Good News for Craft Brews

[chazwicke]

This re-posted from DC Beer:

Great news from the Brewers Association-
----------------------------------------------------------

Craft Beer Growth Leads All Adult Beverages for Second Year

Volume Up 9 Percent in 2005 Says Brewers Association

Boulder, CO - February 16, 2005 - America's craft brewers sold 9.0
percent more barrels of beer in 2005 versus 2004 making craft beer the
fastest growing segment of the US beverage alcohol industry for the
second consecutive year, according to the Brewers Association, the
Boulder, CO-based trade association for US craft brewers.

"Craft beer volume growth far exceeded that of large brewers, wine and
spirits in 2005," said Paul Gatza, Director of the Brewers Association.
"And even though imported beer grew nicely in 2005, craft beer grew at a
faster rate."

The Brewers Association estimates 2005 sales by craft brewers at
7,112,886 31-gallon barrels up from an adjusted total of 6,526,809
barrels in 2004, an increase of 586,077 barrels or 8.1 million
case-equivalents.

Compared to craft beer volume growth of 9.0 percent, spirits volume
increased at 3.3 percent in 2005 and wine volume was up 2.9 percent.
The import segment of the beer industry rose 7.2 percent in 2005 while
non-craft domestic beer volume declined slightly for the year. This
establishes craft beer as the fastest growing segment of the US beverage
alcohol business for the second year in a row.

"Consumer enjoyment of the flavor and diversity of craft beer continues
to fuel healthy, steady growth in this segment," said Ray Daniels,
Director of Craft Beer Marketing for the Brewers Association. "Small
brewers lead the entire industry by offering flavorful, interesting
beers."

The craft beer segment includes more than 1300 small, traditional and
independent breweries which produce primarily all-malt beers. It
includes both brewpubs which sell beer primarily at their own pub or
restaurant and packaging breweries that distribute beer in kegs, cans
and bottles to a wide range of retail outlets. The Brewers Association
has tabulated industry growth data for these breweries annually since
1985.

One year ago, the Brewers Association reported craft segment growth of
7.2 percent for 2004, a year in which wine (2.7%), spirits (3.1%),
imported beer (1.4%) and non-craft domestic beer (0.5%) all reported
substantially smaller growth rates.

"The strong growth by craft beer in 2005 is especially impressive
because it comes on top of strong performance in 2004," said Gatza. For
each of the last two years, craft beer growth has been stronger than in
any year since 1996. He also noted that 2005 is the third year craft
beer growth rates were stronger than those for imports. "Craft beer
clearly leads the beer industry in consumer appeal."

For further information on the craft beer industry and these estimates,
contact Paul Gatza at 303-447-0816 x122 or Ray Daniels on 312-203-8383.



Based in Boulder, Colo., U.S.A., the Brewers Association (BA) is a
not-for-profit trade and education association for small, traditional
and independent craft brewers. Our purpose is to promote and protect
American craft beer and American craft brewers and the community of
homebrewing enthusiasts. Visit the website: www.beertown.org to learn
more. The Brewers Association has an additional membership division of
9,000+ homebrewers: American Homebrewers Association.

The association's activities include events and publishing: World Beer
Cup(r); Great American Beer Festival(r); NBWA/BREWERS Joint Legislative
Conference, Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America(r); National
Homebrewers Conference; National Homebrew Competition; American Craft
Beer Week (May); Zymurgy magazine; The New Brewer magazine; and books on
beer and brewing.

------------------------------------
Cheers,
Jeff Wells
Global Brewers Guild
Regional Sales Manager-Empire Division

[wortchillergoal]

I guess we can expect to see AB buy off Nightline again.

[ClockworkOrange]

Expect to see BMC go on the defensive and try to snatch up all the competition they can. Their logic is if you can't beat em', buy em'... Then close them down before the year is over.

[chazwicke]

If they would only brew a few decent beers that they are capable of, their fortunes might change.

One thing I noticed of many craft or micro drinkers is that we do not usually have and particular brand loyalty. We all have our favorites but most of us are more often trying something new if we find it than staying with one particular beer.

So even if the macros were to brew good beers the craft beer drinking market would certainly try them but may not stick with them.

And they might actually convert some of their brand loyalists if they started making more flavorful brews.

Catch 22.

[xtalman]

Originally posted by chazwicke
One thing I noticed of many craft or micro drinkers is that we do not usually have and particular brand loyalty. We all have our favorites but most of us are more often trying something new if we find it than staying with one particular beer.

How true this is. Speaking for myself I have a number of brands I will rotate through depending on what I want but you rarly find that same brand or style in the frige from week to week. I think the smaller craft brewers know this which is why they try and vary their offerings but also don't make a big deal out of the brand loyalty.

[BigHead]

In 5 or 7 years, you guys will be crying as your "craft beers' will have fallen of the face of the earth. I will still be drinking Bud.

[DecoJuicer]

Originally posted by BigHead
In 5 or 7 years, you guys will be crying as your "craft beers' will have fallen of the face of the earth. I will still be drinking Bud.

We can only hope that you will have fallen with them.

[steveh]

BigHead, I saw that you'd replied to this thread and just had to look at your commentary (loose definition). What the heck are you doing around here? Doesn't Anhooser-Butch have some forum for swill beer, brewed with bland ingredients that make you big-headed and ill the morning after?

Chaz is right, those of us who enjoy micro-brews don't take sides because we have so much good, flavorful, real beer to chose from. Maybe some day the macro drinkers will wake up and realize what crap they've been handed since prohibition.

S.

[BigHead]

Originally posted by steveh
BigHead, I saw that you'd replied to this thread and just had to look at your commentary (loose definition). What the heck are you doing around here? Doesn't Anhooser-Butch have some forum for swill beer, brewed with bland ingredients that make you big-headed and ill the morning after?

Chaz is right, those of us who enjoy micro-brews don't take sides because we have so much good, flavorful, real beer to chose from. Maybe some day the macro drinkers will wake up and realize what crap they've been handed since prohibition.

S.

I do drink some Saranac beers. I tried the Brooklyn Lager. It was ok. iused to like drinking Labatts Extra Stcok but can't find it anymore. What I do like is the fact that I can depend on each canof Bud being the same. If is crap, how come so many people drink it around the world?

[ClockworkOrange]

One thing I noticed of many craft or micro drinkers is that we do not usually have and particular brand loyalty. We all have our favorites but most of us are more often trying something new if we find it than staying with one particular beer.

I currently have 38 various brands/style of beer in my rotation. This is, as I think you will all agree, common and to some people on the low side.
-Cheers/Salute!

[steveh]

Originally posted by BigHead
If is crap, how come so many people drink it around the world?

A big mix of cluelessness and fashion. Plain and simple.

And I've seen plenty of pubs that advertise a huge beer list, they usually prove to consist of the likes of: Bud, Bud Light, Bud Dry, Bud Dry Ice, Bud Dry Ice Red Light, Miller High Life, Miller Lite, Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Genuine Draft Lite, Icehouse, Coors, Coors Lite, and Heineken.

Yah.

S.

[BigHead]

Originally posted by steveh
A big mix of cluelessness and fashion. Plain and simple.

And I've seen plenty of pubs that advertise a huge beer list, they usually prove to consist of the likes of: Bud, Bud Light, Bud Dry, Bud Dry Ice, Bud Dry Ice Red Light, Miller High Life, Miller Lite, Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Genuine Draft Lite, Icehouse, Coors, Coors Lite, and Heineken.

Yah.

S.

What is wrong with that, though I don't like Lite beers.

[Goban]

Originally posted by BigHead
What is wrong with that, though I don't like Lite beers.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, as long as they include an even larger supply of well crafted beers. Beers that are a little more difficult to brew and require a bit more imagination.

[D0nc0smic]

to quote Sam Calagione "the big breweries are so proficient at marketing that they have convinced consumers that beer is meant to be ice cold, and brewed with corn and rice, because it makes the beer 'refreshing and crisp.' Nowhere in their marketing is it mentioned that corn is a cheaper crop than barley, thus making their beer cheaper to produce, thus leaving more profits to spend on marketing to convince people to drink watery, bland beer"

[steveh]

What he said.

S.

[ClockworkOrange]

I saw a funny billboard yesyerday for original coors. They proudly stated: "Brewed with rocky mountain water". That was there big pitch. Emphasis on the dominant flavor I suppose.

[DecoJuicer]

This story is not confirmed, but it is funny.

My sister-in-law went to Colorado a few years(almost 10) ago, and went to the Coors brewery. She said that the facility was extremely clean, and very nice. However, when she was leaving they drove by a bridge that crossed over the "Rocky Mountain Spring" that is used to brew the beer. Her friend that she was with, a local, told her that the high school kids like to get all drunked up and come to the bridge to pee in the river. She hasn't had a Coors product since.

I could see myself in high school doing something like that. That's why I find the story so funny.

[hops99]

Actually, Coors was busted back in the mid-80's for illegally dumping waste into the nearby watershed, after knowingly concealing this from the govt for several years. Rocky Mountain streams, my ass.