"Beer Wars" Documentary: Thoughts?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by AUniverseProject, Nov 30, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. AUniverseProject

    AUniverseProject Initiate (0) Nov 28, 2012

    We've recently seen the documentary 'Beer Wars' about larger breweries taking over smaller brewers' business by making worse variations of of special beers (Anheuser Busch making a nasty pumpkin beer to take away from Dogfish Head's Punkin Beer). To our surprise, the big three, Anheuser Busch, Miller, and Coors are also buying out the brands of smaller breweries like Becks.

    What are your thoughts on this, cause for concern or not to worry?
     
  2. Dannywhitewash

    Dannywhitewash Initiate (0) Dec 19, 2010 Ohio

    Not to worry. For every small brewery being bought by InBev 5 more craft breweries are going into business. Becks is mediocre beer anyway.
     
  3. WassailWilly

    WassailWilly Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2007 New York

    If trying that swill the big 3 produces supposedly as craft brew sways anyone then obviously it is like good old
    PT Barnum said.....
     
  4. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Pooh-Bah (2,303) Sep 4, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Not sure if you can still find them but there have been numerous threads on this movie. Also spend some time on here and it's pretty easy to get an overall idea how people feel about the big 3. Goose Island cough cough...
     
  5. MaxOhle

    MaxOhle Initiate (0) Nov 10, 2012 Illinois

    Had just watched this recently. I loved this documentary. I was a little concerned by the fact that they are taking over in a smaller sense. Also disappointed that Goose Island was recently bought out, from Chicago, so that sucks....
     
    drevim likes this.
  6. Nofear048

    Nofear048 Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2010 Illinois

    The war is going to get nasty
     
  7. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,652) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    In my experience, many people on beeradvocate hate AB/inbev.......until they realize that one of their favorite beers is owned by them (cue BCBS). Then, they do a number of things. First, they change their opinion on Ab-inbev so that they can consume the beer they like guilt free and second, they shit on anyone who hates Ab/inbev and call them elitist and tell them to get off their high horse.

    Of course, there are quite a few people who don't give a shit either way. Their mantra is "if the beer is good, I'll drink it." Honestly, in my opinion those are the folks that are most dangerous because their apathy allows companies like Ab/inbev to swallow up craft breweries, keep the recipes, get a bigger cut off the overall money spent on beer (as now they have all of the macro market and some of the craft market) and make it harder for the smaller breweries to get their product out there (case in point, when Long Trail Hibernator gets bumped off the tap line in favor of Spaten because Ab/inbev made a threat to the bar owner that they would stop delivering Bud Light (an obvious cash cow for many bars) if the didn't make the switch).

    Ok, enough soap boxing.
     
  8. ShogoKawada

    ShogoKawada Initiate (0) May 31, 2009 Pennsylvania

    I don't thing GI was strong-armed into selling to InBev.

    Buuut I also like many InBev products, so I am a pretty dangerous guy.
     
    Lordkrystic likes this.
  9. Norica

    Norica Zealot (660) Feb 2, 2006 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Where did this Spaten scenario happen or is this hypothetical? Distributors are businesses and I've yet to hear of one refusing to sell their money maker to anyone. Also what beer was on the tap before the LongTrail Hibenator and have you expressed your concern about their lost business?
     
  10. IceAce

    IceAce Pooh-Bah (2,274) Jan 8, 2004 California
    Pooh-Bah


    I'm with Norica and am calling bullshite on this supposed scenario.?

    Why? First, because in 98% of America, ABI does not do it's own distribution. Second, most AB wholesalers do not carry Spaten.

    Bud Light sales keep the lights on and the bills paid...there is virtually no scenario I can concoct in which a business would refuse to sell a product which is already losing market share.
     
  11. Lare453

    Lare453 Pooh-Bah (2,884) Feb 1, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    My thought is that an and b,c suck my balls...

    Also, caffeinated beer is an awful idea and leaving Sam Adams was an even worse idea.
     
    ColinStClaire and BrettHead like this.
  12. Lare453

    Lare453 Pooh-Bah (2,884) Feb 1, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Uhhhhh.... So lets say bud light got a 100 on beer advocate. I'm supposed to drink a different
    Beer that got an 80 just because its a craft beer???

    I'm here for the good beer. Who ever makes the best beer is who I'm going to drink... So if ab/InBev makes a 100 rated beer, I'm going to drink it.

    No one on here wants to drink shitty beer, that's why we go to the craft brewers.
     
    JoEBoBpr and Biffster like this.
  13. flayedandskinned

    flayedandskinned Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2011 California

    I saw it and what I surprised about is how absolutely pernicious Bud is. After watching that documentary I just wanted to set the nearest bud brewery ablaze.
     
  14. flayedandskinned

    flayedandskinned Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2011 California

    Yeah, that chick didnt seem too sharp.
     
  15. PortLargo

    PortLargo Pooh-Bah (1,831) Oct 19, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    I came away with two main thoughts after watching Beer Wars:

    The three tier system is flawed and grossly favors the Big Boys. Whether it's lobbying for legislation or just leaning on retailers (through distributors), it is difficult for the smaller breweries to compete. Larger craft brewers like Sierra Nevada and Sam Adams can make the system work, but the really small guys can get boxed out in spite of having a superior product. We the consumers suffer.

    Mass marketing can really influence opinions. And this is not just for beer, it includes politics, autos, ice cream, etc. I have never met anyone who admits being controlled by major ad campaigns . . . but 50% of beer consumed in the US are Bud products and Corona is the top import. It's scary what else people might think they are doing right.
     
    Lordkrystic likes this.
  16. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    But they were both small breweries not too long ago.
    Sierra Nevada - 1983 - 2,142 barrels​
    Boston Beer Co. - 1985 - "over 500" barrels​
     
  17. beergod1

    beergod1 Savant (1,123) May 2, 2009 Ohio
    Trader

    that movie is pretty old now...i think they should make a part 2...just to show the changes since the first one. and to show the steady decline if macro brew.
     
    pieman25 and happy4hoppybeer like this.
  18. Brokentalontsi

    Brokentalontsi Initiate (0) Nov 10, 2012 Texas

    +1

    Having been in the beer business for 7 yrs now, I can't imagine anything like this ever happening.

    The benefits of small breweries getting on with a big distributor is huge. We have dedicated staff to work with grocery and restaurant chains to get their product in their systems and on their shelves which otherwise can be difficult for small companies to get accomplished. Couple that with the delivery and warehousing infrastructure already in place, draft service and line cleaning, sales staff, etc. a small brewery self distributing has no chance to service an entire large city, there is just too much work to be done and too much competition. The "we are a small operation, sorry out service isn't awesome" only works for so long, eventually the retailers just get tired poor service.
     
  19. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    FYI - PT Barnum was correct.
     
  20. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    When it comes down to it, fear and greed are the two top human motivators. The beer owner who fears that losing Bud Light will be the end of his business will always respond to the greed of AB/InBev. However, there will always be the bar owner or corporation that will not cave in or will just install additional taps in order to please both the macro and craft drinkers. I don't for a minute believe that anyone truly believes BMC would just sit back and not respond to a loss of their market share. Look what happened to the Big 3 U.S. Automakers. They sat back and didn't respond to a loss of their market share; need I say more?
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.