Zombie Beer Brands

Just an observation: you guys seem to have made a transformation from "Respect Beer" to "Craft Beer as a Movement". IIRC, it wasn't that long ago (about when I joined, I guess) that you would make it a point to stand for beer, all beer. Maybe my memory is faulty.

To the point of your article, though, I think you underestimate (or at least don't mention) the threat to "big craft" (e.g. Sierra Nevada, BBC, etc.) represented by the locavore / local taproom business model, independent of the High End beers from AB-Inbev.

While your article doesn't name names, do you include in your "zombie" class others like Lagunitas and Founders who are also owned by macro brewers at a percentage above the Brewers Association's limit?

Personally, I've never enlisted in the Movement, since I am more concerned with taste and variety than with ownership.

Having said that, though, in my database of beers I've purchased since about 2012 (when I started keeping records), nearly 50% are from within a 100 mi radius of my home, and over 60% are from within 300 miles. And this is without any conscious motive to "buy local" as a part of a movement. I just buy what interests me.

But, since I rarely stop by a taproom, and buy nearly all of my beer from liquor stores, pushing "local" (in quotes, since IDK if 300 miles is truly "local") beer off the shelves is a concern.

But, so far, the brands that are seemingly being pushed into smaller shelf space occupancy in the store I frequent the most are the "big craft" brands, not the "local" brands.

 

I think this problem manifests itself most clearly in the following venues: Chain restaurants, (chain) bars, sporting venues, concert venues.

You look at the beer list for most of these places- they have BMC products sometimes completely. They might have Blue Moon, Shock Top, Goose Island, all really generic faux-craft beers. It gives the illusion of choice without actually having much or any choice. It appeals to the "masses" and might even give them the idea they are drinking craft beer, but completely leaves the beer enthusiasts in the cold.

Meanwhile some of the small local independent places are still featuring good local or even "hyper-local" beers.

And what is causing this lack of choice? The promise of more profitability from the BMC players.

 

90% of the people on this site are chasing AB beers on black friday

 

I'd just like to point out that you made that number up and I'd be surprised if it was accurate.

 

Did you know that 68.44% of all statistics are made up on the spot? Nonetheless, I think KevSal's point is that a significant number of Beer Advocates are merrily quaffing Bourbon County when the holidays come around...

 

Anheiser Busch? Doubtful.

 

Too bad you didn't say "99%". I've always wanted to be in the 1%

 

True

and i'd like to point out that im 100% sure you support AB
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1146/10672/?ba=Dan_K#review

 

Not the NYC contingent.

But only because there's no actual 'chasing' required

 

Well said. I'm getting a bit tired of the bashing that's taking place on this site every time a brewery is bought -- people rushing to very publicly call out the brewery and encourage others to stop purchasing their products. Seems to be a popular thing in today's culture: We want to be "anti-shaming" -- yet if a brewery makes one perceived misstep, their detractors very vociferously shame the people that made the decision to sell. If you don't like what direction the company is going in, then don't give them your business -- but stop trying to rally the troops to support your disdain.

 

And you've rated 14 different GI beers. What's your point?
https://www.beeradvocate.com/user/beers/?start=250&&ba=KevSal&order=breweryA&view=R

 

From the article: "Unfortunately, our utopia was breached years ago and we’ve allowed it to fester into a pandemic as we’ve high-fived each other on the craft brewing train. There’s still time to stop the zombie beer brand apocalypse. But we can’t be complacent. Support independent brewers by encouraging your local bars, restaurants, and stores to become zombie-free zones."

Let's unpack the intent behind this sentiment -- that we are to educate the proprietors of our favorite local bars, restaurants, and stores. I'm not the type of person to tell the owner, beer buyer, or manager, etc., at my local watering holes that he or she should stop carrying certain brands. I would, however, inquire with them as to whether they might be carrying/tapping certain independent beers that I like in the future, which I suppose is a form of encouraging them to be "zombie-free." But the idea that I'm going to rattle off about how they're proliferating the "zombie beer brand apocalypse" and that they should stop purchasing certain brands is preposterous; and frankly would make someone come off like a real asshole. I understand that referencing myself and what I would do is anecdotal and there may very well be lots of people on this site that feel differently about this topic.

 

my point is that a large portion of BA support AB, i think 90% is more accurate than you think

 

The problem is that such estimates are so subject to cognitive biases of more than one kind that they are pretty much useless when it comes to actually estimating real numbers.

 

Fair enough. The "Smack" articles do embody your overall philosophy. I appreciate what The Bros. and fellow BA'ers are trying to do here -- which I believe is to advocate for beer: Independent beer that caters to the consumers' tastes and various, often changing, whims. I'm a bit cynical in the sense that I feel there is fairly little we can actually do to fight the tide of "Big Beer" acquiring breweries. For me, I vote with my feet. I support the "big craft" guys that I love such as Sierra Nevada, the middle guys that I love such as Modern Times, and the really small guys that I love such as Russian River -- because I want all of them to stay in business. After reading some of the "Smack" articles, I get that the point is to stop pussyfooting around the issues.

 

the original comment was made in jest. but in thinking about it more and more I don't think its too far off. AB has done a crazy good job acquiring brands that people love unfortunately and don't have a clue. Elysian is one brand that comes to mind, especially on how anti-bud they were before. i bet large amounts of Space Dust are being consumed by folks who have no clue they are drinking AB.
i see a shit ton of ISOs for Vanilla Rye too, i wont put out an exaggerated number, but i can bet a large amount of "ISO:list" contains VR

 

I share your sentiments, and your three examples are likely my three favorite breweries outside of my local ones.