The Beer Expert Goat approves the big gulp...on PBR.

On the point about pricing, many observers (not I) have felt that low pricing is bad for great beer, that it will fail to differentiate the category enough - show people how good beer can be as compared to the non-beer options - unless priced accordingly. I am not a branding or consumer product retailing expert so I can't really say but many writers and others have said that and it deserves fair consideration IMO. Still, a product like, say Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, one of the best beers in the world IMO, happily comes at a low price and is sometimes on sale in the U.S., and they seem to be doing well enough. I like a situation where I can hunt out the best and not have to pay an arm and a leg and in fact I don't. The bottles priced at $20-$60 and more in Toronto beer bars are often excellent (not always) but I have rarely found one so unique that a good draft at $7.00 a pint can't equal or exceed it. But it depends I suppose what you are looking for and some people just like to know that they have tasted everything.

The can thing, for its part, is not really new IMO (I agree, I seem to recall those wide-mouthed cans from some years back), and like for the Sam Adams glass, not very attractive IMO. I don't really see the purpose in all this although it does no harm and does draw attention to their beer which is all to the good. I'd prefer though that they made the investment in brewing further beer styles or expanding into cask or something else related to the actual product.

As one who fully concurred with BA's statements to which you referred, we will have to agree to disagree on that one. At the end of the day though, all that matters, and all that ever did, is good beer. Good beer like Sierra Nevada's will last and even turn iconic; indifferent beer whether made by the bigs or the small players will wither on the vine or at least on the vine of those who care about taste and quality. All the rest is the usual industry and marketing part that has and quite rightly been part of business forever and a day, but those with real beer palates will know now and in the future what fine beer really is, just as they did 10 and 30 years ago. E.g. even Jim Roberston, in his 1982 Connoisseur's Guide To Beer, knew what great beer was, you can tell by his taste notes including on imports and the few craft beers that were starting to emerge. Even at the dawn of the craft beer age, he knew that; the essentials don't change.

Gary

Always a fan of the perpetual biological clock when it comes to beer writing. It seems every three months, an editor thinks "We need a story about craft beer on a budget. Or a story about craft beer in cans." I wonder how many more times I'll have to read the same story.

Of course, that isn't exactly related to the content of your post. Just a little thought.

It is a good point. A half life of "X" and then start the list of stories again. But in this case, I think that the "budget" issue is tweeked with the snob's touch.

I really can't thank you enough for finding the Beer Expert Goat.

I need to test you, Ethan. Please rate B.E.G. as compared to the word "pottle" on the scale or scales of your choice.

pottle:giggle::BEG:chuckle

Oh, and my dear my wife just discovered that pottle was abolished from the OED 2nd Ed. Literally- it didn't fall into disuse, it was removed on purpose, for reasons unknown.

http://www.commonlaw.com/Pottle.html

Almost every time I stop over here to read something I leave with a chuckle. The Beer Expert Goat did that for me today. "Doesn't Like It - Way Too Popular" is me 100 percent.

new BEG meme: "Knows It's A Growler... Calls It A Pottle."

If only there was a brewer to lead that campaign... if only... who could it be...

Alright goat... I totally cop to a healthy loathing for the finish (and attack... and nose) in today's over-hopped IPAs. If you're using so much hops that you can't actually get an accurate IBU, like my city's local brewery, you're trying too damn hard.