The Death of Beer?

http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive ... eer/57672/

And maybe, just maybe, there's another reason: that as wine, spirits, and craft beer promise variety and taste, drinkers are finally realizing what the rest of the world has been telling us for decades—mainstream American beer is awful. And with more options available these days, it will take more than bikini-clad models and talking dogs to convince us otherwise.

No.

No.

This.

Beer isnt dying, bad beer is (and really, even that is so far from dead that "slightly declining" is much more accurate).

No.

This.

Beer isnt dying, bad beer is (and really, even that is so far from dead that "slightly declining" is much more accurate).

That was my take on the article. I think the craft movement is what is hurting the big guys, not the economy.

As big an advocate of craft beer as I am, being on the retail side of this business, I feel the economy is taking a bigger toll. While we have surely seen an increase in craft and import sales, and we have seen more bars and restaurants add better beers to their tap and bottle lists, the average beer drinker is still loyal to their brands. The big beer companies have continued their yearly price hikes on both their premium (their words not mine) brands and their economy brands that they are pricing their core brands out of the range of the average consumer. I've seen an average of a 10% hike in their prices every year for the past 5 years. At a certain point, you just hit a wall on how much you can spend on beer. The big brands have tried making different packages (18 packs for one) that are priced right around what you used to buy a case (24 pack) of the year before. With that, I've seen a large surge in 18 pack vs 24 pack sales over the past few years.

As for craft beer, it is definitely taking a bite out of domestic beer sales. I love the challenge of taking a macro drinker and bringing them over to the right side of the beer universe. Its been a slow movement, but slowly but surely its taking a bite out of their market share. I feel the trend will continue. Its a younger market that is taking the mantle of the craft beer, so we can hope that their buying trends continue.

I had no idea that Yuengling had positioned itself as a hipster beer. I started drinking it while visiting my Nana in Philly because it's the beer she keeps in the house, and I was surprised that it was actually pretty good. And since then I've enjoyed drinking it in Gulf Shores and Nashville, mostly just for the novelty of the fact that I can't get it here. Perhaps I am just cooler than I realized.

In regard to Todd's comment about the younger market taking up the mantle of craft beer, an anecdote: Many of our friends were thrilled to find that the beers we selected for our wedding reception last month were NABC's Elector and Community Dark. However, one of my mother's (rather tactless) friends - an inveterate Bud Light drinker - reported that the beer "tasted like shit." I can't say that I'm sorry she was disappointed!

I had no idea that Yuengling had positioned itself as a hipster beer. And since then I've enjoyed drinking it in Gulf Shores and Nashville, mostly just for the novelty of the fact that I can't get it here.

Yeah, me too. I switch between Yuengling and Yazoo when in Nashville and it is not cheaper than Bud Light as the article says. Nashville is selling Yuengling at craft/premium prices everywhere I've seen.

Last time I was at Tootsie's macros were $4ish and Yuengling was $5ish, both highway robbery. Nashville is also pushing the hell out of New Belgium's Fat Tire.

Yeah, me too. I switch between Yuengling and Yazoo when in Nashville and it is not cheaper than Bud Light as the article says. Nashville is selling Yuengling at craft/premium prices everywhere I've seen.

Last time I was at Tootsie's macros were $4ish and Yuengling was $5ish, both highway robbery. Nashville is also pushing the hell out of New Belgium's Fat Tire.

You know, that's what I thought. It's been a while since I had a Yuengling, but I didn't remember it being particularly cheap.