Supporting the "enemy"...I broke down

Perhaps people more buying the odd BMC beers that are actually good (and more shunning the swill beers) would get BMC to brew more good ones.

 

AB-InBev buying goose island allows them to do so much more as a brewery. They can farm out their regular lineup (312, Honkers, Goose IPA, etc...) and then spend more time on their specialty stuff we all love. More Bourbon County every year is never a bad thing and their sisters lineup has been gotten even more solid with Halia, Gillian, and Juliet added to the lineup.

I enjoy Goose IPA and 312 is what got me into craft beer in the first place, so im all for the AB InBev takeover. The people who are against it just want to make a fuss about something and chose this.

 

So you care a little?

 

I try not to support AB-InBev on a regular basis but I will admit that I buy Goose Island stuff once in a while.

 

This is a very expensive hobby, especially for those of us in PA, which is basically the highest priced state I've seen for beer by far. $20 for a case of quality beer in PA is nothing short of a miracle. I laugh when I hear people say they're grabbing 12pks of SN or SA or anything for $12(or less). $18 min in PA. Anyway, I did something similar myself recently when a local shop got 4pks of GI IPA tall boys for $6.49 each- only two weeks old. I bought one and enjoyed every one of them. No shame in drinking what you like and drinking for value, whatever it may be.

 

I usually prefer to support smaller businesses, but if they big guys are making something I like that I can't get via a small brewery I'll buy it. All but 2 of the Munich breweries are owned by huge corporations. I like several of the AC Golden and Blue Moon beers. I enjoy the Goose Island big beers. Urquell has actually gotten better recently.

 

No. No, it is not. He means "couldn't" care less.

 

LOL touche

 

Now there you go sounding like a true advocate of beer.

 

Like many people who have responded here, I tend to avoid AB Inbev and the like and focus my purchases on craft - especially what I drink day to day. Once in a while I will buy something from BMC but I am not a regular of their beer.

 

There is alot of smug pollution in this thread

 

Whether to buy a more expensive product over a less expensive product due to the desire to "not support" a certain company... definitely a first world problem.

 

Price is one of my top factors in whether I buy a beer. Local and small are two factors also, but way down the list. In general I will buy the best beer for my dollar with willing to pay a small premium for local, small, or one of many other factors that influences my purchasing decisions.

 

McDonald's Fries are still the best I've ever had.

 

I actually find myself on the "don't care where it comes from" side of these arguments, but your post made me think, because I DON'T shop at Walmart, out of principle. I don't shop there because I think they are bad for the economy, contributors to increasing wealth disparity in America, and I just generally do not like seeing America become the land of corporate-owned big box stores. So is the same thing happening in beer? I still feel like no, because the beer industry does not shape our lives like the general retail industry does, but I may have to do some further thinking on the subject.

 

I support good products I will buy what I like bc I know if any of these breweries want to be the big dog.

 

I bought a lot of $7 6-packs of endless IPA last summer and I fully intend on doing the same this year.

 

You claim that philosophically you weren't buying because of what it would do to the little guy. The only real way they can hurt the little guy is by suppressing the price of their beers for longer than the little guy can tolerate. The race to the bottom on price with Boston is why Pete's Wicked is gone. If InBev can get smaller companies to play the exact game you just entered into then they will also go away. The little guys will have to play that game if stores can't sell their beer at a higher price. $3 spread over a dozen bottles is a quarter a bottle. To save a quarter you just jeopardized the long term forecast for the smallest guys. It's up to you what that quarter is worth to you on a long term horizon.

 

I think you may be overthinking the process.