I wonder if at the close of the negotiations and the deal was done, both parties cheered to tall cold glass of Peach of Resistance Ale?
For those of you who don’t remember, Northern Brewer responded to Budweiser’s diss on craft beer drinkers (with their “Brewed the Hard way” TV commercial), by creating a kit of the very beer that Budweiser made fun of. It was big FU to Bud and I had so much respect for NB when they did that. My how quickly things change! Oh, the irony!
First, understand that ZX Ventures IS AB-InBev. AB-InBev is so desperate to make up losses they’ve endured from the rapid growth and expansion of the craft beer market, that they are looking to infiltrate any crack in any business with an influence in or can give them insight or upper hand into the craft beer world. All of us know that craft brewers/breweries are largely inspired by homebrewers and trends in homebrewing. Us homebrewers are the true innovators with regard to whats going on in the craft beer world. How many of us over the years have come up with an idea or recipe for a unique beer, only to find months later that a brewery somewhere is now doing the same thing? And how many homebrewers are now working for breweries? Make no mistake folks, AB-InBev knows this. Part of me wants to be flattered. I give it to them, they’re smart. I’m not quite sure what their ultimate MO is in this deal and there is more than meets the eye. But what I am sure of is that it’s not going to result in lower prices/savings or better access to goods/materials for us. There may be savings, but it will be them and not us that will benefit from them. And the exact opposite may happen with prices actually going up rather than down for us the consumers. Don’t be naive, ZX Ventures aka AB-InBev is a for profit business and expects a return on their investment. They intend to get it in more ways than one. - Wouldn’t knowing what the next big thing in brewing was be a profit for AB-InBev. Scenario: Hey Fred our people in NB tell us there is a lot of noise from HomeBrewers about using Streak Rubs in their beers, why don’t you do a test run of a few of their recipies and see what the tasters like? I certainly would have like to know about Microsoft today 20 years ago. _
AB-InBev is an evil company. It’s a company that uses it’s money and power to influence lawmakers & politicians, control distribution chains, retail space, shelf space, and ultimately oppress smaller breweries including your local brewery down the street from you. Do the research. All this information is out there and you can easily find many of these facts on your own. - **P.S.S.S.T. I hate to tell you this but ALL companies have their PACs, lawmakers and politicians.**
Its quite funny to see Northern Brewer give a press release with almost the exact same spill as a brewery that’s been bought out by AB-InBev. “Nothing will change” and “the same people will continue to work here”. But if you look deeper into those deals a year or two after, things do in fact change and the same people are no longer working there. That language is just a song and dance to make current customers feel ok about the acquisition. -No context, why did the people leave? Maybe they really didn’t like the company, or maybe they moved to the competition for a better deal. My brother has worked for the same company for 30 years, they’ve been taken over 3 times, People leave, get promoted, move away, change careers, die and get fired all the time.
I’ve lost respect for Northern Brewer. I will no longer be making purchases from Northern Brewer. I can not and will not support any company that is affiliated with or owned by AB-InBev as my beliefs, philosophies, and values simply do not align with those companies. It’s a personal decision and it’s my decision.
Please, whenever possible, support your LHBS. Support your local Brewery.
_I hear this time and time again; WHY should I buy from company A over B. What benefit to ME is there in paying more for the same item? What extra does the LHBS supply, that I can’t get from NB(no matter who owns it)? BTW, the closest LHBS is 60mile away, I can go north or south same distance. The one south, after talking to the owner, was only going to carry that product that had a high turnover rate. The one to the north was a snob, found out I wanted a grain he didn’t like and could get me out of the shop fast enough. _
) …but cutting off your nose to spite your face is just plain silly, especially for those who are local to NB itself). I’m fortunate in that I have at least three very good, well stocked LHBS stores ‘local’ to where I live, all of which I support and have recommended many times. NB has a great reputation and will still be on my short (though seldom used) list of trusted online retailers when I need a rare widget, adaptor, or piece of gear not obtainable locally).