When "buy local" movement is going too far...

I certainly will try local over non-local, and if it's good, it I will keep drinking it. If not, I won't. But when I go into a liquor store and there are, let's say, two breweries I have not tried, one from 50 miles away and one from 1500 miles away, I will try the local one first.

But I agree with needing to define local better. I get rather irked when some place counts local as in state, even though there is a supplier (because this isn't limited to beer) in the neighboring state that is much closer than in state sources that is not "local".

Another important difference is self distribution vs third party distribution. Then there is definitely more money staying in my community, going to people I want it to go to, so it is preferable.

And finally, one of the points of buying local is maintaining a connection with the producer you couldn't otherwise have. If you consistently have a SN product that you don't like, and could see how to make it better, it isn't exactly likely you will make a change to their plan. But if you see that with a truly local place, you should be able to develop a relationship with the owner and make the suggestion. If your local brewers suck and have infected beer, tell them to clean better.

 

Another reason I will throw out to support local beer is that for some people, it is a gateway into beer. "I don't drink craft beer, but those guys are local so I'll try it. Hey, this is alright, where can I try similar beers" and we have a conversion.

 

8.99 for a mix sixer in my state (for local offerings) would be an amazing deal.

 

While I understand your issue with people blindly drinking local for drinking local's sake, I certainly look at local beer differently.

• First, I think pretty much all local beers at least deserve to be tried. I can't say that about non-local beer. If I don't like it, I won't drink it. If I like it, I'll continue to drink it. But I should know what I like that is produced in my area. I know this isn't a reason by itself, though.
• Second, oftentimes this beer is being brewed by friends or friends of friends, etc. Knowing who is producing the product you are consuming and who you are supporting is great, particularly if they are a friend of yours. You can also often talk directly to the brewer about the beer and feel more a part of the local scene. You can develop friendships with people involved with the brewery. You may even be able to get a job out of it.
• Third, local beer will generally be fresher.
• Last, it is supporting the local economy. Notice that I did say this last, though. It's not even close to the most important reason to drink local.

 

i look at it differently. that kinda' ad is more like fly paper. hopefully it snags & keeps unnecessary fleas & gnats outta' my lane. i know better, just like i trample over signs indicating GMOs are just as good as organics. besides, i only 'drink' local, mostly in my own living room!

 

I am lucky, I am in Vermont and local beer is awesome! I do however "buy local" and trade for other peoples local beer.

 

I love to buy local when I can, but it all comes down to wanting to buy great beer. For example, recently the Grand Rapids Brewing Company has re-opened ( I do believe someone just bought the name for boost in marketing) and I have been looking forward to check it out. First and foremost I believe that if you use the term "Brewing Company" in the title of your name that when I enter your taproom I will find YOUR beers on tap, not Founders, Shorts, etc. Secondly if the descriptor used to define their beer only includes, "Its good... I mean its not bad", there may be an issue. Buy local when you can, but great beer is great beer and when your locals aren't, don't buy it.

 

Thanks for the update. It's nice to have the option of going to Wegmans and buying some great beers at a decent price too.

 

I'm happy to drink local, but I've also got some great local breweries in the area. I know these folks, like their products, and find the pricing to be wallet-friendly. There are also a few locals that are not nearly as good. I can barely tell you what they make because I stopped buying their products a long time ago.

I can also say that they good craft beer places by me do not give out their tap handles just becuase the products are local. They have a nice mixture of locals, top domestic craft, and plenty of nice imports.

Anyone who is going to tick beers isn't going to care whether its local or not. And the local breweries by me to not release enough new stuff to satisfy a serious ticker.

 

I only checked this thread to see what the grumpy old man was complaining about today.

 

Now you're forcing the OP to decide whom he dislikes more, tickers or localists.

 

Which is great for those of us who prefer the world-class regional imports.

 

You know what? Everything but the brewery can be considered local. The distributor and the store that sells it are both local so unless you travel hours to a store out of your area, you are supporting local businesses when you go to your local beer store. So there.

 

I wouldn't go that far. Mom and Pop bottle shops as opposed to huge chain store liquor stores are more likely to have a higher percentage of their profits spent locally.

 

I'm in NYS so beer is not sold in liquor stores. The huge chain supermarkets that sell some craft beer sell mostly what is available anywhere and everywhere but they still employ local people who spend their paychecks locally. What I was trying to say is that there is a local component to everything for sale out there - even if the product is made in China.

 

I drink local beer, made with freshly drawn VT municipal tap water and brewed just downstairs from where I sleep.

Drink local - brew it yourself.

 

This. People who FAVOR local beers tend to do just that... favor them. If they'e good and comparable, go with the local option.

I find it tough to fathom how the idea of buying local annoys people so much. Or at all. A simple sign at a gas station is that bothersome? Someone actually gets bothered when I buy beers from a local brewery instead of CA beers that have sat on the shelf for a month?

Buy what you want... and let others do the same. Even if their habit of supporting local businesses bothers you.

 

Funny, I think this all the time. Since the photo taken was obviously about AZ beers and you and I both live in AZ, we also both know there is not a chance in hell we're only drinking local. At times I almost feel like they try and make us feel guilty when we aren't drinking there below average brews. I cannot F***ING stand when I go to a bar and it's full of all AZ beers. WHY WHY WHY?!?!? If I want local beers, I'll go to 4P or SanTan for a drink. If I want out-of-state beers, I go to Papago, Boulders, WF, the Monk or whatever, but when they load up their taps on local and advertise that (like it's some great thing), they might as well be telling me not to come in. I want something new, strange and from far away! I can say for sure that bars carrying craft has BLOWN UP in the past year or two but people in AZ need to learn that Four Peaks is not the "be all/end all" of beer.

 

I understand what you're saying and think you make a great point. Nevertheless, I wanted to point out that the profits made by a grocery store that has it's headquarters in another state aren't all spent locally, even if their employees are local folks.