When is "big" Too Big?

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I meant Sweetwater. I was typing fast and in a hurry.

There were some very interesting points made. Would I drink a sour from Miller if it were the best? Well, I hope that the scale on which they brew would make cost-ineffective the brewing of anything more interesting than a basic ale or lager. My experience in other areas - bread and other food - indicates that quality (of flavor and ingredients) and scale at some point tend toward an inversely proportional relationship. If, however, they funded a small operation and decided to put their name on it (Miller Genuine Flemish Ale?), and they used true quality ingredients (i.e., nothing more than is required to produce a Flemish Ale), I would try it and maybe even like it.

I would not deny the right of any company to expand to whatever limits they desire. I only ask that they consider carefully the potential consequences. The danger of scale is hiding the true cost of making that single bottle of beer; a cost that could make maintaining a small brewery untenable given the relatively high fair price of that beer at a fraction of the production volume.

That said, I think most of us like the idea of the small, local brewery, and we would go to greater lengths - and probably pay a premium - to enjoy their beers over others. When I want a double IPA or a strong ale, I pass over other (possibly) better beer for GhandiBot and 668 (The Neighbor of the Beast), respectively, from NEBCo. Are they the best expression of those styles, or are they just good enough for me?

In the end, we just have to be aware when we are being played the fool by greedy businessmen, special interests and corrupt politicians. As long as they don't take away our right to brew our own beer (again), or make it too difficult to operate a small business I suspect we will be fine. And possibly a bit drunk now and then on really good beer.