By now, I’m sure many of us have seen that there has been a sort of call to arms to purchase, rent, or peddle the Beer Wars movie. So, what are we waiting for? Look, there are aspects of the movie that we could all site as being selective, whatever other criticisms we might have. But I think the thing that we can all agree on is that monopolies are bad unless you are playing the Parker Brothers version and land on a fully loaded Free Parking spot.
Here’s the thing: the basic message deals with the fact the all aspects of the market place are dominated by the big boys. Distribution independence is a rare commodity, and everyone is in bed with the big players. I wish that I was simply being hyperbolic like I love to be, but the issue is real. I remember a while back that a certain other website was grousing about not being able to get Stone while they were planning a new facility in Europe. But maybe the fingers could have been better spent pointing right down the street at Budweiser. Either way, fair distribution and a level playing field are veritable impossibility.
Have you ever complained about not being able to get certain beers? Me, too. There are a myriad of reasons why you might not be able to get a beer. A brewery might just not be big enough. Maybe there are simply a finite amount of possibilities. Maybe you can see the beer at eye level (a point made in the movie). But maybe, just maybe, the distribution is just not there. Either way, is craft beer awareness a bad thing? Is putting a dent in the wallet and mullet (NASCAR reference) of an empire such a bad thing? Click and read the original apologetic for the movie. And purchase it. I’m answering the call to action as many ways as possible.
Look, there are aspects of the movie that we could all site as being selective, whatever other criticisms we might have. But I think the thing that we can all agree on is that monopolies are bad unless you are playing the Parker Brothers version and land on a fully loaded Free Parking spot.
Well said Mike, i completely agree. i wanted to cry as i watched Anat breakdown the illogical, small brewery rape that goes on in the distribution setup. As she alluded to, the problem wasn’t just with the lobbying of the big boys, but also an inconsequential govt. arghh!
The movie opened my eyes, and I look forward to a sequel.
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I remember a while back that a certain other website was grousing about not being able to get Stone while they were planning a new facility in Europe. But maybe the fingers could have been better spent pointing right down the street at Budweiser. Either way, fair distribution and a level playing field are veritable impossibility.
Is that other website me?
You know, the dig against distribution is actually one of the things that I think Beer Wars really suffers from. I don’t think it’s a fair cop.
There are just so many variables at work with distribution: each state has its own distribution laws and its own take at the three-tier system. Each has its own requirements. A brewery might not have the capacity to brew enough beer to ship to all 50 states. They might not be able to get label verification through the local TTB, they might not be able to find a distributor who’s willing to store their beer the way they’d like, they might not have a sales rep thave covers the right area, etc., etc.
It’s not impossible for a craft beer to be carried in every state – Sam Adams has shown us that.
Answer me this: Without the current distribution setup, how would I be able to go out to any supermarket in North Carolina today and buy Stone Arrogant Bastard? How would they get it here? And if they did get here, could I afford it?
Don’t get me wrong. There’s a lot wrong with distribution, but many of those things that are wrong are actual illegal activities, usually on the part of reps in local markets. And certainly, distribution laws need to be updated to handle 1000+ distributing breweries vs. 10.
But I mean.. the three-tier system and the country-wide network of distributors out there is exactly why I can drink beers that aren’t made in my local market.
I have a hard time being against distribution. Just shitty distributors.
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I think I lamented the fact that my beer guy @brewforia is being raked over the coals by a local distributor. He can’t get certain product so he gets things from the Spokane market and ships them down to his store in Boise. One of his distributors sent a letter to the alcohol control board to try to get him to stop doing that! Instead of working with him to try and get better brews into Boise he just wants to stop ingenuity. That is a little cave man like if you ask me..
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The other site wasn’t actually you, Erik. It was St. Louis Hops…since you asked me directly. I agree that the distribution network isn’t as bad as it could be. It’s not as good either. I also agree that individual states can be problematic. The individual states have a moral lobby from the right fighting to keep beers out/restrict them.
As far as Sam Adams goes; I think it’s simply a matter of dollars and cents. The only reason they flourish is because the distribution network knows they can make money off them. I think the same is true of Stone. So, the reason we can get Stone is the same reason we can’t get others…profit. Remember both the breweries used as examples are themselves regional giants. It’s still the uphill battle for the little guy that’s the issue in distribution.
So, I’m like you. I’m against shitty distributors who are, once again, part of the big boy network. I think we are in agreement on quite a bit, actually….but the three tier system is still a middle man. Whose to say that a small brewery could direct ship (of course through a shipping company (or planes, trains, or automobiles). You might argue that this is middle man, too. But they would not be as restrictive. There are trucks driving all over this country and they don’t care what the load is, so long as it gives them one to take. I guess my point is that the current system is not the only way and there can be a better one.
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Don, that’s unfortunate. You offer a good example of why the system is broken.
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Erik, even if we end up not seeing eye to eye on the topic, I think you mentioned it was worth seeing. There is a lot to commend it to the viewer as well. Unfortunately, the one example I gave was the one you didn’t like. Funny stuff. Overall all, though, would you recommend someone watch it?
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Oh, it’s certainly worth watching. There are bits that I’m not a big fan of, but as a whole I enjoyed it.
I wish the entire movie was like the first 20 minutes. The first 20 minutes were awesome.
Whose to say that a small brewery could direct ship (of course through a shipping company (or planes, trains, or automobiles). You might argue that this is middle man, too. But they would not be as restrictive.
In essence, that’s what a distributor is, right? Someone who manages shipping beer from the brewery to the retailer. Are they trustworthy? Who knows? Some areas may not have a distributor that craft breweries consider trustworthy and, thus, you have a hard time getting beer to that area.
In 99.9% of the cases, it’s not going to be worth the money for a brewery to manage their own distribution outside of their local area. Running a shipping company is a lot of work and includes a lot of liability. It can be expensive to run and expensive to hire. And if you’re going to hire someone to do it for you, don’t you want someone who knows how to handle your beer? That’s a distributor.
Aaanyway… the reason that I mentioned that the movie may be a bit outdated (I did say that, right?) is because in the past few years, since the movie was shot, you see a lot more distributors that are focusing on craft. They’re people who really recognize that there’s a future in craft beer and are working to make sure that they have a diverse portfolio, treat the beer well, etc.
Are they a minority? Certainly. But then, so are the craft breweries.
And see? We can not see eye to eye and still be cool. Debate is awesome.
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Amen!
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By the way, we still need to compare notes on the book you sent me.
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Yeah, we really do.
You aren’t heading to the Craft Brewers Conference by any chance, are you?
See the bottom of this page:
http://www.craftbrewersconference.com/spec_events.html
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No, I’m not. If I still lived in Indy it would be a real possibility. Actually, I’m flying in about 2 weeks after that for Dark Lord Day. Too bad, I’d love to meet up.
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