Boycotting 10 Barrel & Elysian

I know, but my principles are fluid like any good American with a hearty sense of moral relativism. I just don't like that AV fucked with Fremont.

 

I'm talking craft beer. The ugly side I'm talking about is how often the brewery goes right to the lawyers and doesn't even try to resolve the issue with the other brewery amicably.

 

I don't support Anderson Valley because of their actions against Fremont. It might be petty, but I stick to it.

 

It's kind of like bourbon these days. Many hot so called craft whiskeys like: Whistle Pig, Templeton Rye, Dickel, etc.. are nothing more than sourced liquid from a big producer in Lawrence Indiana. Heck, even Bulleit from Diageo isn't something they produce. Try going to Kentucky and visiting the Bulleit distillery... oh wait, they don't have one. (they are building one at the moment before everyone finds out, but you can't make a 2+ year old product instantly).

I believe in honesty and whiskey unlike beer has requirements on the label such as "distilled aged and bottled at Maker's Mark distillery." Many whiskeys simply say "bottled at such and such..."

I wouldn't boycott a brewery for reasons the OP gave. A lot of times acquired companies are left completely alone if they are profitable. They purely provide capital for expansion. Nothing wrong with that; thank you InBev for mor BCBS!

 

Im personally not going to buy or drink anything from 10 Barrel or Elysian, but not because of AB In-bev. Im not going to buy them because I havent had a beer worth a shit from either company in YEARS. The "crush" beers that 10 barrel makes are super hyped but even those were just "meh" to me.

I get the "boycotting" thing, but its a slippery slope if you are trying to make a stand. Boycotting a brewery but wearing Nike shoes and using an Apple phone? Or what about which gas stations you purchase gas from??

 

Truly, with all my moral relativism kidding aside, I don't get this mentality. Essentially, what you're saying is, "If you can't stand for everything, stand for nothing." That's a young man's way of viewing the world, IMO.

 

It's harder for me because 1. I live close to an Elysian brewpub that I enjoyed going to and 2. that said brewpub has some really good draft only Elysian beers that I like.

 

From what I've been told it's an excellent package, but comes at the expense of submitting yourself to urine and hair follicle drug tests.

 

I was told they don't even allow marijuana usage, even if it's legal here.

 

I think what he's saying is "If you're going to make a public stand about one thing, don't be surprised when people point out the hypocrisy of your other choices." When you decided not to purchase a 10 Barrel 6pk before the buyout, grabbing some other 6pk instead, was your choice more or less principled? Buy what you want for any reason you choose, but recognize that your personal reasons are no more or less valid than the next guy's. Turning it into "making a stand" is the young person's view, IMO.

 

Hypocrisy?!? That's a laugh. We're all on here because we care about craft beer --- we're beer nerds. And some of us care very much about ABI's efforts to limit --- unsuccessful or not --- access we have to the beer we want. Boycotting ABI is not so much about "taking a stand" as much as protecting our own self-interest. Plus, who fucking cares about who makes and sells our shoes and smartphones?

 

What's wrong with trying to be somewhat ethical in your consumption? I know I'm not perfect at it, but does that mean I shouldn't try? Also, the amount of effort that it takes to buy from the right companies for every product is staggering.

I think comparing a choice to not drink Elysian, etc. to a choice about buying a phone is a false equivalency. As others have stated, the reason to not purchase AB-Inbev products is in large part motivated by the way in which AB-Inbev works to undermine craft brewers that we enjoy. And there are superior local products that can be had instead. I don't think there are any craft-brewery equivalents that are making quality phones.

I mean, I don't really care that anyone else here continues to buy 10 Barrel or Elysian, but it isn't hypocritical to boycott those companies.

 

I spent a whopping 5 mins googling (which is actually awhile, if you ask me) and could find almost nothing on the cease and desist, outside of two BA comments. Fremont's beer name, regardless of origin (named after the Summer Solstice Parade) was identical to AV's, in a market in which they both sell. Am I missing something?

 

Well, I for one care about who makes my shoes. I think Nike is pure evil, have never owned one of their products, and never will. I generally wear New Balance, which has at least a portion of their line made in the USA, by union workers, at livable wages.

It is hard these days to have a moral ground as a consumer and have to pit that stance against reasonable economic concerns. Sometimes the practical matters of daily life interfere with our individual views. It's easy for me to not buy Bear Republic beer, because there are 3400 other breweries to choose from. Someone else may hate Nike as much as I do, but the Nikes are the cheapest thing in the store when the kid needs new shoes, well, Nike sells another pair of swooshes.

 

I make my own shoes. It takes me about 6 months a pair, but its worth it to not be labeled a hypocrite. Oh what is that, "where do I get my leather to make my shoes?" I raise my own cows and then strip them of their hide. Oh what is that, "Where do I get my grain to feed my cows?" I grow it on my farm using no mass built irrigation system - just god-honest rain. Oh what is that, "who built my farm?" The Amish, using locally sourced lumber. Oh what is that, " Who made the tools to cut down the lumber. A nice little man by the name of Stanley. He's from Connecticut.


I also use a local cell phone manufacturer who lives down the street from me. He lives in a large Orange house. He is Korean. His name is Samsung.


What we talking about? Oh yeah, how every damn thing can be linked back to large corporations.

We are all hypocrites. Whatever happened to being proud of large corporations who utilize slave labor, corruptly influence governments, jump start major environmental issues, and take advantage of consumers. I want those days back.

 

No. Its now called Irony.

 

When I read Sam Calagione's claim that AB-Inbev will flood the market with low-cost kegs to squeeze out microbreweries it raised some eyebrows. First of all, it is illegal (at least in Washington State) to sell product below cost. So I looked at the Maletis sales book for last month:

10 Barrel Apocolypse- $26.96 per case, $147 for 13.2 gallon keg
Hop Valley Alphadelic- $23.98 per case, $137 for 13.2 gallon keg

Goose Island IPA- $24.98 per case, $154 per 1/2 barrel keg
Laurelwood Workhorse- $23.78 per case, $154 per 1/2 barrel keg
Widmer Upheaval- $24.98 per case, $154 per 1/2 barrel keg
Redhook Longhammer- $23.98 per case, $146 per 1/2 barrel keg

Doesn't seem to be any price cut for AB-Inbev products. I'd like to see some numbers from Mr. Calagione backing up these statements. Don't get me wrong, I believe AB-Inbev sells their craft brands at a price lower than Dogfish Head. But then so does everyone else not named Rogue. And finally, if it costs AB-Inbev less to make Goose Island IPA because they are attaining economies of scale in their raw materials sourcing and beer production, why shouldn't they sell it for less?

As for transparency in ownership:

Redhook, Widmer and Kona are all part of Craft Brew Alliance. AB-Inbev has 32.2% ownership of that company and acts as the sole distribution partner. The Widmer Brothers own only 18% of that company (as of 2010- the company is actually traded publicly on Nasdaq so the percentages can change over time). AB-Inbev also has two people on the board of directors. Are we all now going to boycott those three brewers as well?

Bridgeport is owned by the Gambrinus Company, an equity firm that also owns Shiner and has the US distribution rights for Corona. Full Sail's employee owners just voted to sell to Oregon Craft Brewers Co., a private equity firm owned by San Diego based Encore Capital Group. Pyramid and MacTarnahans (and therefore Magic Hat) are owned by Florida Ice & Farm Co. through its subsidiary Cerveceria Costa Rica. Firestone Walker sold the Humboldt Brewing Co. brand to importer Total Beverage Solutions. Long Trail and Otter Creek are owned by Fulham and Co., a Massachusetts based private equity company. UB Group of India owns Mendocino and Butte Creek (mostly because UB Group wanted a place to brew Kingfisher in the US). MillerCoors has a minority (<25%) ownership stake in Terrapin. Duvel Moortgat owns Boulevard (in addition to Ommegang and Brasserie d'Achouffe). Anchor is owned by two former Skyy Vodka executives. And what about the microbreweries that are publicly traded?

Everyone can of course do what they want to do when it comes to boycotting brands. I prefer to let the quality of the beer be what drives my decisions. And as some others have pointed out I am much more likely to go to 10 Barrel's new Portland brewpub and buy a couple pints. At least that creates local jobs and helps support the Oregon economy.

Long enough post?

 

Those who choose to "boycott" for whatever your reasons..I respect your decision..But could you maybe send it all to me?

 

*slow clap*