a little heart to heart

[Bobby_M]

To your point though Yuri, no one can force the sale of a micro unless it's a publicly traded company of course. When a micro sells to the big boys, you immediately realize it's more about money and less about the passion. I think even a couple years in the business jades anyone enough to have a pricetag. It's just that bigBMC has the wallet to reach just about anyone's price. Still, I doubt they have a clan of thugs forcing the sale.

 

[olllllo]

No, the thugs roll in during the distribution phase pressuring bars, stores and restaurants to replace say a Beach Bum Blond for an Avery Wit.

 

[Cheesefood]

To your point though Yuri, no one can force the sale of a micro unless it's a publicly traded company of course.

You'd be a fool to allow someone to own 51% of your company stock. A fool, or at least extremely in debt to allow someone to take ownership of the controlling amount of equity. Or you'd have to think "This is a great deal, and I'm going to facilitate the purchase of the controling shares." Even then, Bud doesn't "water down" the beers, they try to keep the recipe the same but reduce costs by giving the Micro the benefit of being a Baby-Bud: cheaper grain and hops, access to bottling, and of course the distribution system of the gods.

 

[TheJadedDog]

I don't have an inherent dislike of large companies or of the large breweries based on their business practices - this is America folk, free market capitalism reigns supreme. I also don't have an inherent dislike of their marketing tactics (even though I occasionally make fun of them). I have no problem with consumers who drink BMC beers (though I do try to convert them) anymore than I have a problem with people who think Applebees is a great restaurant; to each his own.

But to the OPs original comments, I do refer to BMC products as "swill" and "skunk piss" because I literally cannot stomach the stuff, it makes me want to vomit. When BMC is the only alcoholic beverage option I skip it and drink water instead (though some could argue the two things are the same ).

 

[Yuri_Rage]

When a micro sells to the big boys, you immediately realize it's more about money and less about the passion. I think even a couple years in the business jades anyone enough to have a pricetag. It's just that bigBMC has the wallet to reach just about anyone's price.

Indeed. On one hand, when BMC makes you an offer that will allow you to retire for good and live quite comfortably for the remainder of your life, your company has reached a certain pinnacle of success. On the other hand, when BMC alters your recipe or even discontinues the product you worked so hard to create, your personal financial success is somewhat overshadowed by what appears to be the ultimate failure of your endeavor.

Certainly the reason for that "failure" is up for debate. Some will say that BMC saw you as a threat and took you down. Others will say that your product never had a chance in the big national market. The answer probably lies somewhere in between.

At any rate, I think it's sad when the little guys disappear under the weight of pressure from corporate giants.

Hmm...it's the WalMart debate all over again...

 

[Alamo_Beer]

I was just called "Al Capone" a few minutes ago bc this guy found out I make beer (kinda easy as I'm wearing a AHB shirt and I've got the HomebrewTalk.com sticker on my car...)

He was like "oh do you sell it? Is it like bud lite or something?"

grr

Anyway, BMC has it's place...Like Evan! said floating down a river or camping or something like that nothing hits the spot like a cold Lone Star. But, like Cheese said, at a restraunt or at home I'll have a craft/home brew

 

[Nyxator]

I definitely fall into the category that the macrobrews have their place. I'm still amazed that they are able to make such a consistent beer with so little actual malt! With such light beer, it's hard to mask off-flavors (for me anyway).

As for the practice of using the cheapest ingredients, all breweries have to to do this to some extent or another to stay in business. Chimay uses actual wheat flour in their beer these days. The true beauty of having a hobby instead of a business is that you can make the beer with whatever ingredients you want without regard to cost. Every microbrewery has to make some tradeoff between quality and cost.

Lastly, I absolutely think American light lagers have their place in the beer world. Whatever you like to drink. If your a fan of Bud Light, go for it.

I think the underlying issue here is that, like any group of connoisseurs, we are in danger of falling into the snobbery category. I was completely turned off to the wine world because a good wine isn't what tastes good, it's what the wine experts say is good. I think it's good to respect each type of beer for what it is, and RDWHAHB.

 

[shafferpilot]

I guess we can just pray that BMC will someday decide to join the microbrewers rather than trying to beat them. There capabilities COULD be utilized to make some really great beers.

 

[brewt00l]

I guess we can just pray that BMC will someday decide to join the microbrewers rather than trying to beat them. There capabilities COULD be utilized to make some really great beers.

Why should they?....IMHO they make vastly different products for different markets.
I don't look for premium steaks at McDonalds or $1 burgers at Smith & Wollenskys.

 

[shafferpilot]

Why should they?....IMHO they make vastly different products for different markets.
I don't look for premium steaks at McDonalds or $1 burgers at Smith & Wollenskys.

touche! my friend, touche

 

[Big "A"]

This is honestly my Favorite thread.

Sorry for that multi post a couple pages back

 

[shafferpilot]

So does anyone have any theories on how a microbrew elevates itself into a national name? There are SO MANY awesome micros around, but so few that "normal" people have even heard of.

 

[c.n.budz]

So does anyone have any theories on how a microbrew elevates itself into a national name? There are SO MANY awesome micros around, but so few that "normal" people have even heard of.

They spend all of their money on marketing and advertising

 

[Orfy]

If we are the minority then aren't we wrong

A statement like that makes me sad. (And a bit angry)
Good job we are only talking about beer.


I'm happy to leave McD and AB to the masses, it doesn't mean I have to like the product or what the companies do.

I boycot products and companies I do not like.

 

[Liquidsandwich]

Sorry Orfy, Didn't mean to piss you off I was just throwing the arguement out there. Personaly I agree Just because it is the majority, doesn't make it right. But come on I like AB, it's not the greatest thing, but come on it's good.

 

[Jaybird]

the only good thing that I can see from AB or the BMC is there marketing. if we all had 1 oz of the marketing ideas that they had (back in the day) we would be rich beyond our wildest dreams. I have to give credit where credit is due. If you can sell BILLIONS of dollars of crap every year to the masses and continue to make them believe that its the best sh!t on earth You deserve my credit. Do I like the crap? Hell no But you have to admit they are some of the most powerfull CO. in the USA and THAT I admire and can learn from...
just thought it pipe in with my .02
JJ

 

[WOP31]

OK so i didn't read all of this thread, most but not all, and i have cought hell for trashing BMC before but here goes, they are nameless/faceless/soulless, companies that do nothing but look out for their bottom line, no matter what that takes, i have been compiling a list (my Anit-AB list) for some time, just waiting for this occasion, so here is some light reading if you wish to see in what ways they screw over the little guy, and disguise themselves as micros.


http://beerdorks.com/articles.php?article_id=1
http://www.allaboutbeer.com/news/states/97widmer.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2004/06/28/daily33.html
http://dev.soave.com/news/bev_goose-island.php
http://beerdorks.com/articles.php?article_id=8
http://www.stonemillpaleale.com/ (bottom right front page AB)
http://www.wildhoplager.com/ (Bottom Right AB)
http://beerdorks.com/articles.php?article_id=12
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anheuser-Busch#Beverage_products
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/BMC
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/3213.html (Bout halfway down the page)
http://www.beerscribe.com/notebook/2007/06/03/anheuser-busch-and-craft-beer/ (bud trying to take over maybe?)
http://www.beerscribe.com/notebook/2007/04/16/anheuser-buschs-very-busy-year/
http://www.beerscribe.com/notebook/2007/03/04/the-winds-of-change-at-old-dominion/
http://www.beeryard.com/news/default.cfm?action=view&id=643
http://www.allaboutbeer.com/columns/fred6.html (truth about light beer)

I highly recomend the very last link on the list (truth about light beer), Tells how american Light lagers are not really beer. Also i know i have read an article somewhere and cant seem to find it anymore, about how the former CEO of AB went to a comference in Oregon and told, outright, the distributors that if they did not stop stocking other beers that AB would basically shut them down. If anyone has read or has a link to an article similer to that please post it.

All Just My Opinion.


Cheers

 

[Orfy]

Sorry Orfy, Didn't mean to piss you off I was just throwing the arguement out there. Personaly I agree Just because it is the majority, doesn't make it right. But come on I like AB, it's not the greatest thing, but come on it's good.

I think you didn't mean it.

But it is dangerous to say the view of a minority is less valid than the view of the majority.

If anything the minority needs a louder voice than the majority.

I'm not pissed off.