In a Country Where 1 in 4 Beers Sold Is a Bud Light, Microbrews Are Showing Promising Growth

[marmar]

AlterNet / By Steven Wishnia

In a Country Where 1 in 4 Beers Sold Is a Bud Light, Microbrews Are Showing Promising Growth
Independent craft brewers have established a significant niche over the last generation in the beer market, in an industry where six companies make 90 percent of the beer.

August 4, 2010 |


In a country where one out of every four beers sold is a Bud Light, and more than 80 percent of all beer sold comes from two giant corporations, indie brewing is showing promising signs of growth and staying power.

Independent craft brewers have established a significant niche over the last generation. Since 1980, the number of commercial breweries has risen from less than 100 to about 1,600, including brewpubs. Independent craft brewers now account for about 7 percent of U.S. beer sales, and the Boston Beer Co. (Samuel Adams) is now the leading American-owned brewer.

This situation might inspire the corporate majors to colonize the indies, as they did in the music business of the 1990s and more recently, with the corporate acquisition of several leading health-food brands and body-care products such as Burt's Bees lip balm and Tom's of Maine toothpaste. Yet so far, that doesn't seem to have happened. The majors have created a few brands aimed at the craft-beer market, most notably MillerCoors' Blue Moon, and Anheuser-Busch owns part of four of the top 20 craft-beer brands, according to store-sales figures for the year ending June 13 from SymphonyIRI Group, a Chicago-based market-research firm. Beyond that, however, they have not made many inroads--or tried that hard, say several professional observers.

Two multinational behemoths dominate the $100-billion-a-year American beer market. The Belgian company InBev acquired Anheuser-Busch in 2008, and with it, the half of U.S. beer sales claimed by Budweiser and Busch. Another 30 percent belongs to the amalgamation of South African Brewing, MillerCoors, and Canada's Molson. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/drugs/147713/in_a_country_where_1_in_4_beers_sold_is_a_bud_light%2C_microbrews_are_showing_promising_growth/

[dipsydoodle]

1. I was in Rochester last November

and this gear is simply wonderful : http://www.rohrbachs.com/rochester_brewery.asp

Aside from that : Anheuser-Busch InBev loses Budweiser name case

Global brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev has suffered a defeat in a long-running battle over the rights to the Budweiser beer brand.

The European Court of Justice has ruled that AB InBev cannot have exclusive European rights to the Budweiser name.

The ruling comes 14 years after its initial application to register the name as an EU trademark was blocked by Czech brewer Budejovicky Budvar.

Budvar also uses the Budweiser name in several European markets.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10809473

[Demeter]

2. I don't understand how anyone can drink it

Call me an elitist, but I can't stomach American beer--not Busch, not Coors. And unless I get a chance to taste it first, I'm not spending $$ on indie beer when I know European and even Canadian beers are eminently drinkable.

[marmar]

3. I'm with you.....I don't like beer in general, but I like the Belgian stuff.....

..... except for Stella Artois. Yuck.

[OnyxCollie]

6. Stella Artois.

The Miller High Life of Belgian beers.

[mzmolly]

17. Keep in mind American craft beers are

some of the best. ;)

http://beeradvocate.com/acbw/2006/beers

[econoclast]

4. Thank god for Indy brewers

I spent some time in the UK and heard the following quip ...


Why is American beer like making love in a canoe?

They are both f---ing close to water!


Maybe most are, but not the indies ... And thank god for that.

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -- Benjamin Franklin

[rocktivity]

5. At a brew pub in Hoboken NJ

I looked up at their massive columns of brewing vats and asked the bartender what "a Bass Ale drinker would be most likely to enjoy."

Without blinking an eye (or charging a dime), he went straight to one of the vats and poured a sample. It tasted like what Bass Ale must take like in heaven--and I don't drink Bass Ale unless it's on tap!

:beer:
rocktivity

[OnyxCollie]

7. In my fridge I've got Sam Adams

Octoberfest and Cherry Wheat. There's also one bottle left of Lion Stout (Shri Lanka). The Lion Stout is 8% alcohol and is the darkest stout I've ever had. It'll kick your ass.

Bud Light is swill designed for mass consumption with no concern for taste.

Edit: Sorry, meant this to be a general reply to the OP.

[HillWilliam]

9. Have you tried the Latitude 48?

I love a bitter, hops-y beer. That's it! Yum!! The Octoberfest is nice. Having decent beer is one thing I miss about living in Germany. Adams is generally good stuff when they stick to beer, but their cutesy lines like Blackberry Witbier and that cranberry whateveritwas are just plain nasty.

Anything with "light" in the name isn't even fit to swill hogs with. Anyone who drinks that crap has their taste buds in their ass. JMHO.

[OnyxCollie]

12. I've tried the Latitude 48.

I got it in their Summer Selection variety pack. It was OK, but I liked the Noble Pils better. And it's made with Grains of Paradise! (I don't even know what that is, but I know I want it. Sam Adams has a great marketing campaign.)

The Coastal Wheat goes down well on a hot, summer day. It's got that lemony zing.

I don't mind the Blackberry Witbier or the Cranberry Lambic. (Kinda tart, but that's to be expected.) Like Wild Blue's blueberry Lager (8% alcohol), a bottle or two is nice, but a six-pack is a bit much.

Sam Adams is my new favorite brewer, although I've been giving Flying Dog a chance. The Flying Dog Double Dog Double Pale Ale (11.5% alcohol) is good and strong. Expensive, though.

[rocktivity]

10. Dupe, sorry n/t

.

[Mopar151]

8. "Beer - The reason I rise from my bed each afternoon!"

Quote of my microbrew-loving friend's T-shirt. And my friends tell me a couple other things - that good home-brewed beer leaves you in MUCH better shape the next day, and that good homemade soup and cold beer is absolutely sublime.

[rocktivity]

11. DING DING DING! OnyxCollie and Hillwilliam, you're our grand prize winners!

Bud Light is swill designed for mass consumption with no concern for taste.

Anything with "light" in the name isn't even fit to swill hogs with...

I couldn't agree more--I've been against light beer since the day it was invented. If you're that concerned about calories, drink half a real beer and leave the rest.

It's very distressing to learn that 1 in 4 buy a light beer, but it's probably due to fact that you don't see American "real beer" commercials anymore.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[thelordofhell]

13. Samuel Adams is the largest American owned brewery

And they are only .1% of the beer market

[Bennyboy]

14. as someone in the brewing business, this makes me very happy..

It is good to see that people are starting to demand taste instead of "drinkability" (Watered down crap).

[freebrew]

15. Basement brewing is best.

I'm on my 25th brew, 6 gallons each time. Nothing fancy, malt, hops and sugar, add yeast. That's all there is to it.

Great beer, hearty taste for peanuts compared to buying good beer.

As for American beer, I personally don't mind Busch beer and drink it regularly.

However, I'm not saying it has any real beer taste, I grew up on it, started when I was 4 or 5. Don't ask...

Favorite American brew is Anchor Steam. Don't much like Sam Adams, they make the cost of hops skyrocket.

[veganlush]

16. Sam Adams is good..

..Was the only American beer I could stomach, the bud, miller..etc..crap is not beer at all just swill for the masses..now I like Michigan beers like Bell's Oberon I like Canadian beers too and England's Bass ale is great, I could go on and on, but American beers like bud and miller, etc..belong in a different category altogether-not beer. They are to beer what wine coolers are to real wine...

[onethatcares]

18. In heaven there is no beer, that's why we drink it here.

and when we're gone from here..................................our friends will be drinking all the beer.

Just remember to use a designated driver or a cab when imbibing.

I like alot of beer, but lately Yeungling Dark is my favorite. Along with some Heavy Seas beer when I can go the 14 miles to pick up a 6 pack of it.