Do you Seek the Seal?

So, I bought some local beer yesterday and noticed the ICB seal on the can today.

Sad to say, the beer wasn't all that good. So much for a presumed sign of quality.

 

Aaaaannnnnnd:
New Trail Chaperon
Equlibrium Bitrate Fluctuation
First State Ethereal Reality
Freethought Phosphorescent
First State Dreams Descending
South County Glowsun IPA
Union Craft Trip Leader
Fat Orange Cat FOC Less Monster
Wyndridge Pineapple Orange IPA
Tripping Animals For The Birds

....among others. (Sorry - undated cans with the "drink fresh" admonition are my pet peeve.)

Some breweries don't even reveal the ABV on the label. (You'd think that that would be an FDA requirement, but apparently not.) This is not nearly as common as undated beer, but I'm not gonna buy a 4-pack if I don't know what I'm getting into, even if it has the Seal.

If I was the keeper of the the BA seal, I'd make sure my members adhered to some basic minimum consumer information requirements. Size, ownership, and a TTB Brewer's Notice alone aren't enough to influence my buying decisions.

 

The primary Federal regulatory agency for the brewing industry is the TTB and under the FAA Act the current rule is:

Previous to a 1990s Supreme Court case brought by Coors, the regulation was:

Yeah, I've gotten that impression. While I might still argue the use of "common" in your claim (I don't really "recognize" most of those beers - the majority from New Trail - other than some of the breweries names but, as I noted above, most don't seem the sort of beers I either look at or buy as I noted above) I don't blame you for being annoyed. I'm surprised that I have never read forum posts about those breweries in the all-too-frequent date code/freshness/pet peeve threads.

So, ever inquire at any of those breweries (or via mail, email, Tweet, phone call, telegram) WTF is goin' on? I'd certainly cross them off my "buy" list for such cynical and deceptive labeling alone, even if they were handing me a 4 pack right off the canning line...

 

I realize these posts involve presuming and wishing, but it's not a freshness seal, alcohol labeling seal, or quality seal. From the BA: "When you see the seal, it signals 'That’s Independence You’re Tasting.'"
(Ah, so THAT'S what that taste was.)

 

I understand your point, but don't you think there's a lot of "local is (always) better" presumption here on BA, as well as from the Brewers Association?

And yeah, I remember "tasting independence" back in the early days of brew pubs & micro brewing... and it wasn't always good.

 

I was always under the impression that the "local is better" idea was more about "better for the community" than inherently better product. And I sort of think that's what the "seal" is all about, promoting the brewers assn version of "independent " as somehow superior from a macroeconomic or social perspective.

I mean, more people now do actually live in places where they can make a reasonable argument that their local breweries are the best so maybe that's becoming a real thing too. I dunno, the only local brewer I really homer for uses tons of local ingredients and makes at least one batch of beer each year that is sourced entirely from in our county. And because of it, his beer is very unique and I respect it.

 

I support the locals and will continue to do so. If the Seal helps them I support the idea of the Seal though, frankly, I think the Seal is more about the Brewer's Assn. supporting themselves.

 

It might have value to them as a marketing tool or in pushing consumer culture in a direction that benefits them, but they give the art away for free and you don't have to be a ba member to use it.

 

I know what ales and beers I like, brew some, buy the others.
Not much into looking for industry seals of approval.

 

I think it is great that this seal exists, but no, I do not actively look for it when shopping as most of my shopping happens at breweries these days.

 

I really dislike the scent of my work shirts when I dry them with the dryer sheets I bought on sale, and yet they have the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval! WTF!

Reminded me of that lamp I got for Christmas one year and I stuck in the basement. Ugliest thing you ever saw, yet it had the Underwriters Laboratories "UL" seal on it!