Fairly in depth:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2015-06-25/can-craft-beer-survive-ab-inbev-
They just bought my two favorite craft brewers in Brasil, Colorado and Wãls…
I think watching the way Inbev has kept the quality of the goose island bourbon county stuff and expanded production without rocketing price is pretty interesting. Most other craft breweries putting out similar quality barrel aged stouts are charging significantly more for a similar tasting product.
But at the same time, they also really look to attack craft beer in their own ads for their macro shit breweries. It’s all very confusing.
They get criticized for DUMPING Goose Island at low prices at the expense of other brewers in that article. Their assuming distributorship of Leffe and Hoegaarden has that stuff selling for $4.99 / 750ml here now.
Is it the same beer? Who knows?
So the issue is that they aren’t making enough of a profit? If you look at the craft beer companies they’ve acquired they haven’t slashed their pricing. Goose Island which is probably their most profitable one, they haven’t slashed the pricing at all. Weird how a corporation is now being penalized for not taking advantage of every cent.
The one person who discusses them dropping prices at the expense of others is Tony Magee. If you know ANYTHING about Magee you know the guy is a coot. Lagunitas is a classic example of a company that undercuts to get into markets. They did it when they built a plant in Chicago and they’ll do it when their LA plant opens.