With the economy in a bad way, companies are merging, downsizing, and agreeing to buyout. This is happening in all sectors of the economy. It isn’t limited to the financial sector, automotive, etc. It’s happening everywhere. But according to a new MSN article, microbrews might be killing the cheap beers.
According to the largest US distributor of beer, Ben E. Keith Beverages, microbrews are taking up a larger percentage of their distribution. Also some of the major companies like Coors owns a small “microbrew” like Blue Moon, but in order to keep the public perception it’s a “microbrew” they rarely publicize the connection.
It seems that the market share of these smaller, more select brews is growing. Also with the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch with European giant InBev, European brews will be coming into the US at a much faster and higher rate than before.
Personally I’ve seen people drinking more European beers when we’ve gone out to dinner. I most recently saw a man drinking on Chimay, a Belgium beer. So what’s happened to the US culture of cheap beer?
Are we abandoning it to drinking better quality stuff? Even hardcore beer drinkers admit coors, budweiser, budlight are terrible stuff. With the economy what it is, are we cutting back on alcohol and thus trying to buy more expensive, quality microbrews? Is it that we’re valuing what we drink rather than drinking to get drunk?
Or is life just too short to drink cheap beer? I know my DH loves microbrews, and he buys Sam Adams. But he sacrifices the number of beers he has so he can afford to buy better quality stuff. So is this cutting back to going help microbrews because people want quality for the price?
8 responses so far ↓
1 Kristy // Dec 7, 2008 at 10:17 am
I think the price of even what we consider the “cheap” beers has increased as well, as evidenced by my DH who runs a liquor store. I think because of this, some people are switching to a better quality of beer. However, if the economy gets worse, I think people will go back to drinking the cheapest stuff.
2 dogatemyfinances // Dec 7, 2008 at 10:34 am
I try to support local companies when dealing with food. Around here that means Lone Star (Texas-branded PBR), a mid-size independent (Shiner), or a handful of exceptional microbreweries.
I wouldn’t worry about the cheap beer going anywhere. I see a lot of Bud Light and Lone Star being consumed, even at really nice places.
3 SP // Dec 7, 2008 at 11:22 am
Life is definitely too short to drink cheap beer. Cheap beer is for college students, nad those rare college like days where you seriously are drinking just to get drunk.
4 LivingAlmostLarge // Dec 7, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Last night we had fabulous free beer. Oh MY! My DH and I are definitely becoming connoisseurs of beer thanks to our neighbors. We had a preview of Sam Adams Chocolate Boch.
I know my DH’s current favorite beer is ridiculously expensive because the price of hops are outrageous.
I think people might give up beer entirely if it gets too pricey.
5 fengshui // Dec 8, 2008 at 1:54 am
At the bar a few blocks from my house, you can still buy a pitcher of Miller Lite for $5…. I love it! I prefer lighter micro brews, they just taste better.
6 fengshui // Dec 8, 2008 at 1:56 am
Oh, and I don’t care how expensive beer is, I have no plans to give it up! Sometimes, you just need to go out and have a beer…. especially after hectic days and you’re long past due for happy hour with the girls….
7 LAL // Dec 8, 2008 at 8:56 am
OMG, the COL! I can’t buy a beer for $5 here. Ouch.
Rich Life Carnival #23 | Rich Life Carnival - Dec 13, 2008
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