'Beer Wars' Falls Flat

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Don't listen to this review. I just saw this movie a couple days ago and I really enjoyed it. While the creator starts off saying that she takes issue with corporate agendas (given her past employment history), her message about the difficulties of craft beers companies is clearly a legitimate issue. The growth of some micro-breweries is a sign of people wanting more options and more flavor in their beer in America, despite the aggressive marketing of the big 3 beer companies. It's a story about struggle, but not necessarily failure, of a micr-brewing in America (except in the case of Moonshot - what a strange idea for a beer).

Brian of KY 9:44PM January 13, 2012

I really wonder whether you are a lobbyist for the big three, what a terrible review of a great movie, I'm now a craft beer drinker

T of AL 8:10AM June 29, 2011

Saw the DVD this weekend. Great info on the beer industry. Any light beer drinker will certainly have to question their brand after this and might turn into a real beer drinker. This is just the beginning of the Beer Wars. Craft brewing of quality beers will continue to grow and the swill machines of InBev and SAB will continue to lose market share as they race to the bottom of hopless, flavorless beer sold by cleaver Madison Ave marketing campaigns. The majors have no where to go but down, and the crafts can only go up. The tipping point for the majors has already passed, they have no credibility and can't get it back even if they started brewing quality beer. The American light lager beer category will not go away, but it will be a smaller share as people understand what real beer is. Just look at how white bread was all you could get in the 60's, now you can barely find it at the store.
Worth a view if you drink beer, otherwise, it is probably not that interesting.

Bruce of NY 3:44PM January 03, 2011

You're wrong about this movie not being able to convert a bud drinker. I did the blind taste test and found that all light beers taste the same. I've converted over.

Adam Keller of NY 9:26AM December 04, 2010

Every industry seems to have major players and struggling new players. It is unfortunate that the major players are able to manipulate the legal system to squish new competition. THAT is what needs to change.
Did the author of this article get paid by one of the big players?

Ben of WA 11:55PM November 23, 2010

I now, thanks to beer wars am drinking good beer (ie: arrogant bastard dog fish head and Brooklyn) instead of the yellow piss water being shoved down Americas throat by the archaic 3 tier system. I loved this documentary and have since changed what kind of brew I decide to enjoy.

Rob of NY 7:43PM November 16, 2010

What a shitty review.

Daniel M. of TX 11:03PM September 12, 2010

You should not say it is bad if you have not tried it. people will begin to believe it and the poor woman and her family could lose everything. I personally would like to try the stuff, but you can't get it here.

Scottie of MO 10:53PM August 20, 2010

as a regular bud light drinker who knows nothing about the beer industry, I enjoyed this movie and found it enlightening. She might be preaching to the choir for you, but I never knew A-B owned so much of the industry.
That said, I think she demonizes the big companies too much and should focus more on the way that the government has promoted the growth of the massive companies and how laws impede competition from small companies. She touches on the lobbying and the laws lightly but I think thats a huge problem. Government in bed with big business is bad for everyone except government and big business.

emily of PA 12:05PM February 27, 2010

Although I agree the movie is a little bit anti-climactic with the buyout of Anheuser and the merger of Miller and Coors, it was interesting to see the restrictions that the current system put on the smaller breweries. I have never liked the "light lagers" the previous Big 3, and I think that mainly comes from the fact is that anything mass produced on that type of scale is difficult to be very interesting. In light of the information provided by the movie, I will be trying some of the other craft-brews like Dogfishead, and continue to drink local brews as well as beers like Sam Adams. I just feel their products are far more complex and interesting, and if we squash out the little guys with great ideas, then we all might as well live in an A-frame house with a wife, 2 kids, a dog, and all drive a Prius (hope you can stop!). Long live the little guy to shake up the world of Big Business!

Matt of MI 11:53AM February 24, 2010