Who brews it anyway?

You really have to read the label these days. My favorite right now is Red Stripe "Jamaican Style" brewed in Latrobe, PA. There was recently something about 75% of people thinking Shock Top was a craft; I wonder how many people still think Red Stripe is brewed in Jamaica or Foster's in Australia or Beck's in Germany?

 

The Beck's sold in Britain is brewed in Germany.

A lot of other "world lagers" are actually brewed here though. Boston Lager sold in Britain is brewed in Kent, but it's loudly advertised as American on the front label.

 

Somebody please fill me in. Does knowing where it's brewed change the taste?

 

How many people think that Guinness is brewed in Ireland and not Canada?

 

The last time I had Beck's (earlier this year) the label said it was brewed and bottled in Germany. I remember Australian Fosters from the 1970's was the same as the Canadian brewed Fosters they sell in the US today, but then since it's Foster's the bar is set pretty low anyway.

So, the question is, would you rather have a stale import brewed over there and shipped here on a slow boat, or a licensed version of it fresh, brewed closer to home, as long as the formula and ingredients is exactly the same?

Aren't most of Sam Adams brewed by contract breweries?

 

The placebo effect.

 

With the abilities we have now to replicate water conditions, no, not really. It's mostly about branding vs brewers being transparent with their customers; which, despite no difference in product, is no small matter to many people.

In the past, with fewer tools to change the makeup of a water supply, it made a significant difference. Trappist beers made with water from the monastery's wells, English beers made at Burton on Trent, etc.

 

http://www.craftcans.com/where-is-my-beer-actually-brewed-some-thoughts-on-contract-brewing

 

I figured for a New Yorker this would be a no brainer, considering the oft stated importance of quality water for pizza and bagels (by New Yorkers at least.)

 

No, but some people like to know where their money is going when they spend it. I certainly do.

 

For me it's my background in Geography, I like to know where things are from. I'm always a little disappointed when I find out that a beer from a California brewery was actually brewed in Minnesota, or a Hawaiian beer was brewed in New Hampshire; not that there's anything wrong with beers from either of those states. The sense of place is just important to me. So, does knowing where it's brewed change the taste? No, but it can change my overall experience and feeling about a beer.

 

ABI's been brewing it in the US at AB's Baldwinsville, NY brewery since 2012. Wouldn't think they were still importing German Beck's at the same time.

Foster's for the US market has been brewed at MillerCoors breweries (using the goofy dba of "Oil Can Breweries, Ft. Worth, TX") since around 2007.

 

Just noticed that i bought a BA Barleywine from Cahoots Brewing....after reading the side of the bottle it says brewed and bottled by Ten Ninety Brewing, also Chicago. Good beer, not sure why Ten Ninety doesn't keep that to itself.

Same type thing is the case for Door County Brewing i believe. I think its actually Sand Creek Brewing doing that stuff.....both are bad so it doesn't really matter.

 

Yes, this would be relevant for those that want to support the local economy.

 

There's nothing better than supporting the companies you believe in. But in this day and age of a global economy, subsidiaries, mergers, etc., can you really tell where your money is going 100% of the time? If I was to consider who's getting my money every time I pull out my wallet, I'd never be able to buy anything without cross-examining the cashier or asking for a manager and cross-examining him or her. And I don't think I need to tell you how that would go.

 

And you are correct [to a point]. With pizza, it's also the cheese. With bagels, it's also the process. But as someone else posted, water can be changed.

 

No, I can't tell 100% of the time. But why is 100% the standard one must reach in order for it to be a worth while endeavor? I want to know where as much of my money goes as I possibly can. While I know that I'll never know where 100% of goes nor what the impact of that money is, I think it important to know as much about it as I can. Knowing where 1% of money ends up is better than knowing where 0% of it ends up.

Ironically enough, if people cared more about where their money went, perhaps it wouldn't be so difficult to track where our money goes....

 

Quite an important point here and one I agree with completely. As more than one person has pointed out, "The perfect is the enemy of the good."

For myself I also think 100% is quite unrealistic in most endeavors. So for me, making choices about where my money is going ultimately fits a version of the Pareto principle, which in this situation would say "80% of the benefit comes from the first 20% of the effort." The fact that I'm not going to hit 100% doesn't prevent me from exerting the 20% of the effort needed to get to that 80%.

In a way its like checking dates on beer. Its really not that hard.

 

Very well said.

In my experience, and sadly, putting "the perfect" on a pedestal is the enemy of the good because it allows people to justify their own laziness. And it seems as if it's those that don't want to put in the first 20% are often the ones who go out of their way to remind us folks that have put in 80% that we'll likely never reach 100%.