Documentary exposes craft versus ‘big beer’
In America, size matters. The bigger you are, the more power you have, especially in the business world.
Director Anat Baron has taken on a no holds barred exploration of the U.S. beer industry that ultimately reveals the truth behind the label of big brand beer. Told from an insider’s perspective, Beer Wars goes behind the scenes of the daily battles and all out wars that dominate one of America’s favorite industries.
Beer Wars begins as the corporate behemoths are being challenged by small, independent brewers who are shunning the status quo and creating innovative new beers.
Some familiar names from the craft family interviewed in the film include Michael Jackson, Jim Koch, Kim Jordan, Greg Koch, Carol Stoudt, Garrett Oliver Brewer, John Bryant and Marc Sorini.
The documentary will show for one night only at select theaters across the country. A listing of theaters here.
Will this be coming out on DVD? I hope so, in case I miss a chance to see it.
someone will pick it up eventually(TLC,DIS or PUBLIC TV, I am about 3 hours from the nearest place I could watch it as well.
it would be really cool if they would come out with a video stream or something like that.
Woo-hoo, it’s coming to Louisville! Beer Wars trailer here – half-way down.
Are the tix really $15.00 each?
If you loved Dick Nixon (Stein) and Mike’s Hard Lemonade (Baron), you’ll fall all over Beer Wars. Why is this being promoted as the story of America’s brewers? Not anything I relate to.
Did you watch the trailers or check out the site? This movie directly promotes craft beer as a whole, and looks like it demeans corporate beer. Granted it features many of the big boys, dogfish, stone, etc… Will this movie be 100% accurate, maybe not, but I cant see how a moderately well produced pseudo-doc that may open the world of craft beer to quite a few people is bad thing for the industry. I think one of the main points is that companies like AB-Inbev own the majority US market share and thats not enough for them. AB-Inbev has to go crowd the shelves with craft attempts which only further confuses a consumer looking for “real” artisanal craft beer. I’m not saying I’m giddy like a 6 year old at Christmas over it but I’m definitely intrigued as to what it may accomplish.
Can you further explain your higher prowess on the subject and why this film may be beneath craft brewers?
Having spent several decades in this business, I’m fully aware of the important role that marketing plays, and this movie appears to be all about that. The director even states, “my interest was never in the beer itself”. That’s where I feel the disconnect. My interest is always in the beer itself, not the logo, not the hats, but the flavor, the character, the surprise of discovery. So, when I’m approached to help promote this event, the details I find at the site give me pause. I do plan to see it, then I’ll decide whether to suggest it to others.
Also, I know it’s only a marketing gimmick, but the title of Beer Wars strikes me wrong. Yes, this business can be a struggle, but when we have tens of thousands of our countrymen actually risking their lives in our wars, we should keep our perspective. We’re in business, they’re at war. Let’s not assume our sacrifice is elevated to that level. I know, I know, lighten up, it’s just a marketing gimmick, but I just had to say it. We spend years crafting our products and our message. I only speak for myself when I say war is not my message.
My read on this event is that it’s playing to the choir. The way it’s being promoted down here in the way down Southeast Country, otherwise known as “The Great American Beer Desert”, is “Hey, let’s go see the latest iteration of the “David and Goliath” story and see if David has any chance of being victorious, or if Goliath will beat the ever living kielbasa out of David”. Simply put this movie reinforces what the few craft brew junkies down here are already keenly aware of.
In Florida, the big boys work very hard and spend an awful lot of money to make sure we squeaky little upstarts don’t take too much market share. My suggestion is that you go see the movie if you want to, but also send your local craft brewing lobbying group a like amount to support their efforts to level the playing field. Oh!, you don’t have a lobbying group? Maybe it’s time to form one.
I can honestly say your analysis is ‘Not anything I relate to.’
Excellent discussion (about the relevance of the movie – not about where the movie is playing; I’ve decided to delete those).
Keep the discussion going – and then we will have a thread here to discuss the movie after it shows.
Admin
I hear what you are saying there, and can’t say that I specifically “disagree” with you, but I think the point of the title is a play on “Start Wars,” not anything specifically about a “war” in the beer industry.
I think you are right there. Based on the price alone, I don’t think many that need converting will be going to this. I’m going, with my wife, and I know many in the pro-brewer/homebrewer/beer geek community that are going, but I doubt there are very many “Joe Six-pack” types who will go.
I would still like to see it, I hope I can download it somewhere later.
We bought 30 tix for some staff and a few friends. We are going to meet at 6:00 for some pre-screening beverages. Regardless of the movie quality, we will enjoy the camaraderie and energy.
We see the glass as Half-Full.
Good for you guys, Im of the same mindset.