Cheers to Michelob

[doctorRobert]

Nonsense. 100 years ago there were as many breweries as there are today.
http://www.brewersassociation.org/attachments/0000/5674/totalbreweries2010_download.jpg

Thats true, but those were only a few big breweries and the rest were small (like now, except our craft breweries are probably way bigger) - they didnt distribute past their own town most of the time. There wasnt any refrigerated trucks back then. What theyre counting as breweries, is what you and I do, basically homebrew being sold out of their house - except it was legal then for them to sell it down the street too. Most people didnt really even drink beer to get drunk back then.

BMC owned the market back then too, along with a few others like pabst. There were still only a few major players, hence the three tier system was created - so that budweiser didnt own the bar down the street and make the beer - which was the case. I recommend you check out the history channel special on beer "brewed in america"

 

[ozzy1038]

The AB reps tell the stores HOW and WHERE their beer AND their competitors beers are to be displayed, Pushing craft brews out of sight, and making sure that their beers are in all the PRIME display locations. This should be the STORES choice on Beer placement, NOT a Brewery Reps choice.

I am not 100% sure on how they determine where their product is placed within a store, but in the case of other types of retail, manufacturers will pay and have contracts to have their product displayed in certain areas.

I worked for Sportman's Warehouse for a bit, and in one of the pistol cases, only Smith & Wesson's could be put on a certain shelf because they paid to have them there.

 

[doctorRobert]

I am not 100% sure on how they determine where their product is placed within a store, but in the case of other types of retail, manufacturers will pay and have contracts to have their product displayed in certain areas.

I worked for Sportman's Warehouse for a bit, and in one of the pistol cases, only Smith & Wesson's could be put on a certain shelf because they paid to have them there.

So maybe the craft brewers should pay to have the prime spot...

but that wouldnt work! because the craft beer drinkers look for the craft beer, and the BMC guys will look past the craft beer to the bmc. That's just the way it goes.

Might as well not even classify the two has the same beverage, in fact we shouldnt.

 

[Germelli1]

Edited line due to misunderstanding!

Not trying to pick a fight, but all these arguments are useless when BMC light beers are what 90+% of beer sales. You think their practices are ditry, but when a company produces a product that makes up almost all of beer sales in a nation, of course they are going to have more volume, more sales and more influence.

If a bar/grocery store/beer store stands to make vastly more money by selling one product over another, of course they will give more display space!

The only way anything will change is if Americans suddenly stop drinking the cheapest, most popular beers produced.

 

[doctorRobert]

Vance, you used only arguments made in "Beer Wars" and claim it to be all first hand knowledge and experience?

Not trying to pick a fight, but all these arguments are useless when BMC light beers are what 90+% of beer sales. You think their practices are ditry, but when a company produces a product that makes up almost all of beer sales in a nation, of course they are going to have more volume, more sales and more influence.

If a bar/grocery store/beer store stands to make vastly more money by selling one product over another, of course they will give more display space!

The only way anything will change is if Americans suddenly stop drinking the cheapest, most popular beers produced.

Well said.

Also, if bud is paying for space, its too take it away from millercoors... theyre not worried about the SNPA drinker, because its a different market.

 

[Zamial]

if bud is paying for space, its too take it away from millercoors... theyre not worried about the SNPA drinker, because its a different market.

I think this is very wrong. There was just another post were Inbev is now claiming 12 different area codes so that they have a line that will be like "312 Wheat". Why? because more and more people are switching to craft beer. The pie is only so big for "beer profit dollars". While Sam Adam's my be less than 1% of that pie, you are talking about MILLIONS of dollars...

BMC knows they are loosing more people everyday. So to combat the loss they are not only partnering up with craft breweries, they are planning their own craft beer lines! Inbev is the going to be this "area code" beer and Miller/Coors is going to be "10th and Blake". If you do not think they will then try to bully the non-BMC beers out of shelf space, I think you may be wrong but admittedly this is mostly speculation.

Here in WI, Miller/Coors just screwed over all the craft breweries and it will take effect just in time for the 10th and Blake line to hit the shelves! Here most of the craft beer is going to go up in price and M/C is probably going to have the cheapest craft beers on the shelf. We tried to rally and get the bill stopped but when M/C pays the maximum allowed in campaign contributions to your politicians, what side do you think that politician is going to vote for/against?

Like I have said before, I dislike BMC for what they do and the power they hold. I think they have an inferior product but have made the inferiority a gimmick so that people accept the flaws as normal. The only thing BMC can do is be consistent with the products they produce.

If you choose to support, love and drink BMC products don't be shocked when some of us do not agree with you. I do not normally get involved in threads like this because, I come of as "preachy". IRL if my friends or family want to enjoy a BMC I do not say a thing. If they offer me a BMC, I polity decline. If they prod at me to find out why, I will be happy to tell them. I however do not tell my FIL or mother that every time they drink a Miller they are screwing the WI craft breweries, even if that is how I feel. Beer is my passion and I do not expect everyone I know to have the same views as I do on this subject.

 

[Vance71975]

Vance, you used only arguments made in "Beer Wars" and claim it to be all first hand knowledge and experience?

The only thing that i have stated is first hand knowledge is me being fired because an AB rep didn't get his way. None of the rest of what i said was first hand knowledge, it is things i have read or heard.

 

[Germelli1]

The only thing that i have stated is first hand knowledge is me being fired because an AB rep didn't get his way. None of the rest of what i said was first hand knowledge, it is things i have read or heard.

Ok. My mistake and apologies!

This whole issue is a pretty close anology to the walmart vs. small business shops haha

 

[Vance71975]

Ok. My mistake and apologies!

This whole issue is a pretty close anology to the walmart vs. small business shops haha

No worries man. Honestly, i dont know where people live that they have the whole walmart vs. small business, Where i am from which is a VERY small town, less than 10,000 people, we have always had chain department stores, First it was Ames, and K mart, then it was wal mart and K mart, now its just a wal mart super center. We still have small stores on the square, and they still do good business because they carry things that wal mart does not have, Nike for example. Kmart in this town was going under before wal mart got here, so from what i have seen here at least, wal mart really hasnt had that much of an effect, the Grocery store is still doing well, because they carry better quality meats,produce etc. So i personally haven't seen the whole "evil wal mart thing" as a matter a fact it provided a lot of jobs for people laid off from factory's.

 

[Germelli1]

I think this is very wrong. There was just another post were Inbev is now claiming 12 different area codes so that they have a line that will be like "312 Wheat". Why? because more and more people are switching to craft beer. The pie is only so big for "beer profit dollars". While Sam Adam's my be less than 1% of that pie, you are talking about MILLIONS of dollars...

BMC knows they are loosing more people everyday. So to combat the loss they are not only partnering up with craft breweries, they are planning their own craft beer lines! Inbev is the going to be this "area code" beer and Miller/Coors is going to be "10th and Blake". If you do not think they will then try to bully the non-BMC beers out of shelf space, I think you may be wrong but admittedly this is mostly speculation.

Here in WI, Miller/Coors just screwed over all the craft breweries and it will take effect just in time for the 10th and Blake line to hit the shelves! Here most of the craft beer is going to go up in price and M/C is probably going to have the cheapest craft beers on the shelf. We tried to rally and get the bill stopped but when M/C pays the maximum allowed in campaign contributions to your politicians, what side do you think that politician is going to vote for/against?

Like I have said before, I dislike BMC for what they do and the power they hold. I think they have an inferior product but have made the inferiority a gimmick so that people accept the flaws as normal. The only thing BMC can do is be consistent with the products they produce.

If you choose to support, love and drink BMC products don't be shocked when some of us do not agree with you. I do not normally get involved in threads like this because, I come of as "preachy". IRL if my friends or family want to enjoy a BMC I do not say a thing. If they offer me a BMC, I polity decline. If they prod at me to find out why, I will be happy to tell them. I however do not tell my FIL or mother that every time they drink a Miller they are screwing the WI craft breweries, even if that is how I feel. Beer is my passion and I do not expect everyone I know to have the same views as I do on this subject.

I agree with your last paragraph even though we differ in opinion. A debate on a public forum from members with different views? Who would have guessed

To me I take BMC for what it is. It is not like they are making a beer comparable to craft brews and demanding the same price. They are FAR cheaper than craft brews, and as a tree hugger (although politically pretty conservative...I know, I am a walking paradox), I love the fact that they can thier products. So by looking at how my main interests are environmental, yours are the accessability of the small brewers to the beer market, it becomes clear where the difference in opinion exists. And I respect that!

I personally don't need blown away by every beer I drink so the light lagers have a respected place in my mind. I am also a broke college student so I appriciate having a style of beer that I can enjoy on a budget. Hell, I can have a full fridge of homebrew but still have a case of light beer on hand since it is cheaper to buy then go through the process of brewing and trying to replicate. Plus there are plenty of times I would rather have a bunch of light lagers than even my kolsch or mild brown ales (typically the lightest beers I brew).

 

[doctorRobert]

I think this is very wrong. There was just another post were Inbev is now claiming 12 different area codes so that they have a line that will be like "312 Wheat". Why? because more and more people are switching to craft beer. The pie is only so big for "beer profit dollars". While Sam Adam's my be less than 1% of that pie, you are talking about MILLIONS of dollars...

BMC knows they are loosing more people everyday. So to combat the loss they are not only partnering up with craft breweries, they are planning their own craft beer lines! Inbev is the going to be this "area code" beer and Miller/Coors is going to be "10th and Blake". If you do not think they will then try to bully the non-BMC beers out of shelf space, I think you may be wrong but admittedly this is mostly speculation.

Here in WI, Miller/Coors just screwed over all the craft breweries and it will take effect just in time for the 10th and Blake line to hit the shelves! Here most of the craft beer is going to go up in price and M/C is probably going to have the cheapest craft beers on the shelf. We tried to rally and get the bill stopped but when M/C pays the maximum allowed in campaign contributions to your politicians, what side do you think that politician is going to vote for/against?

Like I have said before, I dislike BMC for what they do and the power they hold. I think they have an inferior product but have made the inferiority a gimmick so that people accept the flaws as normal. The only thing BMC can do is be consistent with the products they produce.

If you choose to support, love and drink BMC products don't be shocked when some of us do not agree with you. I do not normally get involved in threads like this because, I come of as "preachy". IRL if my friends or family want to enjoy a BMC I do not say a thing. If they offer me a BMC, I polity decline. If they prod at me to find out why, I will be happy to tell them. I however do not tell my FIL or mother that every time they drink a Miller they are screwing the WI craft breweries, even if that is how I feel. Beer is my passion and I do not expect everyone I know to have the same views as I do on this subject.

You must think people are pretty stupid, if they can be convinced to buy beer they don't like, or that they can't move one isle over to find a craft beer if that's what they like. At least where I'm at, no bar around here has more than 3 taps for BMC, and the rest are decent craft beers.

We have it really good in this country. I don't see what people always complain about. Most craft breweries are at full capacity. Some are having to reduce distribution. Yet - BMC has a stranglehold on the market at the same time. It doesnt add up.

It has to be regional. I know some states have laws to restrict abv and stuff, but some of you complaining are states with good craft beer, that is doing well and is being given a fair opportunity to succeed.


Craft breweries and BMC make completely different beer. IPA's dont compete with light american lagers. I just don't buy this argument. The three tier systems helps the little guy, imagine if bud owned the liquor store\bar and the distributor, there would be no such thing as craft beer.

 

[Germelli1]

I have to add that my favorite bar at school has a happy hour special where all "Light Beers" are $2 for a 32 oz mug and everything else on tap is $3 for the same quantity. They carry a lot of local micro/craft brews on tap (legend brown ale from Richmond, VA, Starr Hill from Charlottesville, Highland from North Carolina and they carried some very local beers before it went out of business) as well as SNPA, a few taps of Sam Adams and others). Even Blue moon/Shocktop, BMC beers arguably trying to capture the more craft oriented crowd are $2 on happy hour.

I guess where I was going with this is that Zamial, I understand where you are coming from and I consider myself lucky not to have been affect by the dirty practices that you are describing in WI. I bet if similar things occured here I would probably change my tune. They kind of have back in the 90's when AB took over our local "Old Dominion Brewery" and pretty much killed all but their flagship and popular specialty brew.

But that is business...in ANY industry if you have money you are already better suited to succeed!

 

[cfonnes]

What about the whole, the Japanese car that I just bought was built in the USA. Is that just a marketing gimmick that the average Joe has bought into?

The same thing happened with BMC, marketing campaigns directed at the average Joe has ensured that he likes their cheap product, drunk for $6. Woo Hoo. Many people that I meet do not like change. Meat and potatoes was what I was raised on, I do not want to eat sushi, raw fish eecckkkk. Seems to be a lot of peoples rule to live by. Now light lager has become a staple for them they will never change.

Will a "buy local" grass roots campaign ever replace the current "save money" marketing that has taken the USA? I doubt it. Which is sad, I have finally reached the point in my life where I will spend a few extra bucks for better quality, sadly it is hard to find these days.

 

[Germelli1]

The one thing I don't understand in these arguments is the fact that InBev is inharrently evil for wanting to appeal to the craft crowd.

If BMC starts producing "quality" beers, then who looses?

 

[downtown3641]

You must think people are pretty stupid, if they can be convinced to buy beer they don't like, or that they can't move one isle over to find a craft beer if that's what they like. At least where I'm at, no bar around here has more than 3 taps for BMC, and the rest are decent craft beers.

We have it really good in this country. I don't see what people always complain about. Most craft breweries are at full capacity. Some are having to reduce distribution. Yet - BMC has a stranglehold on the market at the same time. It doesnt add up.

It has to be regional. I know some states have laws to restrict abv and stuff, but some of you complaining are states with good craft beer, that is doing well and is being given a fair opportunity to succeed.

Craft breweries and BMC make completely different beer. IPA's dont compete with light american lagers. I just don't buy this argument. The three tier systems helps the little guy, imagine if bud owned the liquor store\bar and the distributor, there would be no such thing as craft beer.

Actually, people are pretty stupid. The majority is also so fiercely loyal to one brand of fizzy, yellow water that they are completely unwilling to ever try anything different. The big two brewing companies take advantage of that fact.

Your argument about the three-tiered system is pretty flimsy. AB-InBev doesn't own the bars. However, they control their own distribution. So, in a lot of places that only have two or three distributers, anywhere from 1/3 to 2/3 of all distributers only distribute AB-InBev products. This leaves, potentially, only one distributer for SabMillerCoors and independently owned breweries.

Thankfully, craft beer is growing despite the restrictions that are in place. However, one look at the current situation in Wisconsin demonstrates just how easy it is for the big two and their hordes of lobbyists to change the game.

 

[Germelli1]

Actually, people are pretty stupid. The majority is also so fiercely loyal to one brand of fizzy, yellow water that they are completely unwilling to ever try anything different. The big two brewing companies take advantage of that fact.

So customer loyalty is a form of stupidity? I better stop ordering from Austin Homebrew then and stop shopping at my local homebrew shops. Majority of people don't like craft beer...its a fact and I don't see how that makes people stupid. Not to mention in times of any economic status, there are always people who can't afford to pay extra for craft beer, especially if they don't even prefer it over light beer.

Your argument about the three-tiered system is pretty flimsy. AB-InBev doesn't own the bars. However, they control their own distribution. So, in a lot of places that only have two or three distributers, anywhere from 1/3 to 2/3 of all distributers only distribute AB-InBev products. This leaves, potentially, only one distributer for SabMillerCoors and independently owned breweries.

Thankfully, craft beer is growing despite the restrictions that are in place. However, one look at the current situation in Wisconsin demonstrates just how easy it is for the big two and their hordes of lobbyists to change the game.

I don't understand how the distributers are bad for having 1/3-2/3 only distribute a product that makes up over 90% of beer sales in the US.

What restrictions are in place that hold down the little breweries? Taxes are even tiered according to levels of production!

 

[rycov]

maybe it's more regional. I haven't seen a problem like that here. like I said at my local pub you wouldn't even know they served bmc unless you asked. and in the stores they have craft beers at one end off the aisle, so depending on which side you walk up to it from, it comes first. true there is more bud light an anything, but o live in a hic town, so it probably sells a lot better. I don't have a problem with how things go here ( at least everything seems pretty fair). sorry for those who do have these problems, my tune would be a little different if it was hard for me to get a good beer here.

 

[Germelli1]

I would actually be willing to say some craft brewers are more "evil" than BMC. Breweries like Rogue know they are in a specialty market and jack up the prices of thier beer. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE rogue beers a understand ingredients in their beers cost more than the rice/corn/adjuncts in BMC. I just feel that they far overprice thier beer because they know it is special. Dead guy was my gateway into craft beer, but in the last year prices have rose to $6 a bomber or $12 a six pack so I know they don't need to charge as much.

I get it, if I don't like than I should buy their beer any more. And sadly the only time I buy Rogue now is to get a fresh batch of pacman harvested and I still greatly enjoy shakespeare stouts, but there are many beers comparable or better in quality that are far cheaper.

Conversely BMC doesn't brew a beer and jack up the price because they know they are in a niche market...BMC actually helps a lot of the smaller breweries (ex Starr Hill) by taking over the bottling and distributing. Of course they make money off of this, but so does the craft brewer. Plus now those craft breweries can focus on producing beer by not having to worry about the bottling and distribution aspect of the business, yet they still get to provide jobs since bottling must be done in-house!

 

[downtown3641]

So customer loyalty is a form of stupidity? I better stop ordering from Austin Homebrew then and stop shopping at my local homebrew shops. Majority of people don't like craft beer...its a fact and I don't see how that makes people stupid. Not to mention in times of any economic status, there are always people who can't afford to pay extra for craft beer, especially if they don't even prefer it over light beer.

Sorry, I should have made it clear that people are stupid in general. It's not directly related to their taste in beer. My point was that there are people who are fiercely loyal to an inferior product because they either don't realize there is better out there or they don't care to look. I can't honestly blame the big brewers for exploiting that.

I don't understand how the distributers are bad for having 1/3-2/3 only distribute a product that makes up over 90% of beer sales in the US.

What restrictions are in place that hold down the little breweries? Taxes are even tiered according to levels of production!

There are barriers to entry into the marketplace for small brewers. Mostly, this has to do with distribution, because an entire group of distributers that are only allowed to sell product owned by one company are out of bounds to small brewers. This system, as a whole, is antiquated and only still in place because of lobbying from big brewers. At the moment, these barriers to entry are not obstructing the growth of craft beer as a whole because there is a decline in sales for macro brews. So, right now, we don't have a huge problem. The problem arises in states like Wisconsin where a large brewer has lobbied the government into enacting regulations that hurt small breweries.

 

[Zamial]

You must think people are pretty stupid...

There is no thought required. I know people are stupid as a generalization. Where does our school system rank in the world again??? Please do not make me point out the idiocy that runs rampant because that would make an entirely new topic...

At least where I'm at, no bar around here has more than 3 taps for BMC, and the rest are decent craft beers.

Most of the bars around here serve nothing but BMC. This is another generalization, yes there are fantastic bars around here but they are the exception.

We have it really good in this country. I don't see what people always complain about. Most craft breweries are at full capacity. Some are having to reduce distribution. Yet - BMC has a stranglehold on the market at the same time. It doesnt add up.

Sure it does when you can see the equation. You address this in your statement above. The majority of beer drinkers drink BMC. When you look at population growth vs. growing craft beer sales the craft beer sales are still greater. Since it is pretty obvious that there is a HIGH demand for craft beer where do these people come from? The only place they could have which is from the BMC drinking populace. I have heard terms like "craft beer movement/revolution/renaissance" more in the last 5 years than ever before!

It has to be regional. I know some states have laws to restrict abv and stuff, but some of you complaining are states with good craft beer, that is doing well and is being given a fair opportunity to succeed.

Motion 414 just made your statement void here, thanks to Miller/Coors but since it is not effecting you why should you care?

Craft breweries and BMC make completely different beer. IPA's dont compete with light american lagers. I just don't buy this argument.

You are seriously #^*@$ kidding me here right? Every craft brewery in my state makes a light lager and BMC makes craft beer. Your beloved Michelob makes an IPA. The specific beer styles do not compete against each other the same style from different breweries do.

 

[doctorRobert]

There is no thought required. I know people are stupid as a generalization. Where does our school system rank in the world again??? Please do not make me point out the idiocy that runs rampant because that would make an entirely new topic...


Most of the bars around here serve nothing but BMC. This is another generalization, yes there are fantastic bars around here but they are the exception.

Sure it does when you can see the equation. You address this in your statement above. The majority of beer drinkers drink BMC. When you look at population growth vs. growing craft beer sales the craft beer sales are still greater. Since it is pretty obvious that there is a HIGH demand for craft beer where do these people come from? The only place they could have which is from the BMC drinking populace. I have heard terms like "craft beer movement/revolution/renaissance" more in the last 5 years than ever before!

Motion 414 just made your statement void here, thanks to Miller/Coors but since it is not effecting you why should you care?

You are seriously #^*@$ kidding me here right? Every craft brewery in my state makes a light lager and BMC makes craft beer. Your beloved Michelob makes an IPA. The specific beer styles do not compete against each other the same style from different breweries do.

Most craft beer drinkers I know, didn't start out drinking BMC, but no beer at all. So that's one way craft beer can grow not at the expense of BMC.

I never said BMC, as corporations, don't want to compete with craft beer. I'm saying, actual Budwesier, the beer, is not a competition for craft beer - and that's the beer with prime shelf space. That's like saying Dodge and Bentley are competitors. Sure they both sell cars, but to different markets.

 

[asidrane]

When you look at population growth vs. growing craft beer sales the craft beer sales are still greater.

Craft beer sale growth is greater because the total volume of craft beer sale is less. If you sell 10 items, you have 100% growth if you then sell 20 items. If you sell 100 items, you only have 10% growth if you then sell 110.

 

[cfonnes]

Most craft beer drinkers I know, didn't start out drinking BMC, but no beer at all..

I wonder about this, next home brew club meeting I am going to ask everyone if they started on BMC or no beer at all.

I started on BMC. My career has allowed me to travel the globe extensively, I learned to try everything new that I could, that is probably where my love of variety comes from.

 

[davefleck]

Some would argue that craft brew drinkers take as much market share from the wine industry as they do from BMC

Many establishments with a good craft list has a good wine list

 

[Jsamp]

Im drinking on Michelob Amberboch right now.

 

[29thfloor]

I think the main issue for me is when big companies like BMC see a new market emerging and try to move into that market in a way that seems to be trying to fool the average consumer into thinking they're buying (and more importantly supporting) something that they're not.

Blue Moon is a good example of MillerCoors trying to move into the "craft" beer market with a new brand that seems more like a micro or craft brewery when it's really not. There's nothing illegal about it, but it just seems kind of sleazy. And I've had my share of Blue Moon. If you like it and want to drink it that's awesome. But know what you're drinking. I'd be willing to bet there are a lot of people that think Blue Moon Brewing Company is an independent company.

This same thing happens in the music industry (and I'm sure many others) where the big labels started "indie" labels to try to give new artists more street cred. Bands can get signed to an "indie" label without the stigma of "selling out" and still have access to all the things that come with being signed by a major label (money, distribution, etc).

And that would all probably be ok if they co-opted not only the appearance of independence but also the passion and mindset. But they're all still driven by the bottom line so they're operating on a different level. They'll compete on taste and quality for as long as is necessary but once the competition is pushed out, they'll start to cut back on quality and coast on the strength of their "craft" brand names and most people won't even know the difference.

 

[DannPM]

At least Michelob puts forth some effort in this regard. Nice to know whats in there. I never minded Michelob products, really. Cant say I would ever buy them but.. Speaking of listing hops, what does Budweiser use for hops? Coors light? Probably Galena? Would be interesting to find out..

Bud uses Williamette I think. Actually, I hear they are not anymore, or at least planning on switching varieties.

 

[BrewThruYou]

Check the 12 packs before you buy if you are drinking for bottles.

I wouldn't drink Michelob for bottles. Maybe I'm a bottle snob nowadays, but I don't like the Michelob raised logos around the taper and the weird bulbous ring right above that. At least in the comps I've entered, you can't use bottles like that.

I have a bunch of Sapporo, Sam Adams, Abita, Warsteiner, Bass and Michelob bottles that I'll eventually weed out (aka make sure I use at least 12 crap bottles when bottling and those are the ones I give away).

 

[Vance71975]

The one thing I don't understand in these arguments is the fact that InBev is inharrently evil for wanting to appeal to the craft crowd.

If BMC starts producing "quality" beers, then who looses?

Ok Lets Speak Hypothetically here for a second.Lets Say that AB/Inbev Decides to REALLY jump into the craft beer market. Lets say that they Either Build or Assign a Plant that they own to making a Brand of Each Style, Stout,Porter,Old Ale,Pale ale,Barley-wine, etc. Now Since they are AB/Inbev, they already have BILLIONS of dollars backing them up. This means they have Bulk Buying Power that dwarfs ALL the craft Brewers. Of Course you know they will also come up with Creative Brewery names to hide the fact that they are Owned by AB/Inbev, because if it says Inbev on the bottle you have lost the market that wants to support the little guy. So no where on the bottle will it say AB or INBEV, and you will have to DIG to find out that it is one of their holdings, most wont put in the effort to find out, they will just assume its a new craft brewery.

So what happens? You start seeing barley-wine for 6 bucks for a 6pack. Same for all the other Styles, you see them all 6 bucks or less PER 6 PACK. So your thinking well that is great how is that a bad thing? Yup for the end customer,the craft brew drinker, sure that is great, its cheaper so it has to be good right?

Now what happens to the craft brewer, you know the one that cant buy 500,000 lbs of grain at a time without ever worrying about the cost? Well this is what happens, he has a product, lets say a RIS that he has to sell for 15 bucks a 6 pack, Just to make a profit, Pay his employees,Buy his next grain order etc. Now when the customer walks into a store, and Sees this Craft RIS for 15 bucks for a 6 pack, sitting right next to the AB/Inbev (that says nowhere on the label that it is an Inbev company) RIS for 6 bucks for a 6 pack, Which one do you think that the average customer is going to buy? Thats right, the cheaper one and the craft brewers go bankrupt, not because they have a worse product, but because they cant compete with the buying power of the big billion dollar company.

 

[onthekeg]

Inbev already has craft brands out there that they are disconnected from 100%. Its shady, but its business. They can also be majority shareholders in private companies without disclosure. Who knows, they may be financing more than anyone knows?