I have nothing polite to say...

[alb]

Sumbitches.

http://draftmag.com/anheuser-busch-south-african-hops/

[mashani]

So my 1# box of "Rare South African Hops" is now extra rare because if InBev?.

So I can now sell them for a billion dollars?

That would be cool, even though InBev sucks.

[The_Professor]

So my 1# box of "Rare South African Hops" is now extra rare because if InBev?.

So I can now sell them for a billion dollars?

That would be cool, even though InBev sucks.

One can sympathize with even a large corporation when, in their efforts to distribute their superior products, they consume more than the available resources provide.

[Beer-lord]

Monopoly rules!

[RickBeer]

Monopoly rules!

Let's talk real outrage, Monopoly dropping the thimble!

[Inkleg]

Monopoly rules!

You mean those ass hats should not pass go and go directly to jail.

[Beer-lord]

I think they should only have 1 national brewery that brews beer in the states and we can only buy 1 type of beer during only certain days of the week with a ration card.

[ScrewyBrewer]

I like American hops, as long as I can still get them I'll be fine.

[Kealia]

I'm on the fence on this one and not really sure where I stand yet.

On the one hand, this is heavy-handed and monopolistic BUT on the other hand, if they own the hop farms why should they be required to sell to the competition?

I've gone back and forth in my head a number of times on this one and would need more information to be able to have a definitive opinion.

If I'm a business and have the ability to secure something that gives me a competitive advantage (like a patent does), shouldn't I have the right to do so?
Not knowing enough about monopoly laws I can't say if this crosses that line or not. But the way I understand it, these hop farms are owned by SAB Miller (which InBev now owns) so up until now all breweries, craft or not, were buying from them anyway - right? So now they are just cutting out the competition which sounds like a good business practice on the surface.

Once you take the emotion out of this, it really becomes an interesting conversation and one I would love to have over a couple of beers. Who's in?

[Inkleg]

Once you take the emotion out of this, it really becomes an interesting conversation and one I would love to have over a couple of beers. Who's in?

The usual suspects.
How about we discuss this over a few cold ones while talking to Wicked Weed employes about this in Asheville next year.
I promise kittens!

[Beer-lord]

Once you take the emotion out of this, it really becomes an interesting conversation and one I would love to have over a couple of beers. Who's in?

The usual suspects.
How about we discuss this over a few cold ones while talking to Wicked Weed employes about this in Asheville next year.
I promise kittens!

Don't be startin' nuttin you can't finish!

[alb]

Once you take the emotion out of this, it really becomes an interesting conversation and one I would love to have over a couple of beers. Who's in?

But see? I don't want to take the emotion out of it. The biggies take all the passion and goodness out of it and reduce it to a bottom line. That happens in so many other aspects of my everyday life, and it honks me off that it's happening to friendly, tasty local craft beer. Made by craftsmen and craftswomen. I'll be able to make my own with whatever hops are available but I like being able to travel somewhere else and have something tasty made right there, by creative people who know the local water, available adjuncts, and taste preferences.

[mashani]

Once you take the emotion out of this, it really becomes an interesting conversation and one I would love to have over a couple of beers. Who's in?

But see? I don't want to take the emotion out of it. The biggies take all the passion and goodness out of it and reduce it to a bottom line. That happens in so many other aspects of my everyday life, and it honks me off that it's happening to friendly, tasty local craft beer. Made by craftsmen and craftswomen. I'll be able to make my own with whatever hops are available but I like being able to travel somewhere else and have something tasty made right there, by creative people who know the local water, available adjuncts, and taste preferences.

So although yes, in theory from big business perspective it all makes sense. I lived in that world for many years, I know the game.

But, I think like Alb says, when it comes to the local little guys, I think that honestly most all of them want not just to succeed themselves, but want the other little local guys to do so as well. A lot of them collaborate. Some of them share tech/space/lines/etc. When they get to a certain size then of course they will start to compete for shelf space in grocery stores but that also is as much because of the big guys as this hop problem is. And that said some of the more locally owned / smaller grocery store chains here sell bottles and growlers of stuff from every local place imaginable, so the shelf space for the little guys isn't out of the question for them. And even with that competition, I don't think they want the other guys to fail.

[Kealia]

FWIW, I agree with both of your points - and I will continue to "vote" with my wallet by not buying ABInBev products.

This is one of the conversations that can be really polarizing so I'm hoping to just foster discussion and play Devil's Advocate where I can for the sake of debate/discussion.
It's hard to not be emotional when we're talking about "little guys versus big guys" and an evil corporation like ABInbev (IMO) who's goal is to simply stop the little guys from competing - not just out-compete them.

So mashani - - how are you going to price your beers made with your SA hops?

[mashani]

So mashani - - how are you going to price your beers made with your SA hops?

Pricing depends on if they are wearing an InBev beverage logo hat / swag of any sort. LOL.