So, while I don't actively look for the seal itself, I support the spirit and intent of it. i.e. supporting independent craft beer.

 

Nurture the known, but carefully. DG circa 9/17 2021 @ 11:20 AM. Or thereabouts..

 

I already know what I'm buying, including ownership, so I don't need to look for the seal.

 

I don't seek it out, but I am happy when I do see it.

 

Second sentence sums up the craft beer industry. Size and ownership have absolutely nothing to do with the quality.

 

I do notice the seal but it does not influence my choices because it pertains to ownership and volume and craft brewers are easy to identify. Ownership and volume have nothing to do with quality. The association is a trade organization representing it members' interests and provide employment for its administrators. This explains its poor standards. Beer is not a major purchase. So, judging by tasting a product is far easier than buying a car, boat, plane, computer, appliance, etc. If the beer does not meet one's standard regardless of who made it, don't buy it again. Not much investment is lost. Tasting a beer you determine you do not like is educating. I don't care if the beer I like is from a "craft brewer" or not.

 

Do I buy/consume based on it? No. Taste and curiosity rule my choices. However if the seal is present it makes me feel better about the beer (a little bit).

 

Hate to say it but I buy within my tastes...if you make great stouts I
buy you regardless of a seal. That said I have seen it and was not
aware of what it really meant. Thanks for the update!

Cheers