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Seattlest Pix 09Nov07
Around the Sound: The Week in News
Ahhh…wine vs. beer. A debate some of us have had quite a few times.
First off, the writer’s claim that wine is now more popular than beer was based on a 2005 poll. The author then provides a link to a statement that beer was once again more popular in 2006; gotta love it.
Either way, we truly have no problem with their claim that wine is more popular than beer right now. Whatever. We are more interested in the growing craft beer industry, not the macro brew crap that currently dominates most of the market. Wine went through a growth phase to adapt to the consumer’s desires, and beer is now doing the same.
What bothers us is how this writer portrayed the beer industry; essentially portraying beer drinkers as the Beverly Hillbillies. While that generalization may hold true for those beer drinkers guzzling cans of Milwaukee’s Best on their couch with their pants off, it is a gross misinterpretation of where the beer industry (and typical consumer) is heading.
The author quotes a saying: “You can appreciate wine, but you drink beer.” Who the hell said that? He also uses a Google search of keywords to support his claims about how wine is more associated with passion and lifestyle. Are you serious, buddy?
He then goes on to explain that “wine is basically an agricultural product”, while “beer is a manufactured product striving for consistency.” Bollocks. That claim is just plain wrong in many cases these days.
We’d like to find this author and kick him in the balls. Appreciate that buddy.
It is true that sales growth of large domestic brewers is at an all time low, but the craft beer segment has just started to explode over the last few years. Craft beer sales increased 18% last year; more than any other alcohol beverage category (10% for wine, 10.8% import beer). As the craft beer industry continues to expand and more choices are available, this growth will only continue. Here in Seattle, it seems like you can’t walk more than a couple blocks without hitting a brewpub/alehouse.
The macro brew companies have seen this trend and are acting on it. Anheuser-Busch (AB) has stakes in NW staples Widmer and Redhook. AB also recently gained a stake in Chicago craft brew favorite Goose Island (through Widmer). In addition, the macros are attempting to come out with some of their own “craft beers”, with varying results.
This trend is a welcome one. The more these macro companies distribute these mid-level craft beers, the more people will become interested in good beer and explore better options. Down with the macro swill!
The craft beer industry will continue to grow at a rapid pace. Changes in taste have brought about many new trends in the past few years, such as barrel aging, vintage beers, organic beers and the use of non-traditional ingredients to enhance beer. People in the craft beer industry are doing amazing things; things will only get better.
Time for a beer…
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Agreed.
If you were using the same criteria to make your argument you would be comparing craft beers to a box of wine. While both industries pump out a lot of garbage you have to look a little deeper than your corner liquor store to find out where the quality is.
The distribution of beer seems to be the thing that holds it back. If you can look at the quality beers today across the country and globe you would be amazed.
While light domestic beers can be compared to water an imperial barrel aged stout might be compared to a port. The craft is not appreciated by the general public. What once was straight forward and boring is now complex with a lot of variety.
Like wine it can be intimidating to explore. But unlike wine it is difficult to find quality bottle shops that reach a little deeper into the craft beer world.
The attitude in the wine argument is fine by me. More beer for the rest of us.
Please god let there be more [good] Belgian style craft beers!
And why can't I buy Manny's at the grocery store? The day I can do that will be the best. day. ever.
The article in question got it all wrong.....I agree with what you have to say. I work as a beer specialist for a national specialty/grocery chain and I personaly do my best to have alot of good beers from around the world. I only have one US Macro currently and that is for my customers that requested it in cans for golfing. I have a first hand knowledge of what people are looking for and belive me it is not the Macros. My customers ask for any thing from barrel-aged Iperial Stouts to the latest Micro Hop monsters and seasonals. Being in Las Vegas I get people fromm around the country, and most of them come to me looking for good beers. The main problem I see is that like our friend who wrote the article, most Distributors are foucused on the Macro beers being the "money makers" in the beer world.It is time that they start getting us the good beers to sell so we can make people see that there are choices out there. Sure I could make money by selling 500 units of Bud,corrs or Miller, but my goal is quality and awareness that there are good beers to be had.
I think that the Macros are starting to die a little. I don't see them going away. In wine terms that would be like White Zin going by the wayside, it won't happen, but most Americans are looking else where for beer choices beyond blindly grabbing a sixer of bud light.
True. True, all true. Beer's biggest edge is the fact that bottles are tagged by style with a big clue as to taste, and wine requires too much effort to know, beyond a reasonable doubt, what the hell is in the bottle and what it will taste like. But don't get me started.
And Jaisn, just go buy a growler from the brewery, it can last in the fridge for a week. Better get two.