PLEASE let the Northern Brewer buy-out be a hoax!

[kapper]

I just checked their website and it's $102 shipping for a $45 50lb sack of 2-row to Northern California...

Hey fact checker...how about being fair with this shipping blast.

Fedex for 50 lb bag by FEDEX is $36...no one orders a 50 lb item by USPS.

So total cost with shipping from labelpeelers is $82.64 (from OHIO to west coast)

Same purchase from NB by ground shipping is $90.87-(corrected) (from MINN/WIS to west coast)

If you want the 50 lb bag shipped USPS from NB it's a whopping $178.20

For me in Central NY it's only $16.61 from Labelpeelers and $32.69 from NB!

Nice try.

 

[ImNoExpert]

The real issue we need to be talking about is why we allow corporations to keep buying up their competitors without restriction. In 2016 AB InBev will have close to 50% market share in the United States (it was 46% in 2015).

Remember the good old days when we used to break up monopolies? Yeah... the good old days....

Um... Isn't that why the feds didn't allow AB Inbev to keep the U.S. Miller operations?

 

[dunnright00]

Well, Constellation bought Ballast Point (HomeBrew Mart), so maybe AB/InBev is just following the trend?

 

[DonLiguori]

Is no one even bothering to look at Northern Brewer's site? It's pretty clearly that they are family-owned. So unless their family just happens to be AB/InBev, this is totally incorrect.

"Today, our founder Chris Farley remains the president and CEO – homebrewing itself has grown a lot since 1993, but Northern Brewer is still a family-owned local business."https://www.northernbrewer.com/about/history/

My apologies if someone's already linked that, I read 6 of the 16 pages (and rapidly counting) flame-thread before just posting for clarity.

 

[nDub]

Hey fact checker...how about being fair with this shipping blast.

Fedex for 50 lb bag by FEDEX is $36...no one orders a 50 lb item by USPS.

So total cost with shipping from labelpeelers is $82.64 (from OHIO to west coast)

Same purchase from NB by ground shipping is $80.87 (from MINN/WIS to west coast)

If you want the 50 lb bag shipped USPS from NB it's a whopping $178.20

Ha! I just double checked and the fedex ground came up as $38 (didn't show the first time? weird) which is more reasonable. Although fedex overnight is a steal at $405.

 

[TooDogly]

Too big to fail! Too big to fail!!

Right? Or is that just banks.

Who will sponsor our sporting events? I guess it'll have to be male enhancement and pharmaceuticals companies.

 

[KeninMN]

The real issue we need to be talking about is why we allow corporations to keep buying up their competitors without restriction. In 2016 AB InBev will have close to 50% market share in the United States (it was 46% in 2015).

Remember the good old days when we used to break up monopolies? Yeah... the good old days....

Because the US stopped enforcing the antitrust laws on January 21, 1981. BTW. those laws are still on the books. But a nod and a wink, some sacrificial "concessions" and a well-placed campaign contribution easily renders them moot...

 

[Ghunter0815]

Neighbors might look at you funny if they see you walking around with a vacuum-sealed bag of whole leaf hops. [emoji12]

Just ask if they wanna buy an ounce...then you know who your neighbors REALLY are!

 

[Ghunter0815]

Checks calendar, nope not April 1st. This is silly, AB/InBev/SAM/satan can already get their supplies, any supplies, far cheaper than NB buys at. Does not pass the smell test yet turned into a 123+ post thread. Urban legend at it's finest.

I guess if it can be 5:00 somewhere, no matter the actual time. Can't it be April 1st somewhere, no matter the actual date?

 

[XPLSV]

Story on bbc.com -- Northern Brewing is buying InBev...no wonder NB wouldn't comment.

 

[TooDogly]

With AB-InBev buying up microbreweries across the country they are simply trying to control the growing competition due to people realizing what real beer tastes like. They can fool people for a while but new independent microbreweries will sprout up and gain followings like the originals did. The people want what the people want and that is craft beer, not mass-produced beer wearing a craft beer label. Just like every corporate merger in history, they say the product and quality that people have come to expect won't change, they say the local management and operations won't change, but a year or two later after the hubbub dies down they quietly corporatized the business to maximize profit and minimize variability. Why should anyone be surprised at this, corporations exist solely to make a profit for shareholders and if the profit does not increase on a yearly basis they restructure the corporation in order to do so.

In conclusion,
AB-InBev: WE ARE THE BORG. YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED.

 

[JonM]

Resistance is futile.

 

[ajr628]

Hoax or not, I'm done ordering from NB. Last 2 orders did not make it by the promised delivery date even with paying for expedited shipping.

I am with you!

 

[Kawgomoo]

Or they will just let the market do what it does, while enjoying reaping the profits instead of losing them.

They don't care what product of theirs it is you buy. Supplies? Craft Beers? Ready to Drink? It doesn't matter to them. The more they own, the more they make.

It really is just that simple. Of course, you could be mad at your favorite retailer for being a massive sell out. But oh no, its the parent companies fault for realizing opportunity?

I see.

 

[TanLang]

Maybe it will make their shipping faster LOL. I hate how they don't even ship your order out for damn near a week.

Cheers to that. It almost makes me not want to order from them... but they carry some things I can't get elsewhere.

 

[zrule]

Just checked www.ritebrew.com

CMC 2 row is $38 for a 50 lb sack + $25.83 Fedex ground shipping = $63.83 shipped

I can get it cheaper local but I haven't seen a 50 lb sack shipped cheaper anywhere else.

Plus if your order is over $75 they'll knock $5 off shipping.

Can you tell I'm a fan of their site?

Ritebrew has Maris for $54 for 55#. My lhbs is over $100.00. The alos have golden promis for $60 for 55#. Also, I am not impressed with the quality of CMC and would not buy again.

 

[Chino_Brews]

Because the US stopped enforcing the antitrust laws on January 21, 1981. BTW. those laws are still on the books. But a nod and a wink, some sacrificial "concessions" and a well-placed campaign contribution easily renders them moot...

Very few people who are alive have experienced the brunt of real monopoly power.

AB Inbev is not a monopoly because the retail market is defined as alcoholic beverages. If you don't like the selection or price of beer, then you can drink wine, whiskey and other spirits that are too numerous to list, hard apple cider, or any number of cordials and liqueurs. AB Inbev has almost zero percent market share and influence on distribution of those alcoholic beverages. In addition, you can also drink water, juice, pop, etc. Furthermore, the necessity of the product is also considered. Alcohol is not a necessity. Then you've got all the market-based factors, such as whether market share is increasing (no, AB Inbev's share is eroding), whether the market participant is able to use the market power to increase prices (no, beer prices are near historical lows when you account for CPI) or force out competitors (no, competitors are increasing), and whether there are any barriers to entry of competition (no, because brewery licenses are freely handed out if you fill out the paperwork and fulfill the reasonable requirements properly, and the only other barrier to entry is a modest amount of monetary capital).

Incidentally, the last time the DOJ tried to break up a monopoly, it blew up in their face (Microsoft) because they had no idea what they were doing.

Furthermore, the comments demonstrate a lack of understanding of how monopolies are controlled nowadays -- by prior approval. Any significant merger candidates need the advance approval of the US FTC and the EU. The monopoly arguments and decisions are made in advance because we know it's next to impossible to break up monopolies once they are formed by combination.

BTW, it amazes me what a bunch of whining babies home brewers can be. If you don't like NB, then go shop somewhere else. That's why it's a free market. Besides any LHBS near you, you've got the choice of at least a dozen reputable and high-volume online retailers who will ship to your door. (NB, MS, HBS, B3, AIH, Ritebrew, L2B, Rebel, Bell's, AHS, Label Peelers, Wine and Hop, the list goes on and on ...)

 

[Mackster]

SAB Miller owns the Great Northern Brewing Co.
Maybe the source of confusion?

Wait... SAB Miller owns that brewery in Montana?!?!? I thought Whitefish, MT was so quaint. Those bastards get their hands on everything

 

[TooDogly]

Very few people who are alive have experienced the brunt of real monopoly power.

AB Inbev is not a monopoly because the retail market is defined as alcoholic beverages. If you don't like the selection or price of beer, then you can drink wine, whiskey and other spirits that are too numerous to list, hard apple cider, or any number of cordials and liqueurs. AB Inbev has almost zero percent market share and influence on distribution of those alcoholic beverages. In addition, you can also drink water, juice, pop, etc. Furthermore, the necessity of the product is also considered. Alcohol is not a necessity. Then you've got all the market-based factors, such as whether market share is increasing (no, AB Inbev's share is eroding), whether the market participant is able to use the market power to increase prices (no, beer prices are near historical lows when you account for CPI) or force out competitors (no, competitors are increasing), and whether there are any barriers to entry of competition (no, because brewery licenses are freely handed out if you fill out the paperwork and fulfill the reasonable requirements properly, and the only other barrier to entry is a modest amount of monetary capital).

Incidentally, the last time the DOJ tried to break up a monopoly, it blew up in their face (Microsoft) because they had no idea what they were doing.

Furthermore, the comments demonstrate a lack of understanding of how monopolies are controlled nowadays -- by prior approval. Any significant merger candidates need the advance approval of the US FTC and the EU. The monopoly arguments and decisions are made in advance because we know it's next to impossible to break up monopolies once they are formed by combination.

BTW, it amazes me what a bunch of whining babies home brewers can be. If you don't like NB, then go shop somewhere else. That's why it's a free market. Besides any LHBS near you, you've got the choice of at least a dozen reputable and high-volume online retailers who will ship to your door. (NB, MS, HBS, B3, AIH, Ritebrew, L2B, Rebel, Bell's, AHS, Label Peelers, Wine and Hop, the list goes on and on ...)

tl:dr
Lol

They are certainly a monopoly in a lot of local markets that don't carry anything else on the shelves. And the possibility of a monopsony is present when they begin buying up the entire crop of certain hop varietals.

 

[TooDogly]

Or they will just let the market do what it does, while enjoying reaping the profits instead of losing them.

They don't care what product of theirs it is you buy. Supplies? Craft Beers? Ready to Drink? It doesn't matter to them. The more they own, the more they make.

It really is just that simple. Of course, you could be mad at your favorite retailer for being a massive sell out. But oh no, its the parent companies fault for realizing opportunity?

I see.

I stopped buying Elysian and 10 Barrel when they were acquired and many others in my area did as well. Coincidentally the average price of their beers went up in local stores because they made the price the same across the country no matter how close you are to the brewery. But I won't turn down a free beer at a party if someone else is buying

 

[GrayingNeophyte]

Hops go first, then malted grains will be purchased in totality and fed to those fat horses of theirs. Finally, they will acquire all the stocks of good brewers yeast. I have no idea what exactly they're going to do with it, surely they do not use the good stuff in their existing product lines.
Alas, woe is coming to us home brewers.
We must unite and plant owe own garden corners with grain and hops. Lest we be idled by those mean conglomerates.
Cheers.

 

[__dash__]

I texted the NB text help number and asked "did NB seek to InBev?" The response was

"Thanks for your note. I cannot comment on any potential business partnerships, but I can tell you that we are always exploring ways to grow Northern Brewer and the homebrewing supply market. The homebrewing community is as diverse and passionate as ever and we are excited to continue supporting homebrewers excel at their craft and have the best beer experiences."

As long as they continue having deals...

 

[__dash__]

They did switch up their yeast offerings. They sell "omega"yeast now. Maybe that's an InBev owned yeast supplier.

 

[OldDirty]

They did switch up their yeast offerings. They sell "omega"yeast now. Maybe that's an InBev owned yeast supplier.

Simply not true. Omega is a small privately owned yeast cultivator/supplier here in Chicago. One of their guys is in my HBC.

 

[agrazela]

...Alcohol is not a necessity...

LIAR!

 

[robb4952]

I can confirm it's true.

All employees were rounded up, told the news and threatened to keep quiet, they don't want anyone to know.��

 

[drksky]

I can confirm it's true.

All employees were rounded up, told the news and threatened to keep quiet, they don't want anyone to know.��

Dissenters have been shot?

 

[Amateurbrewmaster]

I'm sure there are people within any company that just want to count the money. And I am sure there are people who want to deliver a good product. And there are likely some who want to deliver it while reducing costs.

The actual brewers are the worst. They just go in to work and punch the clock to make money. If they believed in their "craft," they would be homebrewers and not take filthy money for it. (That part is sarcasm, this is not They go to work to make money, like all the rest of us. It happens that some companies have products that a lot of people want, so they make a lot of money.

Mitch Steele. He brewed for Bud for years before becoming the brewmaster of Stone. He would home brew while brewing for AB, and so would his coworkers. So some do it for money, but some brew because it's an opportunity. I would jump at the chance to brew for Budweiser or Coors. You still learn when you do that. For them, you'll learn quality control, efficiency, and consistence.

 

[myelo]

I can confirm it's true.

All employees were rounded up, told the news and threatened to keep quiet, they don't want anyone to know

You can't fool us robb4952, if that is even your real name ... and I suspect it's not. That's just the sort of thing AB InBev would have one of their minions post here knowing we wouldn't believe it when in fact it's true.

Diabolical!

 

[Photopilot]

No that i have ever ordered from them and my LHBS are good enough to not bother, but it's sad to see this happen. If my order did not go out within a day or two I would never be a return customer anyways.

You have idea because it was already a big company if it was a fun place to work, being in the industry and all. My guess is that being a big corporation will suck the soul out of working there. I once visited an Inbev owned Microbrew Pub, I have never been so disappointed in a brewery visit. The people did not know their product or even seem to care about beer.