"Craft Brews" vs BMC... Who is better?

[kombat]

They're a multi billion dollar company that spend more advertising their beer than making it. They have muscle and they know it. Your really think they're going to play nice and not go for the jugular right away?

They don't own the Discovery channel. What "muscle" could they possibly flex besides pulling their advertising dollars (which is the same power EVERY advertiser on any network has)?

 

[bob1852]

Huh? What do you mean? Discovery was running AB-Inbev ads during "Brewmasters?" Or are you implying AB-Inbev owns Dogfish Head? If you mean the former, then perhaps they'd already made their advertising agreement for that season, and were negotiating the terms for the next season (i.e., renew the show and we won't be renewing our advertising contract).

I'm obtuse today, explain it to me like I'm an idiot.

MillerCoors was running Blue Moon ads during the Brew Masters show.

For your latter statement, that comes down to Discovery making a business decision -- if it actually happened that way. Discovery would have to weigh the revenue generation from Miller Coors vs. the revenue generation from Brew Masters (which wasn't being watching by many people anyway).

That's a business decision by Discovery. Hardly MillerCoors getting Brew Masters cancelled.....(again, if it even happened that way)

 

[kombat]

So, why did one season of the show air?

Do you really think Miller Coors advertised for the whole season and then told Discovery: "cancel this show or we're not going to advertise on this show anymore."

I don't pretend to know how these things work, but it doesn't seem that implausible to me that advertising contracts are written for particular terms (i.e., a year, a scheduling season, whatever) and are not often revisited mid-term. It may have been more hassle than it was worth to rock the boat in the middle of the run of a show that only had 6 episodes anyway, but when it came time to renew, I can believe it was mentioned at the negotiating table.

 

[ifnotuthenwho]

Yes it is, in my opinion. It evinces a naivete regarding how commerce, and specifically marketing, work in a capitalist economy. It's not unethical, or bullying - it's merely rational actions by self-interested parties. It's just business.

They can't "demand" that Discovery do anything. All they can do is say, "if you continue to promote our competitors, we'll take our advertising dollars elsewhere. Ball's in your court."

What's wrong with that?

I'm as conservative and capitalistic as they come, and I agree that they have every right to decide how to spend their advertising dollars. And if they use threat of removing those dollars to get something they want, they are within their right.

But you seem to be missing my point. Freedom of choice is not freedom from the consequences of that choice. If a company does something that an individual does not like, that individual has every right to not buy their product. That is not naiveté, hypocritical, or misguided.

What if the AB-InBev was spending all their dollars with lobbyist to get the law changed that allows home brewing. Would you continue to buy their product to increase their revenues so they can spend more money to change the legislation to stop you from home brewing? That would be the epitome of naiveté.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I'm as conservative and capitalistic as they come, and I agree that they have every right to decide how to spend their advertising dollars. And if they use threat of removing those dollars to get something they want, they are within their right.

But you seem to be missing my point. Freedom of choice is not freedom from the consequences of that choice. If a company does something that an individual does not like, that individual has every right to not buy their product. That is not naiveté, hypocritical, or misguided.

Naivete is not placing the blame where the blame is due.

Hypocritical is shaming AB/Inbev for business strategy while NOT shaming Discovery for being too weak to say no.

Misguided is thinking AB/Inbev gives two fvcks about homebrew.

 

[cilestiok]

Why would Discovery cancel any show based on lost advertising? That concept seems rather naive. Advertising slots are generally issued at a generic $/min rate based on the viewership of the timeslot (high ratings: high cost per minute). If big beer wanted to walk away, why would discovery care? McDonald's or Home Depot or whoever would just fill that slot for the same amount of money.

 

[bob1852]

If a company does something that an individual does not like, that individual has every right to not buy their product. That is not naiveté, hypocritical, or misguided.

What if the company actually didn't do it, though?

Wouldn't that be misguided to not buy their products over false, misleading information?

Again, Bourdain (who started the rumor with a tweet) has ties to the production company who made Beer Masters.

Beer Masters not getting renewed affects Bourdain's $$$. Maybe the real villain in this case is Bourdain...

 

[wobrien]

I, for one, will no longer be buying beer brewed by bourdain!

 

[kombat]

But you seem to be missing my point. Freedom of choice is not freedom from the consequences of that choice. If a company does something that an individual does not like, that individual has every right to not buy their product. That is not naiveté, hypocritical, or misguided.

You're not getting it.

I'm saying you're naïve and hypocritical for being mad about it.

Why on earth would you expect them to continue to pour millions of dollars in advertising dollars into a network that is actively promoting their competition? What rational company would do that? What rational person would EXPECT them to do that?

What if the AB-InBev was spending all their dollars with lobbyist to get the law changed that allows home brewing. Would you continue to buy their product

If I liked their product, yes, I would continue buying it. I don't care what a company does, as long as it's legal. That's not how I make my purchasing decisions. My thought process is simple:

• Do I like this product/Does it work as advertised?
• Is there an equally effective alternative that is cheaper?

That's it. What charities they give to or how their CEO feels about gay marriage doesn't factor into it one whit. I'm ruthlessly pragmatic that way. I care about how it affects me, personally. And maybe my family. End of story.

 

[ifnotuthenwho]

You're not getting it.

I'm saying you're naïve and hypocritical for being mad about it.

Why on earth would you expect them to continue to pour millions of dollars in advertising dollars into a network that is actively promoting their competition? What rational company would do that? What rational person would EXPECT them to do that?



If I liked their product, yes, I would continue buying it. I don't care what a company does, as long as it's legal. That's not how I make my purchasing decisions. My thought process is simple:

• Do I like this product/Does it work as advertised?
• Is there an equally effective alternative that is cheaper?

That's it. What charities they give to or how their CEO feels about gay marriage doesn't factor into it one whit. I'm ruthlessly pragmatic that way. I care about how it affects me, personally. And maybe my family. End of story.

Wow. I'm done with you after this last comment. Feel free to have the last word after this.

You say "I care about how it affects me personally." That is what I'm saying. The original poster was affected by a show he liked being cancelled. He believes this is because advertising dollars were pulled by a big brewer. This may not be true, but for the sake of argument, let say it is. He is well within his rights to stop buying their product. He is well within his rights to stop buying their product for whatever reason he chooses. Why is this so hard for you to understand.

 

[bob1852]

Why on earth would you expect them to continue to pour millions of dollars in advertising dollars into a network that is actively promoting their competition? What rational company would do that? What rational person would EXPECT them to do that?

And remember, Sam and Dogfish didn't make a penny off of that show, because we all know that all craft breweries operate as non-profits, right?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Wow. I'm done with you after this last comment. Feel free to have the last word after this.

You say "I care about how it affects me personally." That is what I'm saying. The original poster was affected by a show he liked being cancelled. He believes this is because advertising dollars were pulled by a big brewer. This may not be true, but for the sake of argument, let say it is. He is well within his rights to stop buying their product. He is well within his rights to stop buying their product for whatever reason he chooses. Why is this so hard for you to understand.

Because it was Discovery networks CHOICE to say ok, or **** you.

But guess what, they are both BUSINESSES that choose strategy based on their bottom line not because they give a **** about you!

 

[Shooter]

I, for one, will no longer be buying beer brewed by bourdain!

Boy, this argument is so out of hand from all sides that I am with you. This Bourdain beer really appears to be the cause of so many of the world's problems!!!

Also, I'm adding this guy -> :fro: Because I like this guy!!!!

 

[Cheesy_Goodness]

I would participate more, but you're all being naive so it isn't worth my time

ipe: <- I like this guy, more people need to use this guy.

 

[drainbamage]

I at least give you guys credit for taking the whole "you don't appreciate the consistency of BMC" discussion in a new and equally frustrating direction. :cross:

 

[Shooter]

ipe: <- I like this guy, more people need to use this guy.

He smokes a pipe and is obviously a gentleman. Probably a man of letters if I had to guess and, undoubtedly, one gifted with a keen wit and the skill of elocution. It is a wonder he does not run for parliament!

Huzzah I say, Huzzah!!

 

[slym2none]

I just took a survey on the Brulosopher website, about home-brewers. One of the questions was about my facial hair.

So, just for that, I like this guy: :beard:

 

[ericbw]

I at least give you guys credit for taking the whole "you don't appreciate the consistency of BMC" discussion in a new and equally frustrating direction. :cross:

You can almost always count on the consistency of the BMC threads. This one ventured into unknown territory...

 

[Shooter]

This one ventured into unknown territory...

When do we invoke Godwin's Law?

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I completely disagree. Just because you can't save much money making a particular beer at home doesn't mean it doesn't make sense to do so. I brew my own beer because I love doing it, nobody else will fill my corny kegs with their beer, the beer I make is delicious, and I take pride in crafting my own beers.

I guess I'm fortunate that I don't need to brew my own solely because of financial constraints. In fact, I don't think I'll ever break even on beer costs vs equipment costs, since I'm always upgrading.

This being said, I can still brew a BMC clone for less than I can buy it for. With such a low grain and hop bill, I'm confused as to why you can't either.

1/4 keg of BMC is about 55 bucks. It's pretty tough to come lower than that when you're factoring in your equipment cost. Lagering devices and space it takes up while lagering, so on so forth.

1/6 keg of Allagash White is about 85 bucks. I can brew that for under 40 bucks with going with an extremely high quality yeast.

So you may be able to brew BMC clone for close to cost or a little cheaper, but it's not at a premium of savings. And if you enjoy brewing, why would you want to have the mechanical process that BMC uses to get consistent results? Wouldn't coming up with new ideas and tinkering be a much more satisfactory outcome to the process?

 

[slym2none]

*redacted*

My timing, like my humour, stinks.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Wouldn't coming up with new ideas and tinkering be a much more satisfactory outcome to the process?

As a homebrewer at first, yes. At least until you learn what you like, don't like, can't do, won't do again, etc..

But over time, consistent reproduction comes center stage.

As a Pro Brewer, first thing is to make money.

Once the money is coming in, then you can "innovate" or experiment. AB/Inbev/SAB/Miller has done a fair bit of "experimenting" over the years (Bud Amber, Black Crown, Select, Chelada)

I still miss the Michelobe Pale Ale that was out a few years ago. IMO, that was a solid low ABV product that became a staple in my fridge until it disappeared.

 

[iijakii]

1/4 keg of BMC is about 55 bucks. It's pretty tough to come lower than that when you're factoring in your equipment cost. Lagering devices and space it takes up while lagering, so on so forth.

1/6 keg of Allagash White is about 85 bucks. I can brew that for under 40 bucks with going with an extremely high quality yeast.

So you may be able to brew BMC clone for close to cost or a little cheaper, but it's not at a premium of savings. And if you enjoy brewing, why would you want to have the mechanical process that BMC uses to get consistent results? Wouldn't coming up with new ideas and tinkering be a much more satisfactory outcome to the process?

Equipment doesnt get amortized into batch cost 'cuz then our wives would have us all by the balls. I can brew a good lager for like $20/5gal easy. Or a nice mild for $12.

Only a couple thousand more batches and the brewery will have paid for itself

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Equipment doesnt get amortized into batch cost 'cuz then our wives would have us all by the balls. I can brew a good lager for like $20/5gal easy. Or a nice mild for $12.

Only a couple thousand more batches and the brewery will have paid for itself

I'm not saying it should be, I using that because the poster I quoted used it.

I like to compare to what I could do. For 40 bucks I brewed a partial mash Quad that would have cost 10 bucks a 4 pack and netted 2 cases, the math is easy there as far as the value.

Of course it's not the reason I brew, I'm brewing 1 gallon batches that are costing me money right now,.

 

[slym2none]

As a homebrewer at first, yes. At least until you learn what you like, don't like, can't do, won't do again, etc..

But over time, consistent reproduction comes center stage.

As a Pro Brewer, first thing is to make money.

Once the money is coming in, then you can "innovate" or experiment. AB/Inbev/SAB/Miller has done a fair bit of "experimenting" over the years (Bud Amber, Black Crown, Select, Chelada)

I still miss the Michelobe Pale Ale that was out a few years ago. IMO, that was a solid low ABV product that became a staple in my fridge until it disappeared.

Budweiser's American Ale was pretty decent, as well.

 

[iijakii]

Drank some Coors Lite this summer when it was 100F and I was out at a fair. Divine, honestly. Tell you what. Might brew me up some beerwater next summer for grillin brewskies.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I grew up on Bud.I loved every bit of it and still do(Long before craft beer)I also Love making homebrew and try to drink only my beer all year except for summer when I enjoy other things over brewing.Theres a reason Cream of three crops is the #1 beer made on the forum.People like light quaffable beer,although Im not sure how many here would admit it.If it were easy to clone BMC it would be the most popular beer on the forum...just sayin.That being said Ill be kegging my Fresh squeezed IPA in a day or so...Love that stuff!

 

[bob1852]

Might brew me up some beerwater next summer for grillin brewskies.

That's one thing I miss about not buying Bud Light anymore...

I've found though, that a homebrewed amber or English mild works great for simmering sausages...

 

[slym2none]

If it were easy to clone BMC it would be the most popular beer on the forum...just sayin.

I am going to disagree with you there.

 

[iijakii]

That's one thing I miss about not buying Bud Light anymore...

I've found though, that a homebrewed amber or English mild works great for simmering sausages...

Yeah any malty, low-hop beer works great. Used a good milk stout earlier this year, caramelized into a nice sweet glaze on some hot italian sausage. Gotdamn.

I still buy Rainier. Gotta have some light lager for when sitting out by the grill.