For now, the short version is that craft beer is a made up designation, much like, “King of Beers” is a fiction. But fact and fiction don’t matter when it comest to advertising and Budweiser has successfully co-opted the “craft” moniker and most beer writers are happy to help them. In this episode, we take a look at the numbers and attitude behind Budweiser’s rise to the top of the craft beer market.

People Can’t Stop Calling Bud ‘Craft’ Beer

Anheuser-Busch on its way to becoming king of craft beer too

A decade ago, Anheuser-Busch made no beer that could legitimately be called “craft.” The nation’s largest beer company dabbled at the edges of the burgeoning craft beer movement, but its backbone remained the brands to which craft beer was largely a reaction – Bud and Bud Light, Natural Light and Michelob Ultra, and whatever odd innovations might tempt a new generation of consumers, be it Lime-a-Rita (a hit) or Tequiza (a miss).

There is a lot to unpack in both the headline and the notion of independent craft beer and craft-y beer. Of particular interest this week is the “news” that Budweiser is on its way to making more money selling craft-y beer than Sam Adams. In this episode we get into the difficulties in not only the numbers presented (they left out all the beer that was sold in taprooms, opting to just take package store and grocery store number) but also our part as craft beer drinkers.

Craft Beer Prices May be Topping Out

Craft Breweries Defy Convention By Beginning To Drop Prices

Founders Brewing is no stranger to the disruption business. The Michigan company not only pioneered the 15-pack of craft cans but was the first to perfect the now-ubiquitous session IPA style and release it on a national scale.

Keeping a handle on craft beer prices always is going to be an issue, but making it a little easier for people to buy and share standard beers only makes sense. There’s nothing wrong with paying for quality, and we all have done that, but the fact that breweries are at least getting a little price-conscious is something worth  noticing.

 

Independent Beer Shoots Back

BA Unveils ‘That’s Independence You’re Tasting’

Malt tastes sweet and hops taste bitter, but what does independence taste like? The Brewers Association (BA), publishers of CraftBeer.com, asks beer lovers to consider that question in its most recent effort to differentiate beer brewed by true craft brewers and the acquired brands of the world’s largest beer companies.

Although we didn’t get to talk about this story in the episode (we ran out of time) it’s an important accompaniment to the first story about Bud as a craft beer. The brewer’s association is doing its best to educate, but whether people want to be educated is a whole other story.

HomeBrew FAQ:

Home Brew Stores Explain Eight Common Brewing Mistakes – NewToBrew

Who knows what issues and problems that home brewers face better than home brew supply stores. I’ve interviewed four reputable stores for their advice on the biggest mistake that new brewers make. By learning about common issues, hopefully we can avoid some basic mistakes others make.

Getting the right flavors out of your beer means using the right yeas...