Comments on: Here’s to Beer - An Industry Makeover? http://thespiritworld.net/2006/02/17/herestobeer/ Quenching your thirst with sips, nips and tipples. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:17:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Donavan Hall http://thespiritworld.net/2006/02/17/herestobeer/#comment-566 Fri, 17 Feb 2006 11:35:52 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/02/17/herestobeer/#comment-566 It's hard for me to think of A-B as desperate. What I thought was true about Brooks's observation was the beer-as-widget approach that A-B has. If A-B wants reclaim market share, they should diversify their product line up. It’s hard for me to think of A-B as desperate. What I thought was true about Brooks’s observation was the beer-as-widget approach that A-B has. If A-B wants reclaim market share, they should diversify their product line up.

]]> by: Rick Dobbs http://thespiritworld.net/2006/02/17/herestobeer/#comment-565 Fri, 17 Feb 2006 10:43:31 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/02/17/herestobeer/#comment-565 I love your site and your take on this, but I think it's important to remember that the enemy really is wine and hard liquor for the beer industry. Sure, microbrews are doing better than they used to, but it's pretty easy to show a hockey stick growth chart when your starting number is zero.<br /> <br /> With flavored vodkas, pre-mixed libations, and brand new styles of hard alcohols coming out, the competition for those dollars is fierce. Add to that an explosive growth in the amount of wineries out there (and a huge drop in grape price, hence wine price), then the beer industry really is in trouble. Is it going to die? No way. <br /> <br /> I'm surprised that people are complaining that the "Here's to Beer" campaign smacks of corporate desperation. THAT'S INSANE! An ad during the Super Bowl promoting a product to help sales? OH THE HUMANITY!<br /> <br /> I agree that percieved sophistication is not the issue and that tastes have become refined enough for people to begin to understand that what Budweiser is pushing out is swill at best, I'm still reminded of the huge amounts of bars that run PBR specials and sell out keg after keg. I love your site and your take on this, but I think it’s important to remember that the enemy really is wine and hard liquor for the beer industry. Sure, microbrews are doing better than they used to, but it’s pretty easy to show a hockey stick growth chart when your starting number is zero.

With flavored vodkas, pre-mixed libations, and brand new styles of hard alcohols coming out, the competition for those dollars is fierce. Add to that an explosive growth in the amount of wineries out there (and a huge drop in grape price, hence wine price), then the beer industry really is in trouble. Is it going to die? No way.

I’m surprised that people are complaining that the “Here’s to Beer” campaign smacks of corporate desperation. THAT’S INSANE! An ad during the Super Bowl promoting a product to help sales? OH THE HUMANITY!

I agree that percieved sophistication is not the issue and that tastes have become refined enough for people to begin to understand that what Budweiser is pushing out is swill at best, I’m still reminded of the huge amounts of bars that run PBR specials and sell out keg after keg.

]]>