Will you buy Goose Island beers now?

[SpanishCastleAle]

It will make no difference to anybody but the hardworking folks at the brewery who may (but not likely) suffer from lost revenue from you. I am sure they will understand when you pass them in the unemployment line.

wat

You do realize that if what you say is true, then whatever alternative brewery he doesn't 'switch from GI to' would then be the guy in the unemployment line (and of course, much quicker since they don't have the safety net of a ginormous corporation).

 

[originalben]

Hey, Pilgarlic..what you said.
;^)

 

[paulthenurse]

To me multinational means the profits are going elsewhere.

I own a bunch of shares of InBev in my IRA. When they make money their stock price goes up and I make money. I hope you all go out and buy up all the Goose Island you can find. I think that would be just great. I'll understand if you don't buy the Bud Lite. I don't either. Just because a company is 'owned' by an overseas corporation doesn't mean that the profits are going elsewhere. Expand your horizons.

 

[paulthenurse]

AB is an oligopolistic actor in its beer market (not the craft market) and I prefer not to support oligopoly, which is antithetical to free markets. AB also has a strong legacy of massive financial participation in our political system, which I think is corrosive of our political system. There is a thriving, entrepreneurial, competitive, creative market consisting of a huge and growing number of craft brewers out there that I'd much prefer to do business with, rather than with a plutocratic, oligopolistic, anti-competitive corporation that hasn't developed an interesting product in the better part of a century. Oh... for the whoo hahs: please, I don't believe that AB is "evil". It is perfectly rational for them to dominate markets if they're allowed, to, and to buy policy if they are allowed to. They would be fools not to. I don't for a moment believe they are evil; they're behaving rationally in a very flawed system that ought to better regulate huge corporations and their impacts on both markets and politics.

Gol darnit, Mr. Lamarr, you use your tongue purttier than a twenty dollar whore.

PTN

 

[Pilgarlic]

Gol darnit, Mr. Lamarr, you use your tongue purttier than a twenty dollar whore.

PTN

Why thank you, suh!

 

[Chuginator]

This definitely is an interesting discussion. I was about to vote no, but then I read what I wrote and had to back up.

I have no love for InBev - my preference is to support the little guy. However, I wouldn't consider Sam Adams to be a "little guy" and they make some beers that are so outstanding that I cannot resist buying them in quantity. Same with Spaten (owned by InBev).

So if I voted no to GI beers, I'd be a hypocrite.

Still, I think I'd have to say that if I see one I haven't had before, I'd buy one to try it out - can't resist. Other than that, unless it's pretty phenomenal beer, they can be forgotten because it's my tendency to keep money I pay for beer in America (exceptions noted).

 

[JLem]

I own a bunch of shares of InBev in my IRA. When they make money their stock price goes up and I make money. I hope you all go out and buy up all the Goose Island you can find. I think that would be just great. I'll understand if you don't buy the Bud Lite. I don't either. Just because a company is 'owned' by an overseas corporation doesn't mean that the profits are going elsewhere. Expand your horizons.

I didn't consider that angle...buy GI beer...make paulie some dough...I'll be sure to pick some up now...not sure what I was thinking earlier.

 

[moti_mo]

Okay. I understand what you were saying now.

Much like how certain folks quit buying Redhook after they were partially gobbled up by AB..."sure, Longhammer is a good IPA, but so is Stone"

I never really liked GI that much in the first place, so I will continue to not buy many of their beers.

But I did want to re-visit this statement. Not because of the BIG versus SMALL brewery aspect, but because Longhammer IPA was put in the same sentence as Stone IPA as if they're beers of similar quality. That's surely the most off-base argument in this whole thread.

 

[nickharbour]

I was just in chicago last weekend (ate pizza 6 meals in a row, life was good) and I tried to avoid goose island on principle but chicago is a strange market. Most places I ended up going it was the best option available. If there are multiple great beers to go with and I have a great independent local beer then I would go with it but Goose Island seemed to be up against weak competition in most places so I had no choice. The G.I. ended up being better than most of the other local craft brews that were tapped at the pizza joints so I drank it. Actually enjoyed the Honkers Ale, the rest I found to be forgettable.

I got the sense that GI has been benefiting from a lock in the distro racket in chicago for a while now so I don't see how drinking it now is ethically any different than before. You drink it because the business guys have made sure its the best option available to you in the places you might end up drinking.

I was bumbed that I had a hard time finding three floyds there despite it being brewed 45 minutes away. Maybe I need to get outside of downtown for that next time.

 

[Homercidal]

If the quality of their beer remains what it is, I see no reason to not purchase GI beer if that is the best choice available to me at the time. However, I will always try to purchase local craft beer ahead of large corporation beers unless there is a unique beer to try. I don't mind tasting craft-style beer from the big companies to see what it's like.

 

[paulthenurse]

I didn't consider that angle...buy GI beer...make paulie some dough...I'll be sure to pick some up now...not sure what I was thinking earlier.

BUD (NYSE) was at $61.44 a minute ago. Pick up a couple lots and that will at least give you something to feel good about every time you go out and have to suffer through some of their beer cause it's the best thing available at the bar.

 

[rico567]

Thank you for trying to remain somewhat objective. This thread is going to spark some emotions and elicit strong opinions. So long as the arguments remain friendly, it's an excellent discussion.

I not only inhabit (and hopefully contribute) to HBT, but also have observed that other forums share the tendency for some individuals to become outspoken, personal, and even abusive. This is usually attributed to the anonymity of the Internet- that we will say things in these forums that we would never dream of face-to-face.

I don't completely agree with this- I notice a lot of misunderstandings online seem to stem from some people's impatience- of not reading someone's post and understanding it before they reply. The flip side of this is people who write posts that are vague enough that they may be construed in several different ways, and thus invite others to form views of the issue at variance to the intended meaning of the author. I think the "hit SEND now" facility that the Internet provides may be the vehicle for instant and thoughtless replies. It could be offset if people just use the "preview" function provided by HBT and many other forums, sat back, maybe relaxed and cracked a tube, and re-read what they'd written. Editing is not much fun, but it may be both necessary and productive.

Moving on to the subject of polls, I find that the reason I quite often don't vote (as I did not in this case) is because the choices provided simply don't apply to me......sort of the way I've become about......well, let's not go here!

 

[Revvy]

Hell yes I'm going to buy it, I can't wait for the next batch of Bourbon County Stout to come out, now with this deal, there's gonna be much more of it available, and available in more places.

 

[Emc]

I'm fine with mega corps investing in "little guys" to help them grow and both parties to make money great. My problem with in bev is they have a history of buying something for name alone, then making the product cheaper in taste and quality.

Pyramid made a great beer 15 years ago, they started to grow, cut corners, for profit now it sucks. Laguinitas, I believe you can get it coast to coast, "little" local guys up the street from me, they continue to grow and the beer is still great. I guess my point, GI being now controlled by in bev will most likey suffer from in bev cost cutting practices, and that's why I choose not to drink in bev products. It would be great if that turns out to be not true. If they could pump there unlimited cash into craft brew, better distribution for all, better grains and hops at better prices for all, better beer for all. It's just that doesn't seem to follow there past practices.

Multi national company's sending our money elsewhere? Please, my wife's Toyota was made in the US, by US workers. My ford was made in Mexico. It's a multi national world now, and really the suadis and chinesse own it all at the end of the day, just saying.

 

[Revvy]

I don't completely agree with this- I notice a lot of misunderstandings online seem to stem from some people's impatience- of not reading someone's post and understanding it before they reply. The flip side of this is people who write posts that are vague enough that they may be construed in several different ways, and thus invite others to form views of the issue at variance to the intended meaning of the author. I think the "hit SEND now" facility that the Internet provides may be the vehicle for instant and thoughtless replie It could be offset if people just use the "preview" function provided by HBT and many other forums, sat back, maybe relaxed and cracked a tube, and re-read what they'd written. Editing is not much fun, but it may be both necessary and productive.

Actually the last time this was brought up what was downright mean spirited.

 

[941MxVet]

BUD (NYSE) was at $61.44 a minute ago. Pick up a couple lots and that will at least give you something to feel good about every time you go out and have to suffer through some of their beer cause it's the best thing available at the bar.

Been better off with SAM

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=SAM&t=1y&l=on&z=l&q=l&c=bud

I voted "NO", but GI's not availible in NV to my knowledge anyway.

 

[downtown3641]

I've never had anything by GI, and that will continue. I absolutely will not support AB-InBev owned products due to the stranglehold on the market they've created by manipulating the three-tiered distribution system.

 

[doctorRobert]

I only support large multi-national corporations. They employee thousands of people all over the world, offer health benefits and retirement packages to their employees, and offer a quality and consistent product at an affordable price.

What's so evil about them again?

So Yes I'll keep buying the goose.

 

[northernlad]

I've never had anything by GI, and that will continue. I absolutely will not support AB-InBev owned products due to the stranglehold on the market they've created by manipulating the three-tiered distribution system.

This must be regional because in my town there is little evidence of this.
Putting aside who actually owns what, my local grocery chain has more of what most of us would consider quality beer than BMC in the coolers. A large regional grocery chain is about 50/50. I would not consider this a stranglehold.
Now, if you find yourself in Texas about all you will get besides Coors Light is a token sixer of Sierra Nevada.

 

[Baldy_Beer_Brewery]

I've always liked Goose Island IPA. If it was the best beer available where I was buying beer, I would purchase it.

I'd even buy it at Wal-Mart.

 

[CTownBrewer]

The only GI beer I've ever really liked is their Night Stalker Imperial Stout...and I can get many other equally good ones from craft breweries that are not owned by a company that dominates the industry.

I'd prefer to give my money to a company that tries to further the craft beer market, not destroy it. Craft beers are a small part of the beer market, not by choice, but by force. They aren't able to ship their beers like they want to because the big 3 dominate truck space. They come out with 50 ways of packaging the same product to dominate shelf space at any major store that sells beer.

They even go as far as to create "craft beer" without putting their name on it so the consumer doesn't even know it's theirs...jacks pumpkin spice ale, wild blueberry, etc. I know people who after months of convincing, finally wanted to try a craft beer. Then they tell me how horrible this pumpkin beer was that they tried...you guessed it...they bought the cheapest one they could find called jacks pumpkin spice. Now they won't try craft beer again. Who'd buy a $10 4-pack of DFH Punkin when they could try jacks pumpkin spice for $5 for a 6-pack? This behavior is not what I would call furthering the beer industry. It's making money no matter what the cost.

 

[Pappers_]

I'm fortunate to live in a metropolitan area with many great breweries. I seldom buy beer that isn't from one of those local breweries. I think local often means fresher. In addition, I choose to support these small, local, independent breweries because they add to the beer culture here from which I benefit.

I enjoy Goose Island and will certainly drink it. But if I have the option of buying Metropolitan, Half Acre, Two Brothers, Finch, or Three Floyds, I usually do.

 

[JNye]

I won't bother with them. I've had it plenty as I live in Chicago. I haven't been drinking them much the last year or so anyways. I understand exactly what the OP is saying. When I am out drinking on tap I always prefer local beer. Sure I drink the occasional west coast bottle or something but I generally feel like beer making isn't that hard. Good quality beers aren't that different. I would much rather have pint of two brothers, 3 floyds, or bells then Goose at this point.

This is also one of the reasons I make beer. Good beer isn't that mysterious. I make IPAs, APAs , and quaffable seasonals almost exclusively(house beers essentially). They taste great, as good as anything I can get at the store in the same style. Consequently I only buy the big beers that I don't want 5 gallons of. I think the hardest part of owning a brewery is marketing/selling the beer. Sad but true.

 

[downtown3641]

This must be regional because in my town there is little evidence of this.
Putting aside who actually owns what, my local grocery chain has more of what most of us would consider quality beer than BMC in the coolers. A large regional grocery chain is about 50/50. I would not consider this a stranglehold.
Now, if you find yourself in Texas about all you will get besides Coors Light is a token sixer of Sierra Nevada.

We're actually fortunate in my town to have a good craft beer community. However, distributers who distribute AB can only distribute AB products or the handful of craft brewers to which AB owns distribution rights. Miller-Coors actually allows their distributers to distribute beer from independently owned breweries. So, essentially, AB-InBev will account for at least 50% of the beer distributed in certain areas because of the their manipulation of the distribution system.

 

[redcoat_or_rebel]

this is akin to not listening to a band anymore because they signed a major label deal.

if the beer is still good and they didn't screw anyone over in the process or don't dump toxic waste in the river or move their brewery to china for the tax rates, then drink it. if it is local, all the better.

i agree with JNye. while i admire others skill in brewing the subtle differnces that can be achieved are fleeting. the magic is in the simplicity of the whole process.

 

[Pilgarlic]

Good analogy to a band signing to a major label. Nearly every band that does so finds that it no longer has creative control and, yes, I often stop listening.

 

[northernlad]

this is akin to not listening to a band anymore because they signed a major label deal.

if the beer is still good and they didn't screw anyone over in the process or don't dump toxic waste in the river or move their brewery to china for the tax rates, then drink it. if it is local, all the better.

i agree with JNye. while i admire others skill in brewing the subtle differnces that can be achieved are fleeting. the magic is in the simplicity of the whole process.

I was thinking the same thing. In addition I find it curious that the evil one here is Inbev when if, being true to a principle, the fault is Goose Islands for selling their soul to the devil, yet no one is calling them out on that.

 

[Pappers_]

I was thinking the same thing. In addition I find it curious that the evil one here is Inbev when if, being true to a principle, the fault is Goose Islands for selling their soul to the devil, yet no one is calling them out on that.

As the OP has said a couple of times, he (and I) don't think InBev or Goose Island is evil. Just because I prefer to spend my money on beers produced by local, independent breweries doesn't mean that I think that Stella Artois is evil or bad.

 

[lou2row]

Didn't like any of the beers of theirs I've tried, so I voted no.

 

[Nightbiker]

Sure I'd buy it if it were available here. I don't really care who owns a beer that I like (I've never had this one so I'd buy it at least once just to try it). I don't drink my beer just because someone (in particular) does or does not own the brand. I DO drink my beers based on taste. If I like it, I drink it (and when I try to clone it, I use it as the control sample to see how close I came -and then of course will just brew my own from that point forward). I like trying different beers. Sure, its a nice thing to know it was brewed in a local microbrewery, but if that was your litmus test, you would take away a significant number of beers to enjoy.
PROST!