Needed: List of Fake Craft Brews

No, I'm going to tell you that such people do not in any way fit the definition of "dick," and if you think they do, I'd like you to explain how.

 

No, you aren't a hater because you actually disliked it (or at least didn't see the hype). To "hate" is to dislike it because it is well-liked.

 

I'll give you that if people are saying "Fuck that shit, I don't like it!" And have never had it.

Are people saying that? If so, than they are just idiots and what they say should not have any weight in any regard.

 

Really, you don't understand? You don't simply just "disagree?"

Tell me, if BMC's flagship beers were of the quality of Goose Island, would you still want them running the vast majority of the market? Because I personally wouldn't. If you do, fine. Agree to disagree.

 

I refuse to buy anything from Goose Island since they were bought by AB.

 

You're right, they shouldn't have weight, but it is extremely difficult to gauge sincerity of opinion on the internet (hence why everyone gets mislabeled a hater if they simply disagree with something).

 

Seems to me the issue should be less about whether or not one of the big conglomerates owns or invests in a particular brewery, and more about whether or not the brewery/label is simply a front for beer that's being directly mass-produced by said big conglomerate at one of their pre-existing facilities, but marketed like it's some independent craft brand.

 

I guess this is true if you are morally bankrupt

 

I'm missing something. I have ten bars and five bottle shops within 10 miles that serve all sorts of beers brewed by large and small brewers (not to mention the hundreds of other places that haven't decided to focus their business on craft brews, but still carry a stray brew or two). This issue of a big company muscling a smaller brewer off the tap line or out of the bottle shop does not seem to be happening in the DC area.

And to your point about craft brewers still wanting their competition to do well. I think that only goes so far. Go talk to the craft brewer who's in the red because he/she can't sell enough beer because there's a better brew in the region. I've worked in industry's with lots of small businesses. Everybody is friends as long as they are each achieving their financial goals.

 

The topic of the Original Post -and this entire thread- seems so familiar. Hmm.

I'm just waiting for JessKidden to post the relevant link to a now-familiar PDF.

 

I appreciate you conversing with me in a respectable way.

 

I am happy to hear that you haven't experienced it in DC. Unfortunately, I have heard of it happening around my area. My friend who owns a bar said that Inbev reps threatened to stop delivering Bud Light (her biggest seller) if she didn't put Shock Top on the tap line. Could she have made this story up? Sure. But I don't know why she would. That kind of behavior is not cool in my book.

I agree with your last point about the craft community being supportive, but only to a point. Nevertheless, there is some support there to begin with. I don't see the same coming out of Inbev.

 

Same! I hope we can get some more interesting discussions/debates going on these forums!

 

Yes. I refuse to purchase anything owned by AB/InBev. I will not put a dime in their coffers.
AB/InBev is bad for craft beer. If you chose to support them, I will continue to choose to be judgmental.

It is not "Stick it to the man." I have nothing against the man. (I'm a 46 year old white guy that just got whacked by the new tax reforms. In many people's eyes, I am "the man.") I do have a problem supporting corporations that take actions I find morally wrong. I choose not to support those corporations when possible.

 

I think BMC muscling people is less likely to happen at extremely-devoted craft beer bars that don't even carry the product (or very little of it). The problem exists in these middle-ground bars that have your BMC and a few crafts as well (aka the vast majority of bars in this country, and thusly where most people might make the jump to craft).

 

You call it being a hater, I call it a moral compass.

 

I sold my soul to Rock n Roll and BCBS

 

rofl at the implication that DRINKING A BEER by <insert company> could ever make someone "morally bankrupt".

Gotta love BA.

 

Similiar story, liquor stores near me were strong armed to but in Goose Island and Stella displays. These displays, three foot wide and four shelves high take 12 feet of shelf space each. Goosie Island had about three feet of shelf space prior and Stella less. This removes 18 feet of shelf space for other craft beers.
If their Goose Island experiment works, AB/InBev will acquire other craft brewers and use these acquisitions to force out additional brewers. The AB/InBev will limit 80% of your selection to 3 or 4 craft brewers that they own.

 

I'll start asking around about this muscling. Regarding those middle-ground bars - these establishments have a business model and it does not necessarily focus on craft beer drinkers. As far as "converting" someone to craft, my favorite beer in college was Old Mil (1984). Not much craft around then, but I did not change over night and neither would someone who visited a middle ground bar. All of those places have something that is not BMC. If that convert is moving in the craft beer direction they will find the beers they like, but it will not happen overnight, because change takes time and as I think we agree, not all bars carry a wide range of craft beer.