My Letter to Budweiser

[Billy-Klubb]

Man, my feeble attempt at humor in the original post has become the catalyst to a discussion regarding corporate greed vs. social responsibility, investor motivation, and the desirability of capitalism as a whole. Thankfully, I have read many books and attended many classes on this subject and can respond intelligently. Luckily, I also have enough sense and experience to pass on engaging in this is a sisyphean discourse.

This actually reminds me of a time when I first got to college. My roommate and I were bored in our dorm room, so we decided to fill out a Mad-Lib we had lying around. Being young college kids, we decided to use the word "@ss" for every space, regardless of whether the page called for an adverb, noun, place, ect. The result was hysterical, with gems like "a vacation is when you take a trip to @ss place with your @ss family" and "when parents go on vacation, they spend their time eating three @ss(es) a day, and fathers play golf, and mothers sit around playing with their @ss" We tried to fill out another, but somehow ended up in a debate over the validity of the trickle-down economics theory, which devolved into a debate about politics, which then further degraded into a heated discussion about the oppression of people and government, and ended with us dividing everything in the room and putting a tape line right down the middle.

The point of my short story here is that when someone starts off with a funny joke, sometimes its better to just take it for what it is and have a good laugh, or you may find yourself trying to convince someone of something which they are fundamentally opposed, and the only progress made was that each of you showed you @ss.

hey, this is how we roll on HBT. and I'm the semi-hemi-demi-official HBT berry punching Bouncer, so everyone gets berry punches! yay!

 

[hunter_le five]

Yay!

 

[bob1852]

"It would have been more accurate to say they hadn't maximized efficiencies."

I'd hardly call reducing the ABV maximizing their efficiency. Maybe reducing their hop intake, but I'm uncertain why they cut off the farmer they did. But I doubt AB was just buying up a whole farm's worth of hops just to do so.

"With craft beer exploding, and more breweries in North America than at any other point in history, I think hop farmers will be OK."

But how many of these upstart American breweries are buying their Hallertau from Germany when we tend to use mostly our citrusy/piny hops. Regardless, how long does it take for a farmer to go under when he suddenly finds himself with his whole year's work sitting in a barn with the buyer backing out? And what of the workers and their families that do what until then? And I'm no "bleeding heart liberal" or socialist.

"I admit I'm just going by what I can Google up, but are you sure that's the case?"

My Google-fu says that I am mistaken, and the info I had then was incorrect unless I assumed that the move meant they closed it, which is possible.

"Again, Beck's was hardly a small-town, labour-of-love craft brewery, so your comment is a little misdirected."

My point was that they changed the water and didn't care about the beer as it was. The same goes with Budweiser.

"What's the alternative? Socialism? Communism? Got a better system? Greed is a powerful and necessary motivator."

I believe capitalism is a great thing. But when your business practices reflect much more than doing the best you can to relying on underhanded tactics to take out the little guy that will doubtfully ever, himself, see the levels of success you do is reprehensible. There's nothing you can say that can justify what they've done. Miller/Coors certainly didn't do those things, yet they do fairly well these days. Greed is exactly what it is and nothing less.

"I still don't know what they do/did that's so "underhanded." They've acted like any other business of their size would/does. Have they broken any laws?"

You should watch a few of the documentaries. In one case the claim is yes . Beer Wars is the one that comes to mind now, but there's another I cannot recall now, and I no longer have Netflix.

"AB-InBev isn't "greedy." It can't be. It's not a person."

But the people in power run it the way they do. And they've done several under-handed things. As I said you'd need to watch the documentaries. The same with them claiming this "mom and pop" brewery is what it is. I don't recall the brand, but when you go to the address it takes you to a Budweiser facility.

"I've seen "Beer Wars," and the only thing I found shocking/disturbing about that movie was the idea that the US is still clinging to some kind of bizarre, antiquated three-tier distribution system, and how clearly corrupt the politicians in that film are. I don't blame the brewers for working within the lobbying system to maintain an advantage afforded to them by the law - I blame the system that allows your lawmakers to continue to be so transparently manipulated by rich lobby groups."

This was one of the main points in which Bud ensured they took up all the room on the trucks so that the little guy couldn't put his on there. And then what is he supposed to do? Just fold his hands and go out of business while Bud breaks the law? Incredible!

I'll keep the rest to myself before it gets out of hand. But I will say that greed is a terrible thing, especially how it steps all over the little people who just would like a sliver of the pie.

Good solid arguments right there!

I know I'm right; even when I admit I'm wrong, or don't really remember why I'm arguing what I'm arguing.

 

[ubnserved]

So what? What does that have to do with anything? Why does it matter what country their headquarters is in? Isn't Budweiser still brewed in Missouri, by Americans?



What about the over 150,000 they still employ?



It's a cutthroat world - should they instead remain inefficient and uncompetitive and eventually get crushed by their competitors?



Like what? If there are "countless," can you name a few? And who's providing those products to AB-Inbev now? Presumably they still need cans, bottle caps, labels, etc., right?



Whose beers have they "bought up and watered down?" Is Goose Island not still the same beer? And AB-Inbev didn't "take" anything. Those owners willingly sold, and were rewarded handsomely, so how is making someone voluntarily into a millionaire not being "great" to them?



Now you're just making stuff up. AB-Inbev doesn't own any hop fields, barley farms, or malting houses. Like every brewery, they buy contracts with farmers for all those ingredients. Those farmers are free to shop those contracts around to the highest bidder. If hop prices are going up, it's because of the rise in popularity of craft beer, with their inherently higher hop content, increasing the demand for a constant supply of ingredients. It takes years for farmers to cultivate a new hop crop to catch back up with demand, and that demand can quickly change to other varieties in the meantime.



Are you suggesting that somehow buying a case of Budweiser will become cheaper than making it myself, because the cost of ingredients will have risen too much? How, praytell, will AB-Inbev be able to sell me beer cheaper than the cost of buying the ingredients myself? Will they be taking a loss on every case they sell?



I'm not giving them any money. They're giving me money, as a shareholder.



It's capitalism, and they're simply competing with other multinational brewers that play by the same rules. If you don't like how the players are acting, change the rules. Hate the game, not the player!



If the beer is brewed in America, by Americans, using hops and barley grown in American, bottled in bottles produced and labeled in America, shipped around by American truck drivers, sold in stores owned by Americans paying American taxes, how on earth could "99%" of the money be going overseas? Is there a 99% profit margin on beer? Do you have any economics education whatsoever?

And again, what's so bad about Belgians or Brazilians making a living? Why does that offend you so much?



I own stock in AB-Inbev, it's gone up wildly over the past decade. My "economic well being" is vastly improved thanks to their business practices.



Why does simply "being American" make it more virtuous? Are Americans more deserving of jobs than Brazilians or Belgians? Do Americans inherently produce better products than workers in other countries? If so, why? Is it genetic? A product of their vastly superior education system? Their legendary work ethic and attention to detail? Been to a Starbucks lately?

Never said it was bad to make money! That is the American way. But in making that money you need to be socially responsible also. http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2012-10-25/the-plot-to-destroy-americas-beer

the above article also mentions a watered down beer.
AB-IBEV stock hasn't been around for a decade just so you know.

I got my info about miller/ coors from here and now that you mentioned it I of course did my research and see other articles about it being in London. I will have to look into it further. http://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...2d1010-6bc2-11e2-ada0-5ca5fa7ebe79_story.html

If you would like to learn how beer monopolies can hurt you here is a starter article for you to learn some economic theories.
http://www.economywatch.com/economics-theory/market-theory/monopoly.html http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/magazine/beer-mergers.html?pagewanted=all

Here is an example of inbev using its massive size to bully smaller companies.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30868557
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2009/04/27/story3.html?page=all
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2009/04/27/daily43.html?page=all

Yes! America does produce better and more most often in the top spot but not always sometimes number 2.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-workers-worlds-most-productive/

Hop farm owned by AB
http://www.upstatechunk.com/beer/photos/a-bfarm.htm
Barley and malting in In Idaho
http://www.idahofb.org/index.php?action=commodities.barley


Lastly I don't care if Belgium or Brazil has jobs. They are not my friends, family, neighbors or me. No never been to Starbucks. I am sure I could continue schooling you on economics and maybe even the ability to read, but you seem determined to not see anything but the immediate gratification of the money inbev stock is paying you right now. And it is great that you're able to make money at that and I am sure hidden in mutual funds that my family and I own there is some in there also.
Being blinded by that money doesn't have to make you ignorant of the reality of what is actually happening around you. I like money as much as the next guy and I have bought and sold my share of businesses. I never sold out my employees or customers. Don't kid yourself these were not minor cuts that happened at AB, a total of $1,000,000,000 have been made or will be by the time the foreign company is done with them.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

Good solid arguments right there!

I know I'm right; even when I admit I'm wrong, or don't really remember why I'm arguing what I'm arguing.

you own the patent on the Internet Powered Winding Machine.ipe:

 

[bob1852]

you own the patent on the Internet Powered Winding Machine.ipe:

No. I stole it from small business when they sold out to me.

 

[kombat]

Let the record show that it wasn't me who took the last kick at the horse!

 

[bragona71]

Let the record show that it wasn't me who took the last kick at the horse!

I`ll take a kick!!!

the letter was amazing and should be sent to AB(they might giggle also) or a video made for you tube it was a joke and its all in fun!!!

cheers!!

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I should make a video while pooping!

 

[hunter_le five]

Why the hell not?

 

[rodwha]

AZ: Maybe you should watch the documentaries yourself since you obviously don't know...

 

[bob1852]

AZ: Maybe you should watch the documentaries yourself since you obviously don't know...

If you named them, I would.

And seriously, "Beer Wars" is about as much of a documentary as "How Beer Changed the World."

 

[rodwha]

Must have been a cartoon I watched then...

 

[bob1852]

All I know is what I see on the beer shelves at my grocery store.....I've never seen a better selection of beer. If InBev is truly set on destroying their competitors, they're failing miserably.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

If you named them, I would.

And seriously, "Beer Wars" is about as much of a documentary as "How Beer Changed the World."

That discovery show you reference blew my mind. I didn't have high expectations but damn, that was a pretty poor show. I almost always cheer on beer but I would add that to the "you probably shouldn't watch that unless you ran out of beer and weed and your choices are clawing your eyes out or watching that show" list.

 

[rodwha]

"I've seen "Beer Wars," and the only thing I found shocking/disturbing about that movie was the idea that the US is still clinging to some kind of bizarre, antiquated three-tier distribution system, and how clearly corrupt the politicians in that film are."

And this is the problem. And yes it is against the law. But some people's compass doesn't point north but to their pocket by any means.

Care what you will. It's not my life to live.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

That discovery show you reference blew my mind. I didn't have high expectations but damn, that was a pretty poor show. I almost always cheer on beer but I would add that to the "you probably shouldn't watch that unless you ran out of beer and weed and your choices are clawing your eyes out or watching that show" list.

I thought both were "entertaining". anything can look like something else depending on how you "pretty it up". I obviously "like" using quotation "marks".

 

[sandyeggoxj]

BK, I can just picture you with giant air quotes as you talk. Awesome.

I'm really hoping we can keep this thread going for a while. It is devolved into something highly entertaining.

 

[YeastMode]

I should make a video while pooping!

Please do. Set up a gopro and read the letter while dropping a deuce. Then show them your ultra-fresh IPA, take a big gulp (bite?) and then bite a peach. Call it your "deconstructed fresh hopped IPA". Then say that you are developing a way to use the "second runnings"

 

[Billy-Klubb]

BK, I can just picture you with giant air quotes as you talk. Awesome.

I'm really hoping we can keep this thread going for a while. It is devolved into something highly entertaining.

Please do. Set up a gopro and read the letter while dropping a deuce. Then show them your ultra-fresh IPA, take a big gulp (bite?) and then bite a peach. Call it your "deconstructed fresh hopped IPA". Then say that you are developing a way to use the "second runnings"

I think I can combine the two into a horrible awesomeness that even Darwin himself won't be able to ignore.

 

[JLeuck64]

Once I figured out my headaches were coming from Budwieser beers... I gave up drinking Bud!

 

[YeastMode]

I'm really hoping we can keep this thread going for a while. It is devolved into something highly entertaining.

I'm torn over whether I regret starting this thread or not. On one hand, I made a funny that quite a few people liked. On the other, I feel like I farted in an elevator and got off on the next floor, leaving everyone else to bask in the stink.

 

[hunter_le five]

On the other, I feel like I farted in an elevator and got off on the next floor, leaving everyone else to bask in the stink.

This is never a bad thing. Do it at every opportunity.

So long as I'm not one of the ones stuck in the elevator.

What're we talking about again?

 

[SnakeRidge]

I went fishing and I drank a sixer of natty lite pounders and now I'm drinking a year old barleywine. Probly sleeping in the back yard tonight.

ETA: I love farting on elevators thinking about the mechanical energy required to move my aroma up and down the building

 

[ubnserved]

All I know is what I see on the beer shelves at my grocery store.....I've never seen a better selection of beer. If InBev is truly set on destroying their competitors, they're failing miserably.

First off destruction doesn't happen overnight. Next how many of those beers are owned by inbev? Lastly is the distribution of those beers controlled by inbev? Because in many places inbev owns the distribution or exclusive contracts with distributors. Some states have changed the rules in the last few years that allows brewers to self distribute which has helped with the variety of beers in some places but until forced monopolies (some places have districts where only one distributor can operate) beer distribution are eliminated and it becomes a true free market endevor many people will still not have the choices available to others and companies like inbev will use their power to keep the competition out or minimized. Try getting the same variety in TX.

 

[ubnserved]

Don't feel bad one bit for starting this .I love the letter and if someone.... anyone, reads and learns something from this thread it is a not just a good thread but a great thread. I sincerely hope that no one is taking any of this personal because I would hate to see a tear in your beer instead of learning something new.

 

[normonster]

If it was Budweiser that started all this mess does that mean I should switch to Bud Lite since I'm a craft beer supporter?

 

[normonster]

Here, Wego.