Modern beer bottling line.
Choice is a word that gets beaten to death these days. It is quite relevant even in the beer world. I’ve done a lot of serious head scratching over the results of the poll I posted earlier this week.
Does it matter who makes the beer you buy?
Here’s a brief summary of the results (as of Oct 3):
- 5, 264 votes were cast.
- 51% of voters replied that it did not matter who made the beer they bought.
- 49% of voters replied that it did matter to a significant extent who made the beer they bought.
- 150+ comments were submitted to Fark.com. Lots of interesting stuff there.
What do I think? There’s more than I can concisely express in one posting on this forum. Here are some initial thoughts.
First, I am going to take the liberty of interpreting that “… who makes the beer you buy” equals “who owns the beer brand of the beer you buy?” Why? Because the comments reflect a major concern mostly about who owns the brands rather than where the beer is actually brewed. Fair enough?
I’m quite impressed that nearly half of beer drinkers really do care about what company makes the beer they buy. That tells me that people would appreciate clear indication on the label expressing what company owns a beer brand.
For the other half of beer drinkers that love their beer no matter who owns the brand, I can appreciate their focus on taste and not philosophy. I think that’s where we all start as beer drinkers. Many are content to simply enjoy their beer without philosophizing. I’m certain that they enjoy the choice and diversity in the marketplace as much as the other half of beer drinkers.
Americans enjoy the best choice of beers available anywhere in the world. It’s my opinion that in this day and age of company consolidation, big box retailers, large grocers and ever growing large brewing companies, the diversity and choice beer drinkers enjoy today – is a becoming a very very fragile situation.
It’s hard to explain this to the average beer drinker. Here’s one point that’s worth making: Access to market remains a difficult proposition for small and independent brewers. Large brewers through their distributors dominate the decisions determining which beer brands get shelf space and how much shelf space they get. Distributors also significantly influence restaurateurs and the choices they make about what beer is served on the limited number of draft beer tap handles.
To the beer drinker it may seem logical that availability of a particular beer brand is based on consumer demand or profitability. But this is often not the case. Many beers receive shelf space or are delegated a tap handle because of the financial muscle a company can apply to force a decision upon the seller. Small and independent American brewers are often denied access to market due to these dynamics; regardless of consumer demand.
Enough said, for now. Comments certainly welcome.
Comments
Speaking of votes for beers, I use my dollar like a vote, and so I never buy Coors beer. Did you know that the Coors family right now is backing a Colorado constitutional amendment to kill the unions and in the state? Their political bias is as lousy as their beer.
I've been boycotting Coors for more than 40 years. I joined the boycott back when Coors was making radioactive bomb casings for nearby Rocky Flats, and even then they were trying to break the unions. The merger with Hamms is not going to change my opposition because of what the Coors family does with their profits.
So, yes, it does matter who owns the beer brand of the beer I buy. I do not buy Coors, and now I do not buy Hamms, either. Thanks but no thanks.
Almost the majority of the beer I buy nowadays comes in the form of malt, yeast, and hops, individually. As a homebrewer, I have become accustomed to drinking my beer over commercial beer. When I do make a purchase, it is usually from the local brew pubs or a beer I am trying for the first time.
All beers are local. Living in Portland, Oregon, we enjoy a tremendous variety of beers on tap as well as in the bottle. I don't say this smugly, but only to note that local drinkers have a big impact on the choices that retailers and distributors make. However, the problem for even a town like this is that new, small breweries are having to compete against established, larger craft breweries for shelf space and tap handles. I have worked with a local brewer who has had to work hard at getting taps when macro and micro brewers were his competitors. It ain't easy, but the power of the beer drinker to request, from their local retailers and pubs, the brews of their choice has power.
I buy and drink beer because I like beer, not to assign myself a point on some politcal ideology spectrum. I like Jim Koch's positive behavior to homebrewers (and my 2 free glasses), but I buy the Samuel Adams brand because of the reliable quality. I liked the Miller beers and the low price way back in 1990 or so when they offered a craft line = Velvet Stout, the graininess of the "barley beer", etc. I'll try the Bud craft brands if I see any, too. I think it'd be great if A-B/Bud made a craft-beer run of good quality Bohemian Pilsner, that would tickle me to the core. I'd still buy the Coors Winterfest and Extra Gold, if I saw them out here.
But my beer fridge has 3 corny kegs of mine, some Sam Adams and a lot of local/regional micros, b/c that is what is on the grocery shelves in this town.
Now that I have traveled to the Czech Republic, Belgium and Germany, I am convinced that the U.S.A. - Anchor Brewing excluded - has NO clue how to brew great beer.
You know, as a member of the AHA I've been watching this debate rage on for a while. While I'll certainly admit to wanting to put in my 2 cents, the question didn't seem precise enough. Just walk into a room and ask someone "do you believe?" and you'll get a variety of responses. Religion? Flat or round earth? UFOs? The question "does it matter?" is too broad to polarize with a yes or no. Most of us go for what we like. We generally base it on our idea of what good beer should be. Now and then we base our choices on economics. Ethics, which influence much of my decision making, can make some companies products more desirable, or less. Newman's Own is one company that profited by it's good will and philanthropy. A-B not only does not make beer I like the taste of, but they also support politics contrary to my own. So why do I not drink Bud? It tastes lousy. Guinness might be in the same category, but I haven't dug that deeply yet. Their politics are across the pond. Then there's the issue of how far does my money travel? I love imported beer, but I prefer to keep my money local. Give me a choice of local or import and I'm likely to go local just on principle. To get even more persnickety about it, I prefer to even buy my beer from the locally owned stores or small chains. Does it matter to me where my beer comes from? I answer fiercely, YES! But that means far less as statistical data than it would were there some qualifiers thrown in. Do consumers buy from, or boycott certain brands for ethical reasons? The size of a brewery does not reflect it's quality, so why should that be a factor? It is for many. Every beer we drink has probably gone through the hands of at least one jerk. My goal is to keep the chain of jerks short. Fresh beer is better. To me. Buying beer from people I know and drink with matters.
Like several who've comment I too vote with my dollar. The thing that is more American than apple pie is to differ. It is abundantly clear that the big box store - be it food, clothes, hardware, or beer - has had a negative impact on our culture. Yes, I shop at Home Depot and Wally world more out of necessity, but I don't buy national beer brands, and I shy away from imports. I make a choice to actively support truely American businesses. Sorry, folks at AB, but I will no longer buy your products or those of any other sell out. AB was - I emphasis was - distinctively American. Untill they sold out.
i think its an absolute necessity to acknowledge the fact we, as consumers and producers, are players in a global market. with that acknowledgement, i dont understand the lopsided commitment to any one side of the market. its clear that macros are here and are offering a product as well as support for the industry (see advertisement ads, theres 2 sides to every coin). however, its also clear that the small 'american' craftbrewer is providing the same. with those two facts, why not offer support for both ends of the market as they are both viable and useful to each other. macro has provided a standard that craftbeer can rise above (niche market), as well as pumping a heap of money into qa/qc technology. those 2 points alone have driven the quality and selection of our beer through the roof. craftbeer has provided a choice for us all, as well as raising the bar for macros (see buds american ale, however weak an example of craftbeer it may be, its still a step in that direction). i am happy to support both sides equally, depending on what i want when i go to the store. this is purely from the my perspective as a consumer. however, to comment on charlies note about distibutor options due to corporate muscle... i have noticed a remarkable change in that area. in my city, where you would normally see 6-8 taps devoted to macro... we are now seeing a larger selection of imports and craft. more like 2-8 macro, the rest craft and import. id say the revolution is in full swing.
as far as buying american...im all for keeping the money in our economy, but it seems that is impossible. as the majority of products we get here in the states have outsourced parts and pieces somewhere along the way. beer is fairly similar.
finally to comment on 'usa not knowing how to make great beer' are you serious? we have a style unto our own. (see apa, aipa, amer brown ale, etc.)
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!