Domestic Beer Price Increase

Last week MillerCoors LLC (who make Miller, Coors, Blue Moon, Pabst, Schlitz, Schmidt, and others) and Anheuser-Busch (who make Bud Light, Budweiser, beer in a mug Michelob, and Busch beers, among others) both indicated that they'd be raising prices this fall. That's right around the corner. There's been some pretty good analysis of the announcement, in which people point out that the two main breweries' costs haven't really increased; mostly they're just grabbing an opportunity to raise prices. What caught my eye in the initial announcement was not so much the price increase as this bit right here: "The two brewing giants control 80 percent of the American beer market."

First, neither company is what I'd call "American." Anheuser-Busch is owned by giant Belgian conglomerate InBev. InBev brands include Bass, Beck's, Budweiser, Hoegaarden, Labatt, Löwenbröu, Michelob, Oranjeboom, St. Pauli Girl, and Stella Artois. MillerCoors is owned by giant South African conglomerate called SABMiller. They also own Rainier, Olympia, Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Grolsch, and Henry Weinhard.

There are some good beers there. There are also a lot of fairly interchangeable brews there as well.

So given the current economic climate, given that the price of the American macro beers are about to increase, why not try something that's genuinely American, and made locally? Why not spend your money where you live? Try a local brew that hires local workers, and is made with local ingredients and distributed using local goods and services. There's probably a brewery in your area. And if there isn't, there are some regionally distributed beers that are reasonably easy to find everywhere in the U.S. . Two other things to keep in mind; we're on the cusp of fall, and that means some pretty amazing seasonal beers are beginning to appear. If you watch your local grocer, beer store, or liquor store's shelves, you'll see special seasonal beers and limited release beers with names like Harvest Ale, Autumn ale, Pumpkin beers and ales, and special Octoberfest brews. These are fun, they tend to be quite good, and it's something you won't see from a macro beer brewer.

Secondly, there's an increasing interest in producing low alcohol but very drinkable session beers. Take a look at some of the very affordable finely crafted and sold by the 12-pack session beers like Full Sail's Session Lager and Session Black. If you're a fan of Blue Moon, you might favor something like a Honey Wheat beer.