A new war?

[Beer-lord]

If you've kept up with the beer wars, you might know that the Brewer's Assn is pushing a label so that craft brewers can put on their beer to show they are independent and not owned by the big guys.
But, there's some who don't want to put this label on their beer for whatever reason. Then, ABInbev comes out with a counter attack (WTF were they thinking?) dragging out some of the breweries they purchased.
I have a problem with new millionaires telling me about this but that's just me.

Here's some info on the label if you care: https://www.brewersassociation.org/busi ... ewer-seal/


And here's ABInbev's video with those who sold out to them:
https://vimeo.com/223773287
Some of the comments on the last video are funny too!

So, what do you think?

[BlackDuck]

Did you know the instagram link you posted was of the Saints new locker room?

As for the video...very interesting. If ABInbev thinks their main competition is "wine and spirits", then why are they buying up so many small to midsize craft brewers. Them saying that wine and spirits is the competition is a complete lie...it's craft beer and they know it.

As for the last video from the guy from Elysian...very, very interesting comments. I'll quote him, "To be truly punk, you do your own thing...you follow your own rules" Is this guy gonna show up at BrewDog? That quote is so close to BrewDog's way of thinking it's amazing. It even references one of their flagship beers. HHmmmm....just sayin!!!!

[Beer-lord]

Ooops, I fixed the first link. But hey, the Saints may suck, but they got a rad new locker room!

I know BrewDog will never, ever sell out. Until they get offered 1 billion dollars!

[BlackDuck]

I know BrewDog will never, ever sell out. Until they get offered 1 billion dollars!

I'm not saying that BrewDog would never sell. I'm just wondering if that guy is gonna show up in my backyard???

[RedBEERd]

This whole "commercial" seems to be to be a lot of RATIONALIZING

That said, I can see parts of both sides. Further, I would have a hard time not cashing a multi million dollar check knowing I could leave my current job in 4 seconds. I can be very very easily bought.

[LouieMacGoo]

Honestly I don't think that an upside down beer bottle logo added to packaging isn't going to make any difference. Most people don't care and will continue to buy what they like to drink or what the sexy commercials during Super Bowl tell them they should be drinking. With that said that video to me just seems like a bunch of brewery owners trying to justify why they "sold out". I think this will continue to escalate and become more like the underlying theme/plot line of Star Wars where the the Galactic Empire (ABInbev) continues to attack and decimate the Rebellion/Republic that is Craft Beer and the beer bottle logo is supposed to unite the rebel forces.

[FrozenInTime]

I don't need no stinking label! IF they want to buy me out, send me a check. I'll just start a bigger backyard brewery.....LOL I'm curious.... yea... it happens... I talked to someone that read a book (OMG, they still make books???), anywayz, this book says, says the book in a quiet way, that InBev is not actually owned by Belgium investors, but in actuality, it is owned by a new class of investers called Brazillionaires. It's a group of rich guys from Brazil that owns this investment club and runs it in Europe? Anybody else heard this, or am I in left field again? Either way, I won't support them or any brewery/LHBS they have grabbed up.


I just looked, there actually is a book like this on amyzon: https://www.amazon.com/Brazillionaires- ... inw_strp_1

[Dawg LB Steve]

And Shorts just sold out 19%, just under the threshold of 25% to maintain craft status, to Heineken/Lagunitas. It depends on what your price is for compromising your passion that put you in the business in the first place.
My 2 pennies!!

[RedBEERd]

This isn't directly related to the thread topic but I thought maybe it was mildly interesting:

http://www.denverpost.com/2017/07/26/be ... llennials/

[FedoraDave]

I had an interesting conversation with the owner of my LHBS about this topic. I can't completely remember all the things he said, but one thing that sticks out is his assertion that people go into a business for one of three reasons:

1) To make money
2) To become successful enough to retire early
3) Because they're passionate about what they do, and want to do it regardless of the level of their success, or the time put into it

The first two are the ones who sell out, because number 1 can make more money by doing so, and number 2 can go buy an island at the age of 35. That leaves number 3, which would be the small minority of craft brewers.

What does this mean to the consumer? I dunno. I've had a lot of craft beers from breweries that I don't think are going to ever get big enough to sell out because I thought their beer was pretty punk-ass. Are they to be glorified? Should I buy punk-ass craft beer because they have integrity? Should I shun Goose Island, even though they make damn good beer, because the owners were offered a small fortune that allows them to do what I spent my whole life working toward, only to have less than 1/100 of their payoff?

Drink what you like. Me, I try to brew as much of my own beer so I don't have to resort to buying commercial beer.