As for being happy that Blue Moon is a available for a larger crowd and wheat/wit beers not being available that just isn’t true. I would venture to guess that at least 50% of breweries produce a wheat beer. So there is a local wheat beer out there and available, not to mention the large amounts from Germany and Belgium that are also available. Germany is a prime example. Wheat beers are commonly made by large breweries, that isn’t the problem. The problem is in supporting a local smaller, caring, producer. Would you buy produce from some far off country, or from the local farmers market were it is fresh and grown by someone taking care of land here. It is the same with beer, and especially craft brewed beer. Any simpleton could tell you the difference between a large produced brewery and a local small, caring, brewery. It is about making the right decision and supporting the small local craft producers. The giants aren’t going any where so the BA is not concerned with them. Instead the BA is fighting for all the small guys protecting them so people can keep drinking new and creative beers. You never know what your local micro is going to release next? How is fighting for that worth this blasphemy, about the BA’s fear?

Really look at the BA’s goal and it is easy to see why Blue Moon is not an asset to the industry that is craft brewing. Further look no further then to the waste of what was once a great brewing tradition over in the UK. If it were not for the BA fighting for craft brewers, the US could go the way of the UK and end up producing crap ales so high in diacetyl due to quick fermentations and lack of care to produce a good quality product. For all these reasons and so many more I say fight the macros and support the BA in their march towards better craft beer in more markets! Its the American way be proud of it and everyone who supports it.

Chad

I think that if Blue Moon made an APA or IPA, that I could understand the concern of some similarly situated products/brewers, but I’m not sure my overall point would be much different. I think Blue Moon is a different animal altogether when compared to other macro faux-craft products. It started early on, at a time when craft’s future was far from clear, it treated the brand (and the category) with respect, focused on brewing a solid beer and then promoting it based upon flavor, and it has helped the better beer category grow. I think there is a dearth of high quality wheat/wit beers brewed by American breweries and even fewer that are widely distributed (say in more than a half-dozen major markets). Blue Moon fills an unmet niche, for the most part, and I don’t view it so much as a competitor brand than as a value-added component to better beer’s portfolio. I’m sure some competitive breweries would disagree (which is ironic seeing as the largest likely competitor, Widmer, was booted from the craft club by the Brewers Association). I think craft brewers are wrong to believe that Blue Moon steals from their customer base as opposed to helping grow it. People aren’t going to switch to Stone IPA or 90 Minute just because Blue Moon isn’t available.

on comment 4, Andy, are you saying that if Blue Moon was making a strong American pale ale your perception would be different?

because, i almost would agree with you then.

I really don’t like most wheat beers…

And Truly i agree with further above, drink more local!

I was going to respond specifically to your thoughts but first decided to check out the website you provided along with your email address. Then I realized that it was Australian, which explains the tied houses comment a little better. My statements relate only to the American beer market, I cannot comment on the strength of smaller, up-and-coming craft beer markets, such as Australia, and how a similar product in their home market might affect them. As for the US, I might be concerned if my flagship was a similar styled beer, of which there are very few. Otherwise, I don’t see Blue Moon competing with American IPA’s and stouts. Also, as you likely know, we don’t have tied houses here nor distribution monopolies (not yet at least). Also, I think that craft beer in America is sufficiently entrenched in its niche that one single product, even with marketing dollars, isn’t going to offer any challenge to its continued existence. Instead, a well-done marketing campaign will lift the public’s perception of craft beer and could result in even more people to starting to think about what they’re drinking. Same goes for the recent albeit ridiculous Miller Lite ads touting “triple hops brewed” and similar A-B ads.

First the Beer Wars Live movie clip talking about Blue Moon and now this article. More “regular” folks need to take notice IMO