The Big Guys Go “Craft”
The Wall Street Journal published a recent article showing that the three major US breweries (Anheus r-Busch, SABMiller and Molson Coors) have grown their “craft” beer sales by nearly 45% in 2007, while independent craft brewery sales have only risen 16%. There are two lines of thinking in the craft beer world about this rapid growth. “Some beer aficionados and industry executives deride the brews made by big companies as “faux” crafts,” says the author. In general, these folks view the movement of the big 3 outside their core market as a threat to independents. The other perspective is to view this as a positive trend towards a whole new way of thinking about American beer. The folks at New Belgium in Colorado have taken this attitude, and actually see this as a sign that the American consumer is dissatisfied with the watery, flavorless, uninspired “beer” that has dominated the market for so long. I tend to agree with the latter position - a Blue Moon (owned by Coors) drinker is much more likely to try other craft beers than a Bud Light drinker. I’m optimistic that they are simply making the craft beer pie bigger for all of us. And I’m also still convinced that a macro-owned “craft” brand will never be able to displace the character and quality that has allowed independent breweries to expand so rapidly.
Any perspectives out there? Is this a good thing for beer dorks or not?
Jonathan, Joel & Jeff
October 26th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Jeff and Kim have built a wonderful brewery not only on great beer, but high moral, ethical, and enviromental standards. I would tend to follow any lead that New Belgium offers. After living in Ft. Collins and visiting the brewery many times I know they practice what they preach. Plus their beer is yummy.
October 27th, 2007 at 10:46 am
I do think that educating peoples’ palates is a good thing. I’ve tasted those so called macro “craft brews”. Eh…sometimes they are good safe plays. If somebody likes them, then so be it. I’d hope that those same people try something local too. Hopefully that local beer is just as good or better. In the end there is more potential for beer to taste better when there are more places for that beer to come from. I guess that could also mean more potential sources of bad beer too. Competition should help keep us on the good side of the curve.
If your still in a pondering mood head on over to Alan’s site and check out his latest discussion on beer and its price.
http://beerblog.genx40.com/archives/2007/october/arecraftbeer
October 27th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
I am on the “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” train. The logic is pretty simple and can be exemplified in this little experiment I devised:
Go to your local brew club/craft beer drinking group and bring a six pack of the AB or Coors “craft” beers. See if anyone takes one…see if anyone talks to you.
That’s science in motion!
Cheers