AB acquired Wicked Weed

[bob1852]

Likely so. But are they putting forth the efforts AB/InBev does to stifle craft breweries? No. It's not even remotely the same.

When Oskar Blues used their new capital to buy Cigar City and distribute them to Colorado, did that not take shelf space away from another brewery? Or at a very minimum, increase beer selection so that private equities firm's beer has more of chance of being bought that some small brewery.

 

[slym2none]

...still just doesn't get it...

Never will.

 

[rodwha]

When Oskar Blues used their new capital to buy Cigar City and distribute them to Colorado, did that not take shelf space away from another brewery? Or at a very minimum, increase beer selection so that private equities firm's beer has more of chance of being bought that some small brewery.

Probably so. Is it even remotely on the same scale? Really?

Like I said there's no issue with business, even big business. But AB/InBev practices are a whole different level. You can't compare anyone else to them. You couldn't even lump the rest together and be in the same boat.

Why is it that AB/InBev is the one you constantly read and hear about? Why aren't the others lit in the same light?

And I must say I don't like that the small craft distributor was caught doing the same pay-to-play crap. However this small business was fined $2.6B whereas AB/InBev was fined $200K. Why is that? How is that fair or right? Money and favors just like any other politricks.

I just can't support that in any fashion. We've seen how it has hurt other fields of business. It's no different.

 

[rodwha]

Never will.

...and just never will despite any facts...

 

[applescrap]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=628149

Costco is now taking shelf space from the local little guy, dont shop there. Trader joes is doing the same.

 

[Toadies]

Oscar Blues is majority owned by a private equity firm.

Private equity firms don't care about beer, they care about profits (like every business).

And here I thought the sole purpose of any business was to make profits, make a good living, support your family, ect. I must be a supporter of InBev than.

 

[Toadies]

When Oskar Blues used their new capital to buy Cigar City and distribute them to Colorado, did that not take shelf space away from another brewery? Or at a very minimum, increase beer selection so that private equities firm's beer has more of chance of being bought that some small brewery.

If shelf space was taken away from another brewery, maybe it should be a awake up call your beer isn't that great.

 

[Cape Brewing]

If shelf space was taken away from another brewery, maybe it should be a awake up call your beer isn't that great.

So you think the "greatest" beer is what gets the shelf space?

You think shelf space is given on merit?

LOL

 

[Murphys_Law]

My take away from this thread...

I wonder where I can pick up Jai Alai in Colorado!

 

[applescrap]

^^ my buddy got it in Johnstown of all places. Trust me it's not as good as it used to be but it's still good. Either way don't look for it and buy it, because they took shelf space from some local Brewery. And whatever you do don't buy barrel aged 1050. I am really starting to get it now I think.

 

[passedpawn]

^^ my buddy got it in Johnstown of all places. Trust me it's not as good as it used to be but it's still good.

It might be hard to find other places, but it's always on the shelf here. Has been since they started canning it years ago. I drink it fairly regularly and I don't think it's changed at all. I'll pick up a sixer this wkend for testing purposes

 

[applescrap]

It might be hard to find other places, but it's always on the shelf here. Has been since they started canning it years ago. I drink it fairly regularly and I don't think it's changed at all. I'll pick up a sixer this wkend for testing purposes

Hey thats not fair, you are like two blocks from the brewery. Maybe because I only drink it once a year in March, I noticed the change? I'm certainly not biased to ob. You need to mail them to me fo testing .

 

[Murphys_Law]

It might be hard to find other places, but it's always on the shelf here. Has been since they started canning it years ago. I drink it fairly regularly and I don't think it's changed at all. I'll pick up a sixer this wkend for testing purposes

Hey thats not fair, you are like two blocks from the brewery. Maybe because I only drink it once a year in March, I noticed the change? I'm certainly not biased to ob. You need to mail them to me fo testing .

I lived in Clearwater 20 years ago... Busch Light was the "go to" then!!

I was in Orlando a few weeks ago and may have had one or two while I was there... or 20! We were staying at Disney's Old Key West and they are charging $8 a can/cup! Thank goodness for cars, ABC stores and red "roadie" cups!!

 

[slym2none]

^^ my buddy got it in Johnstown of all places. Trust me it's not as good as it used to be but it's still good. Either way don't look for it and buy it, because they took shelf space from some local Brewery. And whatever you do don't buy barrel aged 1050. I am really starting to get it now I think.

I can't sufficiently quantify how stupid this comment is.

I am taking this guy's way out. Applecrap is now on ignore, as he keeps spouting the most nonsensical BS.

 

[Toadies]

So you think the "greatest" beer is what gets the shelf space?

You think shelf space is given on merit?

LOL

Yes, no liquor/bottle shop is going to stock beer that doesn't move. That's idiotic business.

 

[bob1852]

That's idiotic business.

I thought business' aren't supposed to make decisions based on the bottom line.

 

[Toadies]

I thought business' aren't supposed to make decisions based on the bottom line.

Bottoms up!

 

[Syke]

Yes, no liquor/bottle shop is going to stock beer that doesn't move. That's idiotic business.

The "bottle shop" has very little say. It's the distributor that places the bottles on the shelves. The "independent" distributors are paid by (or in some cases even owned by) InBev to not distribute craft beers. InBev uses their market dominance, lobbying, and unfair business practices to eliminate competition. They are not good for the craft beer market.

 

[bob1852]

They are not good for the craft beer market.

Yet the craft beer market is better than it's ever been...

 

[brewerJase]

Yet the craft beer market is better than it's ever been...

Just because the craft bear market is doing well doesn't mean it's not being attacked. Every dollar the goes to big beer companies is a dollar potentially used to squeeze small brewers out of shelf space and tap room. I prefer to support local business instead of global corporations.

 

[rodwha]

Yet the craft beer market is better than it's ever been...

Imagine how much better it would be if their hands weren't in every cookie jar they can reach into. What they do is most certainly harmful for craft beer granted their reach isn't total.

 

[bob1852]

Just because the craft bear market is doing well doesn't mean it's not being attacked. Every dollar the goes to big beer companies is a dollar potentially used to squeeze small brewers out of shelf space and tap room. I prefer to support local business instead of global corporations.

I prefer to drink beer I like, not some arbitrary "local" thing...

 

[rodwha]

No doubt. And I'm at a loss for what "local" means to them.

I'm for great beer first and foremost. I'd easily spend a bit extra for something epic that I can't get such as Pliny, though not on a regular basis. After that I look for something reasonably priced. Sometimes it's something like Sierra Nevada (not small or local) and sometimes it's something local. I've been surprised by how good a lot of our local beers are as Texas just isn't the place one thinks of for great beer unless maybe it was a German lager as there's a big influence in places (we are heading to Pluggerville for a German festival today).

I think a lot of the craft beer prices can be outrageous, especially on bombers. There's just no way I'm dropping $10+ on a 22 oz beer (maybe were it something epic like Pliny as a one time thing) when I can get a six pack for that, and a six pack of craft here can be as low as a bit under $7. I think something these small breweries could do is something like a co-op to get better prices in bulk thus reducing their costs.

 

[bob1852]

No doubt. And I'm at a loss for what "local" means to them.

I'm for great beer first and foremost. I'd easily spend a bit extra for something epic that I can't get such as Pliny, though not on a regular basis. After that I look for something reasonably priced. Sometimes it's something like Sierra Nevada (not small or local) and sometimes it's something local. I've been surprised by how good a lot of our local beers are as Texas just isn't the place one thinks of for great beer unless maybe it was a German lager as there's a big influence in places (we are heading to Pluggerville for a German festival today).

I think a lot of the craft beer prices can be outrageous, especially on bombers. There's just no way I'm dropping $10+ on a 22 oz beer (maybe were it something epic like Pliny as a one time thing) when I can get a six pack for that, and a six pack of craft here can be as low as a bit under $7. I think something these small breweries could do is something like a co-op to get better prices in bulk thus reducing their costs.

If you're into mead, or wanting to try it, may I suggest Meridian Hive. Local to Texas, and the owner is a former HBTer.

 

[rodwha]

If you're into mead, or wanting to try it, may I suggest Meridian Hive. Local to Texas, and the owner is a former HBTer.

We have to growlers from them that we had filled at a farmer's market. We both really love his dry hopped version!

Mead is also something I've been meaning to try out for years but just haven't jumped in yet. Same with wines as SWMBO became interested so I bought her all she needed. She made the Apfelwine and a cranberry wine but then just left them. Seems I'll have to put them to use for her...

 

[EcuPirate07]

Another good article

http://m.charlestoncitypaper.com/ch...for-charleston-craft-beer/Content?oid=8357300

 

[bleme]

The "bottle shop" has very little say. It's the distributor that places the bottles on the shelves. The "independent" distributors are paid by (or in some cases even owned by) InBev to not distribute craft beers. InBev uses their market dominance, lobbying, and unfair business practices to eliminate competition. They are not good for the craft beer market.

That is certainly not the way things work around here. The grocery store/bottle shop gives an order to the distributor. Sometimes the distributor will stock for you when they deliver (store stocks from the back after that) but even then the distributor is given as much or as little space as the shop owner decides. If ABI is given 20 feet and craft is given 4 feet, it is because that is what moves in that store.

 

[Toadies]

That is certainly not the way things work around here. The grocery store/bottle shop gives an order to the distributor. Sometimes the distributor will stock for you when they deliver (store stocks from the back after that) but even then the distributor is given as much or as little space as the shop owner decides. If ABI is given 20 feet and craft is given 4 feet, it is because that is what moves in that store.

That's how I see it done here. Typically the very hipster stores will have little to no ab / Miller distros, it it's there choice. It's pretty obvious who pushes big distribution beers when Black Friday rolls around and you see the quantity given to different liquor stores for BCBS.

 

[gromitdj]

I prefer to drink beer I like, not some arbitrary "local" thing...

HaHa! Safeway does realize that there is an entire state called New Mexico between Arizona and West Texas, right? I guess "Local" really is just a new marketing term....

 

[Syke]

If ABI is given 20 feet and craft is given 4 feet, it is because that is what moves in that store.

Of course that's what sells. It's mainly a factor of what's available and what's advertised. Both of those are stacked in favor of and illegally subsidized by InBev.