Defining BMC

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Beric, Jul 24, 2013.

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  1. Beric

    Beric Initiate (0) Jun 1, 2013 Massachusetts

    How do you define the term "BMC"? This topic came to me when looking through the "BMC snob" thread that's been happening the past few days. For many people, it seems to mean so much more than "Bud-Miller-Coors" and I want to gauge opinions.

    Does BMC refer to only the diet ('lite') offerings from these companies? Follow up question- how much less of these products do you think they'd sell if they marketed them as something like "diet Bud"? That's literally what it is, after all.

    Does BMC refer to all products with the Budweiser, Miller, or Coors name on them?

    Does BMC refer to a particular style of beer- the light lager or the AAL? If so, why the preservation of the acronym "BMC". What about people who extend 'BMC' to things like bocks and pale wheats, and other lagers such as pilsener and euro pale? If you are one of these people, what makes you include or exclude something in your 'BMC' category?

    Does BMC refer to anything owned by these massive corporations? Is Goose Island BMC? Then what about the BA favorite BCBS? Is a glass of Franziskaner Hefeweizen BMC because they are owned by one of these conglomerates?

    I look forward to hearing your answers. I'll type mine up as people discuss them.
     
    #1 Beric, Jul 24, 2013
  2. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,652) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    In my book: Any beer made by a brewery that is partially or totally owned by ABinbev or Millercoors.

    A beer that tastes/looks like Bud isn't necessarily BMC. For example, Yunegling is not BMC, but Goose Island Cherry is.

    Again, this is how I define it. I am sure others will have a different outlook on the matter.
     
    #2 Providence, Jul 24, 2013
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  3. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    BMC to me is mass produced AALs from Bud, Miller or Coors. There is no way I'd consider calling Goose Island "BMC" just because the big boys own them.
     
    #3 Hanzo, Jul 24, 2013
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  4. Resuin

    Resuin Pooh-Bah (2,921) Jun 18, 2012 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah, and besides, and correct me if I'm wrong, I heard that Goose Island did the deal with ABInbev so GI could concentrate more on their Bourbon County stuff while ABInbev handles their more mass-produced stuff? (source)
     
    #4 Resuin, Jul 24, 2013
  5. geocool

    geocool Savant (1,233) Jun 21, 2006 Massachusetts

    BMC
    n.
    1. Any beer with the brand name of Budweiser, Miller, or Coors.
    2. Any American Adjunct Lager, such as those exemplified by the brands Budweiser, Miller, and Coors.
    3. Any beer made by the US brewing companies Anheuser-Busch or MillerCoors.
    4. Any beer made by a US brewery that does not fit the Brewers Association's definition of craft brewer.
     
    #5 geocool, Jul 24, 2013
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  6. 5thOhio

    5thOhio Pooh-Bah (1,571) May 13, 2007 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    The term BMC can be confusing. That's why I prefer "AAL" which describes the kind of beer I don't like the taste of.
     
    #6 5thOhio, Jul 24, 2013
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  7. Beric

    Beric Initiate (0) Jun 1, 2013 Massachusetts


    I think that this is more along my personal opinions. AALs produced by Bud, Miller, or Coors is "BMC" to me.

    Would you consider something like Blue Moon BMC? It's not an AAL but it's still produced by one of the BMC brewers.

    So in your book something like BCBS and Natty Ice are equally considered BMC? You also focused on American companies- are imports like Heineken and other easy drinking lagers "BMC" or are those different?
     
    #7 Beric, Jul 24, 2013
  8. Beric

    Beric Initiate (0) Jun 1, 2013 Massachusetts


    I've heard similar things. I'm from the Chicagoland area and lots of people still consider GI a local craft brewery, even if they are now part of a multinational conglomerate. I think that GI will be interesting to follow for the next five years or so- if the quality begins to drop of substantially and AB-InBev starts messing with production options and styles, then I think that we will know the true nature of the buy-out. If all the buyout does though long-term is expand availability nationwide, I think that it could, actually, be a good thing (though not as good if GI was still independently owned), buy providing a less-expensive, widely available craft beer in most US markets.
     
    #8 Beric, Jul 24, 2013
  9. geocool

    geocool Savant (1,233) Jun 21, 2006 Massachusetts

    No, the former meets one or two of the definitions, while the latter meets three.
    While this site describes Heineken as a "Euro Pale Lager" and not an "American Adjunct Lager," I think it and many other imports meet definition #2. The BJCP lists Heineken as a "Permium American Lager" like Miller Genuine Draft, Corona Extra, Michelob, Coors Extra Gold, Beck's, Stella Artois, Red Stripe, and Singha.
     
    #9 geocool, Jul 24, 2013
  10. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    Nailed it.
     
    #10 otispdriftwood, Jul 24, 2013
  11. Lutter

    Lutter Initiate (0) Jun 30, 2010 Texas

    Bud. Miller. Coors. Anything they own or manufacture. Yes, Goose Island is BMC. Delicious BMC.

    Seriously? This is a thread now?
     
    #11 Lutter, Jul 24, 2013
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  12. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    So Sam Adams is synonymous with BMC? I think 4 was one definition too many.
     
    #12 steveh, Jul 24, 2013
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  13. LAD

    LAD Initiate (0) Apr 16, 2008 Texas

    BMC = NON CRAFT
    CRAFT = NON BMC
     
    #13 LAD, Jul 24, 2013
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  14. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    I just can't get on board with that. BCBS and Natty Ice being decribed the same?
     
    #14 Hanzo, Jul 24, 2013
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  15. geocool

    geocool Savant (1,233) Jun 21, 2006 Massachusetts

    If you mean Sam Adams the beer (Boston Lager), then no because it's an all malt beer (a Vienna Lager), not an AAL. If you mean Sam Adams the brewing company (Boston Beer Company) then no because is is a craft brewery according to the Brewers Association.
     
    #15 geocool, Jul 24, 2013
  16. Beric

    Beric Initiate (0) Jun 1, 2013 Massachusetts

    How many definitions does something need to match to be unequivocally BMC? (not trying to jump down your throat or anything, just curious)
     
    #16 Beric, Jul 24, 2013
  17. Dracarys

    Dracarys Initiate (0) May 28, 2013 Alabama

    People liking Goose Island doesn't change who they're owned by. It seems like too many people try to mentally block that out to feel better about themselves when they drink GI beer and they don't need to. Drink what you want, but call it what it is.
     
    #17 Dracarys, Jul 24, 2013
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  18. geocool

    geocool Savant (1,233) Jun 21, 2006 Massachusetts

    When they start cranking BCBS out of the Anheuser-Busch plant in Baldwinsville, N.Y. you'll be on board with it.
     
    #18 geocool, Jul 24, 2013
  19. geocool

    geocool Savant (1,233) Jun 21, 2006 Massachusetts

    My point is that like almost every single word in the English language, it has more than one definition and you sometimes have to infer from context which one is meant.
     
    #19 geocool, Jul 24, 2013
  20. Beric

    Beric Initiate (0) Jun 1, 2013 Massachusetts


    I think that all the different opinions about defining it makes it worth talking about haha

    I definitely respect that. I think that if you're talking about BCBS and KBS in the same environment, one could distinguish between them using some derivative of the BMC idea. Personally I think that your definition can be split in two- one in terms of beer styles and one in terms of ownership. For me, the beer styles take precedence- if someone tells me "all I have is BMC", I don't expect them to hand me a Spaten Optimator.
     
    #20 Beric, Jul 24, 2013
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