AB acquired Wicked Weed

[applescrap]

7.99 a six pack.

View attachment 1495669335395.jpg

 

[Murphys_Law]

7.99 a six pack.

Picked up some Jai Alai and Florida Cracker this weekend!

 

[applescrap]

Picked up some Jai Alai and Florida Cracker this weekend!

In colorado? where you at?

 

[jmark]

What I'd like to see is some industry group offer a 'Certified Craft' designation/logo that independent breweries can apply, and be approved, for which would guarantee a certain quality level as well as a level of independence. Breweries with the designation could use the logo on their packaging etc. which might help consumers make more informed choices.

So sounds like the BA was already on the case...

https://www.brewbound.com/news/2017...il&utm_term=0_6026cb3473-1def090572-168625296

 

[bob1852]

So sounds like the BA was already on the case...

https://www.brewbound.com/news/2017...il&utm_term=0_6026cb3473-1def090572-168625296

So if InBev buys 24.9% of a company, they'll still be considered "independent."

I wonder why they chose "less than 25%" as the standard?

 

[jmark]

So if InBev buys 24.9% of a company, they'll still be considered "independent."

I wonder why they chose "less than 25%" as the standard?

If I understand correctly, the criteria for this are pretty much what they've been using for the definition of 'craft' in the past; the barrel limit being an obvious hilarity! At least this is something though... anything that provides more information to the consumer as to what's truly independent and what's now 'crafty' BMC-owned can't be all bad.

 

[bob1852]

If I understand correctly, the criteria for this are pretty much what they've been using for the definition of 'craft' in the past; the barrel limit being an obvious hilarity! At least this is something though... anything that provides more information to the consumer as to what's truly independent and what's now 'crafty' BMC-owned can't be all bad.

Yeah, I know they haven't changed the definition (well, at least recently ), but I don't think the purests would be happy with an "Independent" labelling system that could include a company that was 24.9% owned by InBev.

I haven't been able to find why they chose the 25% threshold (as opposed to 0%, 10%, 49%, etc.). I'm curious as to why it was chosen, especially since the BA has been very open that changes to the "small" definition have been made to keep Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, etc. in the "craft" category.

 

[Weezy]

Has this affected foot traffic at the Asheville stores get?

 

[jmark]

Has this affected foot traffic at the Asheville stores get?

Unfortunately, but at least only anecdotally, no...

https://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2017/06/asheville-day-three.html

"It’s pretty hot outside. I work up a nice sweat walking up the slight incline to Wicked Weed. That big hill on the way back to the house is going to be fun. But that’s later.

The takeover doesn’t seem to have put folks off. The patio is mobbed. As is the bar inside. Luckily, there are two free seats. But before I can grab one, two women move in. Though they don’t sit down. Obviously they’re just going to order. So I hover behind them until they’re done."

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

I'm not even anti-Bud... But this is one of the most tone-deaf responses I've ever seen.

 

[Syke]

Wow, those brewers really did sell their souls. "Let the consumer decide"? InBev does everything they possibly can to reduce consumer choice.

 

[GoeHaarden]

We can only hope for better distribution out of this whole thing.

Honestly, does this really bother all of you? Who cares?

If AB offered you $1 billion dollars for your brewery you wouldn't take it, because it would mean your "selling out!" Get real...

 

[lschiavo]

We can only hope for better distribution out of this whole thing.

Honestly, does this really bother all of you? Who cares?

If AB offered you $1 billion dollars for your brewery you wouldn't take it, because it would mean your "selling out!" Get real...

Why do so many seem to relate to the perspective of the brewery that sold out instead of the customer that they almost certainly are?

 

[GoeHaarden]

Why do so many seem to relate to the perspective of the brewery that sold out instead of the customer that they almost certainly are?

I can't relate to the perspective of the brewery, but I can say that if the price is right I'd sell too...You mean I can retire, and do what I love for fun now!? Easy choice!

From a customer's perspective, this only effects me in a positive way as my local Kroger might start stocking WW when distribution grows thanks to AB. I like good beer, regardless whose name is on it...

 

[Callacave]

I can't relate to the perspective of the brewery, but I can say that if the price is right I'd sell too...You mean I can retire, and do what I love for fun now!? Easy choice!

From a customer's perspective, this only effects me in a positive way as my local Kroger might start stocking WW when distribution grows thanks to AB. I like good beer, regardless whose name is on it...

Who cares about Wicked Weed. Plenty of other amazing breweries out there. It's a shame, but some people wanted to cash out. Good for them, but maybe not so much for the consumer in the future. Time will tell.

 

[GoeHaarden]

Plenty of other amazing breweries out there.

Just makes room for one of our HBT brothers and sisters to surpass them...

 

[rippajak]

Just makes room for one of our HBT brothers and sisters to surpass them...

That's just the thing: it doesn't. In fact, it makes it more difficult for new breweries to break into the market. Every brand that ABI acquires is more power they have to control shelf- and tap-space, and to drive down the market price of "craft" beer. Those factors make life much more difficult for start-up breweries.

The issue isn't really about what's good for the brewery or for the consumer. It's about what's good for the craft beer movement as a whole. Budweiser already clawed their way to the top of a heap of conquered breweries once. It is fairly obvious that they are waging the same war again.

I will admit, I can't blame the "sell-out" breweries for what they have done. I would like to believe that my principles do not have a dollar value, but I cannot honestly say that I know what I would do were I offered that multi-million dollar check.

I will say that I totally support what the BA is doing with their "independent" seal. This is exactly the sort of solution that I have been hoping for. ABI is just sore that they're finally being called out on their shady business practices.

 

[GoeHaarden]

That's just the thing: it doesn't. In fact, it makes it more difficult for new breweries to break into the market. Every brand that ABI acquires is more power they have to control shelf- and tap-space, and to drive down the market price of "craft" beer. Those factors make life much more difficult for start-up breweries.

Do you really believe this? I cannot attest to the craft beer market in Indy (nor have I tried to open a brewery), but in Nashville the number of craft breweries has grown exponentially in the last 5 years. Trust me, I've been waiting for the price of craft beer to be driven down, but it is rock steady. If anything, it has increased over the years. Also, I've really only seen expansion on the shelves in favor of non-AB craft breweries, and they're mostly >$9/6-pack. Not cheap in my eyes...but I pay it because I like their beers.

I was never a fan of Goose Island's beer before AB, and guess what?! I'm still not a fan, so I still pass them up for other beers that I like. However, I like WW beers so if they start distributing them here then I will probably buy some every once in a while. If AB wants to sell them cheaper, then it's a win for me.

The issue isn't really about what's good for the brewery or for the consumer. It's about what's good for the craft beer movement as a whole. Budweiser already clawed their way to the top of a heap of conquered breweries once. It is fairly obvious that they are waging the same war again.

I'm not sure AB is trying to wage a war on craft beer to abolish it as a whole. I think If that was the case then they would be trying to purchase every craft brewery that opens, and they're not. It seems that they're making business decisions to purchase these profitable breweries in order to increase revenues. Like any other big corporation does...

If AB starts buying all the major malt, hop, or yeast companies only to raise the prices then I will get worried about the "craft beer movement."

 

[Syke]

If AB starts buying all the major malt, hop, or yeast companies only to raise the prices then I will get worried about the "craft beer movement."

They buy up distributors and they pay distributors to drop craft beer, and they do many other anti-community actions.

 

[jrgtr42]

They buy up distributors and they pay distributors to drop craft beer, and they do many other anti-community actions.

Not so much paying them to drop craft breweries - the brewer would then be free to sign with a different distributor, but AB incentivizes the distros to concentrate on their own brands, to the detriment of the small guys. bonuses for sales, increases, percentages. It's at the fuzzy edge of the line - there's things they can't do regarding competition, but they go right to the line and occasionally a toe over it.

 

[GoeHaarden]

It's at the fuzzy edge of the line - there's things they can't do regarding competition, but they go right to the line and occasionally a toe over it.

Like any other big corporation that is trying to get as close to a monopoly as legally possible.

Either way, I don't think we're going to stop InBev by boycotting their craft beer lines. It only hurts the actual craft brewery and the people that work there. I believe WW and the others retained most of their operational staff after merging with AB, but I could be wrong.

AB makes enough off of their traditional stuff to do what they want anyways. Way more Bud-heavy drinkers than craft beer drinkers...Hell, I take a case with me down the river!

 

[GoeHaarden]

they do many other anti-community actions.

Providing jobs is hardly anti-community....

 

[pdxal]

We can only hope for better distribution out of this whole thing.

Honestly, does this really bother all of you? Who cares?

If AB offered you $1 billion dollars for your brewery you wouldn't take it, because it would mean your "selling out!" Get real...

I would take the $1 billion, but not be hypocritical and dishonest by trying to contend that my brewery was still "craft" or obscuring the true ownership.

 

[jrgtr42]

Like any other big corporation that is trying to get as close to a monopoly as legally possible.

Agreed - and I'm not faulting them for doing this, just some of their methods.

Either way, I don't think we're going to stop InBev by boycotting their craft beer lines. It only hurts the actual craft brewery and the people that work there. I believe WW and the others retained most of their operational staff after merging with AB, but I could be wrong.

Agreed as well. And I do feel bad for most of the employees, the guy who cleans out the mash tun, sets up the bottler, etc. They don't have much say in what happens with their company (neither does any other industry) but I wonder how many of them don't care who signs their paycheck, versus those who got into it with pride of working for a craft brewer, a small neighborhood company and all of a sudden they're working for the biggest beer conglomerate in the world, who is bent of squeezing the small guys off the shelves and taps of every place possible.
I also don't blame the owners - wave that big a check under my nose and I would have a really hard time saying no, no matter what else.

AB makes enough off of their traditional stuff to do what they want anyways. Way more Bud-heavy drinkers than craft beer drinkers...Hell, I take a case with me down the river!

Agreed also. I bet ABInbev makes more profit off Bud Light in a day versus what they are making in a year off the dozen craft brewers they've bought in the past 10years. But it's not just the profit that drives them, it's also getting their name out as far as it can go, not that anyone in the industrialized world hasn't heard of Budweiser.

 

[GoeHaarden]

I would take the $1 billion, but not be hypocritical and dishonest by trying to contend that my brewery was still "craft" or obscuring the true ownership.

But who gets to define what makes a brewery "craft" and in all honesty, what does it mean anyways?

Webster's defines craft as a "skill in planning, making, or executing" and "an occupation or trade requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill." Which could apply to every brewery, big and small.

Who started this craft beer paradigm?

If AB took your all-time favorite ever craft brew and renamed it Bud 2.0, you'd stop buying it?

 

[Syke]

Providing jobs is hardly anti-community....

That in no way makes all their anti-competitve illegal practices acceptable.

 

[GoeHaarden]

That in no way makes all their anti-competitve illegal practices acceptable.

Illegal? What laws are they breaking?

I've yet to see any anti-competitve practices? Buying up a small percentage of the market is hardly anti-competitve, it's just business. No one is going out of business because AB bought another small brewery! Honestly, what is so unacceptable about expanding your business?

All I'm saying is that if WW beers don't change, and operational staff was given the option to stay. What harm is done? Seems like it's providing these breweries with greater resources/distribution/stablility.

Now if AB starts closing all these breweries that it's purchasing then I'll start to get upset. Maybe they'll buy Fuller's so I can get it cheaper than $13/4-pack. Or maybe they'll buy Pilsner Urquell and brew it here so I can get some of that fresh stuff out of the tank. I love that sh*t...

Maybe we should drop this misconception that craft breweries cannot remain "craft" breweries if they're owned by one of the big guys?

 

[Syke]

Illegal? What laws are they breaking?

Do some research. Busted in CA for pay-to-play. Busted in WA for pay-to-play.

http://goodbeerhunting.com/sightlin...es-anheuser-busch-wholesalers-for-pay-to-play

I've yet to see any anti-competitve practices?

Paying "indepenent" distributors to drop craft beer is anti-competitve. Buying "independent" distributors is anti-competitive. Lobbing for laws that make things difficult for small brewers is anti-competitive.

Watch Beer Wars sometime. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1326194/

 

[Cape Brewing]

Currently facing charges in Massachusetts for pay-to-play.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bo...massachusetts/ZK4GlD6BTUTSkpQwMuP4uN/amp.html


... which is illegal.... and anti-competitive

 

[GoeHaarden]

Do some research. Busted in CA for pay-to-play. Busted in WA for pay-to-play.

http://goodbeerhunting.com/sightlin...es-anheuser-busch-wholesalers-for-pay-to-play



Paying "indepenent" distributors to drop craft beer is anti-competitve. Buying "independent" distributors is anti-competitive. Lobbing for laws that make things difficult for small brewers is anti-competitive.

Watch Beer Wars sometime. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1326194/

Arrrgghhh...you got me! I like a good debate. Yeah, they got fined but the SEC is like the EPA, an income source for the federal government. The real enemy. haha.

From what I read, the one in CA was for "paying for refrigeration units, television sets, and draft systems at Southern California retailers." Sounds like ensuring proper display of merchandise. Maybe to the extreme, but you see what I'm getting at. The other was for "paying two Seattle concert venues to exclusively sell products “supplied by a ‘Budweiser’ distributor." This seems like a stretch...Don't most venues go exclusively one brand or another depending on who pays the most? Kind of like advertising...I'm probably wrong again.

Maybe I'm just confused as to how so many craft breweries (the ones who even make bad beer and have distribution) continue to open when it is so hard to make it in an AB dominated market. The number of craft breweries only continues to grow.....I guess time will only tell. For now I will enjoy all of this delicious beer regardless whose truck it's being delivered by. RDWHAHB