"Domestic Beer"

"That's a specialty beer" is the common response when I point out that you couldn't get any more domestic then the local craft being offered for $1.50 more then the "domestics".

 

This. If you're going to bars that call Sam Adams an import, you're going to the wrong bars.

 

Would you call a Tesla an imported or foreign car?

 

I'm sure it's misleading because it gets one excited about possibly getting a inexpensive domestic craft beer. Then you get let down when they tell you it's only for the bmc's.

 

I get more interested in how "import" is used now. It seems that many places will stick domestic brews on the import list just so they can charge more. In my case, I see Shiner Bock stuck on import lists frequently, and all I want to say is, "Now, you realize this beer is brewed four hours from us right?"

 

Exactly-- and part of being able to make that distinction is realizing that a bar running a $2 domestic draft special can't reasonably include "good well crafted beer" for the same price, because it costs them a lot more than "crap beer". Honestly, if a bar was routinely including craft beer in their domestic beer specials at the same price as BMC, I would be very skeptical of their offerings, because business-wise, that's not a sustainable model. The only exception would be a large, extremely busy bar that sells a TON of craft beer, in a market that has a distributor that also sells a TON of craft beer. In a case like that, I would guess it's possible that the distributor could get enough of a volume discount, and be willing to pass that discount along to its top-selling bar, that the bar could sell high quality craft offerings for the same price as BMC without taking too big a hit.


Continuing the car analogy-- the Sonic, Impala, and Corvette are all DOMESTIC cars offered by Chevy. But if you've ever noticed the fine print and speed-talking at the end of a Chevy commercial, or been fortunate enough to shop for a Corvette, you'll notice that 99% of the sales, deals, special offers, etc. that Chevy offers on its "BMC" vehicles don't apply to the 'Vette and other high-end models. "On most models" is their typical phrase.

So I suppose bars could call craft beer domestic, and just put a disclaimer on their specials saying "on some domestic beers", but I think that would only serve to confuse things further.

I personally like the bar specials that just go with a "half-off all drafts" approach, rather than a set dollar amount. That way, the craft brews are included, and are usually priced about where the BMC stuff is normally.

 

A bar near me lists beers as Domestic, Imports and IPA's.

 

For any member of this site, this will be a top pet peeve on any list pertaining to establishments. Not to mention as has been stated previously, being in the consumer minority we all know what these establishments mean.
Personally there's nothing worse in this craft beer age then an establishment that does not have a current beer list of some kind on hand. Which goes hand in hand with a staff that doesn't know what's available. I'd rather they know what's on hand than be "beer whisperer," to me knowing what you have is progress over food pairing, correct glassware etc., although that never hurts.

 

Comedy? How 'bout when the BMC niche crap is considered "premium" ala Select, Michelob Ultra etc. Why the hell isn't that as "domestic" as the standard BMC light beers. Gotta love how they rake a few more clams outta the yups that think the "premium" BMC is somehow that much different than the "domestic" light BMC

 

Unlike "Premium beer," which means "shitty beer."

FYI - there are two different bottle sizes that look similar if you aren't paying attention. "Bombers" are 22 oz. (650 mL) and are more common, but some beers (like Faithfull) are released in 25.4 oz. (750 mL).

 

Just silly, and how the hell is High Life "premium"? The name is no indication dumb asses. If that were the case explain Natural light, nothing natural about it, unless we're basing it on budget, in which case it would be a natural choice for a minimal budget.

 

Compared to Natty light, yes...I'd drown in the champagne of beers before I piss out the Natty

 

The term "craft" beer bothers me, and is so misused that it has taken on a definition of its own in the beer world. All brewers are craftsman, even if you don't like their production methods or distribution areas.

 

Amen. I lived in Burlington for almost 4 years, and I never once heard Magic hat, LT, or OC referred to as craft beer. Just local breweries.

 

I was at a bar a little while ago that had Michelob Ultra listed under craft beer. Oddly enough, they also had a legitimately good selection of true craft beers.