Posted on 01/21/2010 9:29:36 AM PST by Pyro7480
U.S. beer sales volumes fell 2.2% last year, the highest rate since the 1950s, with demand worsening late in the year in a sign of the pressures on big brewers to make their mergers pay off.
The decline, the industry's first since 2003, raises demands for industry leaders Anheuser-Busch InBev NV and MillerCoors LLC to come up with better advertising and to rethink recent price increases, said retailers and analysts.
But they must tread carefully, balancing price moves against a need to drive profits in the wake of the mergers that created the two.
The two giants increased prices by about 5% last year, fresh off InBev NV's acquisition of Anheuser-Busch Cos. and the move by SABMiller PLC and Molson Coors Brewing Co. to combine U.S. operations. Those increases, along with a weak job market and lackluster advertising, contributed to the sales drop, industry analysts said....
Anheuser, the maker of Bud Light, posted a 2.1% decline in shipments last year, its biggest drop since 1976, according to preliminary research by Beer Marketer's Insights. MillerCoors, which produces Coors Light and Blue Moon, had a 1.9% drop. Large suppliers specializing in imported beers fared worse, with Crown Imports LLC, importer of Corona, showing a 5% drop. The small-batch "craft" beer industry continued to represent an industry bright spot, with the biggest among the craft brewers, Boston Beer Co., showing a 1.7% increase.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
How is American beer like making love in a canoe?
Because it’s [copulating] close to water!
Funny Yeungling increased the most. Smallest of the “major” breweries. A Family owned business that isn’t beholden to the stockholder. Oh and it is probably the best macro brew you can buy.
>> I miss OLYMPIA, made with Tumwater!
Years ago, when I was in the Navy in Bremerton, WA I drank a lot of Oly, because that’s what they stocked the barracks beer machine with. Then again, back then if it was “beer” I drank it, didn’t pay attention to brands.
Olympia (or Rainier, for that matter) is in the “dog piss” category IMHO. I never learned where Tumwater is and I don’t want to know... probably the Seattle district where the sewage treatment plant is located. ;-)
(Yet if you offered me a cold one on a hot day I’d drink it! Hard to beat free cold beer.)
I have actually crossed over and simply cannot tolerate the smell or taste of beer.
The beverage of choice is Scotch Whisky. Specifically, Tomatin 25 year old single malt. If not scotch, then Knob Creek Bourbon.
I don't know you,
But I think I love you. :)
Ya can’t send a few hundred thousand thirsty guys overseas without affectin’ beer sales.
When they come home, everything will be all right.
Great article! Except for spoiled beer of course, ALL beer is delicious!
It sure as hell wasn’t me!
I’m doing my part.
I down in central Mexico right now, and that’s my brand!
Good stuff.
Not for nothing is the mascot of Budweiser a great, big horse.
What a great link! I love it when some 20-something snot nose tells me what defines a “great beer.” I’ve drunk more kegs of beer than he has drunk beers!
Rule 1: After the first two, they all taste the same.
Rule 2: The fresher the beer, the better. In other words, if it is local, it is probably more tasty.
Rule 3: If it has “orange motifs” and “a taste of dill pickle” it is being sold to snobs only.
Rule 4: Volume counts and so does price!
Cheers!
Put me on the ping list. I have my first ever batch of home brew in a jug in the closet. It’s due out tomorrow, and I’m getting ready to start my second batch. The first is Amber Ale, and next comes a Red.
Yuengling makes good beer. Great Lakes Brewing in Cleveland make a bevy of fine handcrafted beers. Many small batch local breweries around the country make good beer. Many European brewed and bottled beers are good.
Cost is not a factor for me. Taste is. I like a good beer. Forget the watery versions that Anheuser-Busch, Coors and the like call beer.
A really good beer can be enjoyable and be quite palatable at room temp (perhaps an acquired taste - I lived in Ireland for three years).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.