BCBS in Charlotte

Probably the String Bean: http://www.stringbeanmarket.com/

 

@brawleys - This definitely supports Mike's side of this thing. If it's true - FUCK InBev.

An article in today's Charlotte Observer regarding InBev. Queen City Q is no longer selling any of their products.

"Queen City Q cited a Wall Street Journal story from earlier this month that suggested AB InBev is rewarding distributors who focus on its beers while limiting supply from craft brewers. AB InBev estimates that participating distributors would receive an average annual benefit of $200,000 each, according to the story."

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/ne...s-in-store/article49857275.html#storylink=cpy

 

I saw that article too, and I'd like to see this become a trend.

However, I do like GI and I still buy their products. I like to think the majority of their profit stays within the GI brand. They are an extremely small fraction of the AB InBev empire, and this reward program is definitely geared towards the macros. I don't like the Bourbon County money driven move from 4packs to 500ml bottles, but GI insists they are still the ones calling the shots. Over the next couple years, I think it will become more apparent that AB InBev is pimping GI. The next few BC releases will be interesting. I foresee the common grocery stores that hustle Bud getting bigger allocations than the bottle shops. Only time will tell.

I still can't believe that a random BI-LO in Belmont had that much BCBS... crazy.

 

They still have 7 as of now

 

I'm all about screwing abi, especially since this announcement. It will be interesting to see if Queen City Q will stop supporting abi all together. They still have Stella on tap and still have several other beers distributed by Adams, the local abi distributor.

 

I don't know what is more surprising...

The fact that BI-LO had that much BCBS
or
The fact that there is still some left 48 hours after the picture was posted

 

I wonder how much was brewed this year compared to last? I picked up a Men's Journal year end gear review last week - full page ad for BCBS in the first couple of pages. They're gonna start pimping the hell out of BCBS. Probably find variants in grocery stores next year.

 

I wouldn't be surprised.
It's a damn shame this is happening to such an iconic brand.

 

I don't like the move to bigger bottles either.

Still, they haven't mucked with the recipe. It's fantastic.

 

It is indeed

 

As an interesting side note also, this batch is 13.7%, and the previous batch (I got one to gift to a friend getting married) was 14.2% i think. I heard there were issues with distribution in GA, and if i'm not mistaken, their ABV limit is lower than NC. I feel like we may have gotten bottles that should have gone to GA. I may be wrong, but I feel like these are all things I've seen in print.

 

And yes, it is an awesome beer. You cant get these kind of flavors by cutting corners on ingredients and without serious skill. The goose island cats are still killing it.

 

First of all, it's 100% true. Second, imagine that, the industry veteran who's seen it all was right! All these people here want to tear him down for having principles.

 

I don't think anyone wants to tear him down for his principles. The problem is the attitude. On several occasions my wife, brother, and myself have had bad experiences. We all stopped going there years ago. Sometimes it is not what you say, but how you say it.

 

truth

 

When I posted originally, I didn't mention the name of the biz or the owner. And I wasn't trying to "tear down" the anonymous place/owner I was frustrated with. Mike saw my post and outted himself as the fella involved. I give him big props for doing that. In fact - read back in the thread and you'll see I gave him props. Mike's a good guy and I look forward to seeing him again at Brawley's. I'm a passionate guy. Mike's a passionate guy. Shit happens.

 

Ive been singing the same tune for a LONG time. Funny, almost, almost every bad "experience" someone has at my place involves being told no in some way shape or form. My way of doing biz seems to be a much less popular with the people who have been on BA for less than a year. I am by no means perfect but i am consistent. The only inbev product i have knowingly sold in years is bud select 55, a beer that is very obviously no threat to any craft beer I know of. I sold it because I had a customer that had supported my store since day one and just could not tell him that i would no longer sell his beer. He has quit drinking so now we are truly 100% inbev free, but where it counts, in FAUX craft beer we have been Inbev free for years.

 

One could almost take offense - if his name was LONG.

 

Well gang... I'm at the Belmont NC Bi-Lo right now, looking at this:



This joint got more than the most popular Total Wine in Charlotte. A lot more.

 

Unreal