Black Friday 2014 Bourbon County Release

Safe to assume you don't buy Sam Adams either then?

But honestly, is your area really losing good craft taps to AAL taps? If so, it's the customers fault not AB/InBevs power. Bars are in business to make money and they won't be strong armed out of business. If you really want to make a difference then share as much craft beer with AAL drinkers as possible so locals request and buy more craft, the businesses will follow the bussiness.

Now if your effort is to turn AAL bars into craft bars: good luck.

Or, do what I do: I use their own (purchased) great product against them. I share Bourbon County with non-craft people to blow their minds and branch out into craft!

 

I've never heard of BBC doing the things that I know AB does. Having said that, I don't buy much Sam Adams, but it's not a conscious effort.

How can AB straight-out paying for lines, giving free product if they remove other craft handles, etc, not be considered AB's fault, exactly?

Yes, they are a business, absolutely. As much as we like to think otherwise, for non-craft-specific-bars we represent a TINY portion of their customer base. If they can get free kegs of Shock Top and Stella and only risk losing a handful of customers, it probably makes financial sense to do so, right? That's bad for us.

And I do. This is not an either/or proposition.

No way. I'm not crazy - that will never happen.

I do the same thing with non-AB owned (you know, actual craft not "crafty") beers.

 

FWIW I think Event Horizon is just as good and I have a shitload of BCBS in my cellar. I just think EH is more luscious, but it doesn't have as much bourbon flavor.

 

I like Event Horizon a lot, but compared to BCBS it's extremely thin, which is a deal-breaker for me.

 

Bourbon County (since that is what we are talking about here, not AAL's) is just as craft as your local neck beard in his garage IMO. Until they ruin/change the quality it's the same beer but on a larger scale and with better quality control.

In the end my point is this: I'm with you on voting with my wallet. However, I don't think more Bourbon County is bad for craft or going to take MORE tap handles with AALs.

Besides, I think boycotting breweries and their ownership because of bad (shady) business practices would leave us mostly drinking our own home brews...especially if you included the distributors.

 

I absolutely disagree with that. It's simply an AB/InBev brand now. Higher quality, but no different than Shock Top or Bud Light.

No, but it puts more money in AB/InBev's pocket, thus empowering them to continue/expand these shitty and shady practices.

I couldn't disagree more. I know LOTS of breweries and distributors that don't resort to writing checks, buying draft boxes or giving free product in return for handles or shelf space.

 

You have completely lost all credibility by saying this.

 

You absolutely disagree because we aren't talking about the same thing. I'm talking about the beer itself, you are talking about the ownership of the brewery.

Sure, buying Bourbon County only strengthens AB/InBev for the long haul, but I'm not sure it also means the shady tactics for "stealing" taps is a regular thing or will grow. I've heard the rumors and tales of their shady practices too.

Obviously you are passionate about taking down the big bad wolf and that's great. I, personally, don't think I need to boycott their actual craft brand to discourage their shady practices.

Neither of us are going to change our stance on buying BCBS, so I'm out. Cheers

 

Please explain to me how GI is different, today, than any other Bud brand? Because they weren't always owned by AB?

 

I already said it is a great, well made beer. Not sure what else there is to say about the beer itself.

Well, supporting the company certainly does nothing to dissuade the destructive tactics they use.

I'm not out to "take down" anyone, let alone a corporation as large as AB/InBev. I just refuse to support them.

I'm not attempting to change anyone's stance on buying GI stuff, necessarily. Just sharing my thoughts and reasoning about the thread topic. If people choose to still buy GI product, that's fine. It doesn't make either one of us better or worse than the other.

Cheers.

 

Maybe someone else can chime in who has a more in depth understanding of this, but as I understand it AB is a distribution partner of GI. Essentially, it's a partnership with AB having a majority ownership in GI's equity as a reciprocation to the access to networks AB is offering to GI. GI still brews its own beers. On the other hand, Shock top and bud light are brewed by AB. That's the key difference. AB does not influence the brewing of GI, am I'm sure it doesn't want to because of how profitable GI is so they wouldn't want to risk changing something that would affect their profit margins.

In any case, saying that bud and shock top are the no different than bcbs is like saying there's no difference between ford Taurus and a jaguar (back in the 2000's) because they were both owned by Ford.

 

Bad news for all of you Durham-ites. Anyone within the Harris network is only getting BCBS. No variants this year for that market. Now Jeffries and whoever handles them in the Triad are a different story.

 

Thanks for the input, I didn't know that. But are the GI brews brewed by AB employees or GI employees? Maybe I'm splitting hairs but being brewed at AB could be different than brewed by AB?

 

As stated, GI is really focusing on the King St District this year. The Pub Crawl is Weds night, and GI chose us to be the launching point for Black Friday in Jax. Starting your day here would be a wise move.

 

GI is now wholly owned by AB - in short GI brewers are AB brewers. Are some of the original employees still working there and turning out quality beers? Without doubt.

 

I already said the quality is better, but the brand is no different than any other brand in the AB/InBev portfolio. Just because we like Goose Island beers doesn't change the reality that they are just another brand under the AB umbrella, now. I never said Bud Light is as good a beer as BCBS.

Don't kid yourself, even before AB started buying up craft breweries, there were some wonderfully talented brewers working for AB that could have turned out amazing beers, if allowed.

 

Well that was a fun read...

I'm gonna be in Winston-Salem for turkey day this year, what bottle shops in and around WS can I find BCBS and variants?

 

except GI is 51% AB.....

 

Really?

What a turn of events. The deal is for $38.8 million split up between AB buying 58% for $22.5 million and Craft Brewers Alliance selling its 42% stake in the company for $16.3 million. AB has been handling distribution for Goose Island for the past five years.

http://beerpulse.com/2011/03/anheuser-busch-to-buy-goose-island-for-38-8-million/


58 + 42 = 100

I'm done beating this horse, though. We all know - or should know - the stuff that AB/InBev does that is intrinsically bad for us, as fans of beer. If you decide to continue to buy GI because you like it, great. That is certainly your right and I won't 2nd-guess anyone for their personal choices.

 

Except by continually stating your position, making quotes like how "we all know - or should know" (about AB-InBev), and by countering others thoughts on this subject, you insinuate that you are second guessing personal choices. It's ok to admit it!

Sure, AB-InBev sucks. Most of us on these forums are aware of that. Is someone's desire to buy BCBS the problem that beget this or will continue this issue? I don't think so. Considering their portfolio of beers, revenue from BCBS is loose change to AB-InBev, if even that. To me, its seems like they're really pushing the GI core line-up and the newer seasonal beers released this year to get more people into their 'craft' beer. This is why I choose to only spend my money on GI's BCBS, Juliet, and Madame Rose. These beers are phenomenal.

With the way our market works, our only choice is to 'vote' with our wallets. It appears you have decided to use those funds elsewhere. Awesome - I don't think anyone could honestly begrudge you for doing so. I'm going to use some of my funds on some really damn good beers and hope that others to do too, so that AB-InBev realizes that maybe they should focus more of their expertise on producing these types of beers. It's probably a futile hope, but my taste buds will certainly be happy this winter while contemplating the idea of BCBS for all