Lion Quits Craft Beer Industry Association

[DU99]

https://craftypint.com/news/1471/Lion_Quits_Craft_Beer_Industry_Association

 

[good4whatAlesU]

Interesting, but would the average punter know they were part of the Association anyway?

 

[Leyther]

I think there is a bit of snobbery involved by the sounds of it, I think Little Creatures make some nice beer as do James Squire, its what got me into craft beer in the first place and its a shame they wont be involved.

I can understand some of the resentment around tap lockouts, etc but lets face it, if you owned a pub and made your own beer your going to want to sell it, you might be happy to help out a local brewer with a tap or two but your always going to favour your own brews as is them that pay the bills!

 

[Liam_snorkel]

the difference is now that Lion has a full portfolio from macro lagers to LC and white rabbit, they routinely lock up 10-12 taps at pubs.

part of that problem is this:

http://www.brewsnews.com.au/2016/12/biggest-publican-sells-its-taps/

Woolies pubs which essentially operate as casinos with their large number of pokies licenses and also placeholders for off premise outlets ie Dans & BWS (in Qld - you need to own a pub license to have bottle shops). Duopolies promoting & protecting other duopolies because it's easier than supporting independent producers.

 

[Leyther]

Personally I'm not fond of the big gambling den pubs, I only ever got to a TAB joint in VIC when I'm on the golf trip and don't have any other option, hence I would probably avoid those in favour of a smaller venue with more selection. People can always vote with their feet (of course providing there are other options) in which case these practices might be rethought.

I just don't agree with turfing them out (or forcing them out) based on their size, it shouldn't matter, if they make great craft beer then let them have a voice and they do make good beer (although i've never been a white rabbit fan).

I know a great local craft beer shop near me had complaints for recently putting a Mountain Goat on draft, it was their pale ale and was fresh as a daisy, tasted great but some folk just didn't want it on after Asahi bought them, I disagree, I love beer the corporate structure behind it I don't care about, its the brewer who makes the beer not the CEO.

 

[Mikeyr]

Seem to me the problem is in the name. It wants to be the Independent Craft Brewers Association or Small Brewers Association.

All to do with the "owners" and nothing to do with the beer.

As an ex Lioner we at one stage had the best micro brewery in Aus. Was in the basement of the Kent Town Malting .... now apartments. Local master brewer and Malster used to make Kent Town Ale, like a souped up Coopers Sparkling and a Kent Town Stout ...... bugger all volume and a fermenter the size of a shoe!

 

[sp0rk]

I can understand some of the resentment around tap lockouts, etc but lets face it, if you owned a pub and made your own beer your going to want to sell it, you might be happy to help out a local brewer with a tap or two but your always going to favour your own brews as is them that pay the bills!

That's not really an equal analogy, as other than the ALH deal (which, let's face it, was all about money, not punters preferences), Pubs aren't really owned by breweries anymore

 

[eamonnfoley]

Chuck's statement: "it is short-sighted for the craft sector to be squabbling amongst ourselves. We should be working together to build craft in Australia – feeding off one another’s success as we always have done – rather than confusing beer drinkers into thinking ownership structure has any impact on the quality of what they’re drinking."

You cannot feed off the success of somebody who ruthlessly muscles you out of available tap and retail space. The most feeding now is coming from the big players eating the smaller competition. They are feeding (deceptively) on the success craft beer has produced.

If I cannot see an address on the bottle/can of where the beer is brewed and packaged I am generally not interested. This is not just for the corporate breweries. Even Feral is still listing Baskerville (Swan Valley) as its address, but the beer is coming out of the Bassendean production brewery (inconsistent in quality I might add).

 

[GalBrew]

I don't understand why the CBIA didn't just start out as a body to represent independent, small craft brewers. The only reason I can come up with was that they were happy to accept the cash from Lion etc. to help the association get up and running. The big boys were always going to get booted and it will be interesting to see what the arbitrary size limit the CBIA places on a 'craft' brewery.

 

[crowmanz]

It is an industry association not a "who makes craft beer" association. It is meant to support those in the industry that need help with things such as lobbying for lower excise etc. Lion do not need the help or support, CBIA needed Lion et al to help get them established now they are reviewing who actually needs their help and who doesn't.

 

[GalBrew]

It is an industry association not a "who makes craft beer" association. It is meant to support those in the industry that need help with things such as lobbying for lower excise etc. Lion do not need the help or support, CBIA needed Lion et al to help get them established now they are reviewing who actually needs their help and who doesn't.

If that is the case then a name change is definitely in order.

 

[Mardoo]

When Lion, Carlton, Asahi et al start actively lobbying for excise relief for small breweries - along the line of the relief small wineries already have - I'll believe they're actually invested in craft beer culture. For now, it's just the craft beer dollars they seem interested in.

 

[GalBrew]

I think it's a bit naive to think that the small breweries aren't also in it for the cash (pretty bad business planning otherwise). The big boys just have the jump on them by 150 years or so!

 

[crowmanz]

If that is the case then a name change is definitely in order.

They can be called what ever they want. A name doesn't set out membership requirements.

 

[GalBrew]

They can be called what ever they want. A name doesn't set out membership requirements.

No, but if you want to represent small independent breweries have your name reflect that. Don't pretend you give a shit about bigger breweries (why should they?) and bleat about inclusivity when all you want from them is their membership fees. You can't have it both ways, rallying against the larger breweries and charging them for it at the same time. I believe it's disingenuous and contrary to what 'craft beer' stands for (or at least what i have been told it stands for).

 

[Mardoo]

I think it's a bit naive to think that the small breweries aren't also in it for the cash (pretty bad business planning otherwise). The big boys just have the jump on them by 150 years or so!

Interesting interpretation of what I said.

 

[GalBrew]

Interesting interpretation of what I said.

They joys of the internet I guess. Either way by excluding larger breweries from the CBIA is hardly going to result in any campaigning on their behalf for anything that would help smaller breweries. Just setting up an 'us against them situation'.

 

[Mardoo]

This is the culture aspect I'm talking about. There is a sense of community amongst smaller brewers, and many bigger ones as well. It is, of course, about the money, but the money isn't the only thing. You can absolutely survive as a small brewer just doing your own thing, focusing on the dollars and the beer, and not be part of any other brewer's life to any degree. Or you can see yourself as only a small part of something bigger, and do your part to help that grow, as well as reap the benefits of the culture and community. The support that has been given to the culture is part of what's kept craft brewing vital in the States, and from solely being a financial aspiration. I would totally welcome the majors in supporting this kind of thing. There really needs to be more knowledge and care of community at the corporate level, no matter what the industry.

http://allaboutbeer.com/article/the-perfect-address/

I don't know what's going on in the CBIA. If I recall correctly the support of some of the majors was key in its development at one stage. Sooner or later, the need to define "craft beer" more precisely is going to be important in fuelling political initiatives for change to legislation and taxation governing small breweries. It sounds like there has been battling going on over this inside the organisation. Unfortunately or fortunately, government has a vested interest in these sorts of definitions, so they're going to have to be made.

 

[damoninja]

If you ask me, this sign needs a skirt

 

[manticle]

Personally I'm not fond of the big gambling den pubs, I only ever got to a TAB joint in VIC when I'm on the golf trip and don't have any other option, hence I would probably avoid those in favour of a smaller venue with more selection. People can always vote with their feet (of course providing there are other options) in which case these practices might be rethought.

I just don't agree with turfing them out (or forcing them out) based on their size, it shouldn't matter, if they make great craft beer then let them have a voice and they do make good beer (although i've never been a white rabbit fan).

I know a great local craft beer shop near me had complaints for recently putting a Mountain Goat on draft, it was their pale ale and was fresh as a daisy, tasted great but some folk just didn't want it on after Asahi bought them, I disagree, I love beer the corporate structure behind it I don't care about, its the brewer who makes the beer not the CEO.

They quit of their own accord.