Beer Wars Movie http://BeerWarsMovie.Com In America, size matters. The bigger you are, the more power you have, especially in the business world. Director Anat Baron takes you on a no holds barred exploration of the U.S. beer industry that ultimately reveals the truth behind the label of your favorite beer. Told from an insider’s perspective, the film goes behind the scenes of the daily battles and all out wars that dominate one of America’s favorite industries. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:08:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Promoting the Film http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2010/02/03/promoting-the-film/ http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2010/02/03/promoting-the-film/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:59:20 +0000 Anat http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/?p=1018 Here’s a clip from Monday’s Satellite Media Tour with Seattle Fox TV Channel 13:

]]> http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2010/02/03/promoting-the-film/feed/ 0 The BIG News http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2010/01/31/the-big-news/ http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2010/01/31/the-big-news/#comments Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:52:29 +0000 Anat http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/?p=1000 No more teasing. Here it is. Starting tomorrow, February 1st, Beer Wars will be available to rent or buy to anyone in the US and Canada who has a TV or computer (or gaming console). So finally the movie will be widely available to a mainstream audience. Woo hoo!

The cool thing about all this is that it was made possible through distribution deals with Warner Bros. and Netflix. That’s right, these folks who know a thing or two about the film business, have chosen Beer Wars as part of their offering. After the long road it took to get here, this is a happy day indeed not just for me but for all the people who can now get to watch it.

So where will the movie be available?

In the U.S., Beer Wars is available to rent On Demand through Digital Cable and Satellite providers Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox, Cablevision, Charter, Insight, Bresnan, Verizon FiOS, AT & T U-Verse, Dish Network and DirecTV. It is also available for download on iTunes, Amazon Video On Demand, Xbox 360 and PS3.

In Canada, the film is available to rent On Demand through Digital Cable and Satellite providers Rogers Cable, Cogeco, Videotron, Sasktel and Shaw.

The film will also be available through Netflix either through streaming or DVD. And you’ll be able to buy the DVD from Amazon.

If you live outside the US, you can buy the DVD here.

Here’s one of the spots that will be running on select on demand preview channels:


media
What do you think this launch means for craft beer?
]]> http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2010/01/31/the-big-news/feed/ 8 The Countdown is On http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2010/01/25/the-countdown-is-on/ http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2010/01/25/the-countdown-is-on/#comments Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:46:10 +0000 Anat http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/?p=948 I’ve been working like crazy on getting the film seen by a mainstream audience. I’m happy to say that February 1st is the launch date. Big announcement to come at the end of the week. And then I will spill all!

]]> http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2010/01/25/the-countdown-is-on/feed/ 2 Over to you… http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/12/14/over-to-you%e2%80%a6/ http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/12/14/over-to-you%e2%80%a6/#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:32:53 +0000 Anat http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/?p=942 When I made the film, I ended up with over 180 hours of footage. The film is only 85 minutes long. So… lots of footage is just sitting there waiting (begging) to be seen. And there’s some FABULOUS stuff, especially the interviews and brewery visits with some of the who’s who in beer.

I’m planning to edit some more videos but I need your help. Who do you want more of? Please give me your top 5.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. ]]> http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/12/14/over-to-you%e2%80%a6/feed/ 7 Let’s not forget the imports… http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/12/11/lets-not-forget-the-imports/ http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/12/11/lets-not-forget-the-imports/#comments Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:14:47 +0000 Anat http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/?p=939 You asked for it. Who imports the rest of the better known imported beer brands into the U.S.? Here’s the list:

Constellation Brands

Corona Extra
Corona Light
Modelo Especial
Pacifico
Negra Modelo
St. Pauli Girl Lager, Special Dark
Tsingtao

Heineken USA

Heineken Lager
Amstel Light, a leading imported light beer brand
Heineken Premium Light
Dos Equis
Tecate
Sol
Carta Blanca
Bohemia.
Newcastle Brown Ale
Buckler (non-alcoholic)

]]> http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/12/11/lets-not-forget-the-imports/feed/ 1 Who Owns What? Part II http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/12/10/who-owns-what-part-ii/ http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/12/10/who-owns-what-part-ii/#comments Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:33:11 +0000 Anat http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/?p=934 The first list included the top selling beers for the Big Two. As promised, here is the brand list for Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors. These come off their websites and include only beer brands sold in the U.S.

In the interest of being thorough, the following are missing from the list:

  • Anheuser-Busch has a 50% equity stake in Grupo Modelo (Corona, Modelo, Pacifico)
  • Anheuser-Busch is a 49% shareholder in Coastal Brewing Company which in turn owns Old Dominion and Fordham
  • The Craft Brewers Alliance (Redhook and Widmer and partially owned by Anheuser-Busch) holds a minority interest in Chicago’s Goose Island Beer Co. and Kona Brewing Co. of Hawaii.

So there you have it. The question to address is, why does this matter? I made a film about it. Why do you care?

Anheuser-Busch Brand List

Budweiser Family

Budweiser
Bud Light
Budweiser Select
Bud Light Lime
Bud Light Golden Wheat
Budweiser American Ale
Select 55
Bud Dry
Bud Ice
Bud Ice Light
Budweiser & Clamato Chelada
Bud Light & Clamato Chelada

Michelob Family

Michelob Original Lager
Michelob Light
Michelob AmberBock
Michelob Bavarian Style Wheat
Michelob Dunkel Weisse
Michelob Honey Lager
Michelob Honey Wheat
Michelob Irish Red Ale
Michelob Marzen
Michelob Pale Ale
Michelob Porter
Michelob Rye P.A.
Michelob Fall Sampler Pack
Shock Top Belgian White
Stone Mill Pale Ale

Michelob ULTRA Family

Michelob ULTRA
Michelob ULTRA Amber
Michelob ULTRA Lime Cactus
Michelob ULTRA Pomegranate Raspberry
Michelob ULTRA Tuscan Orange Grapefruit
Michelob Golden Draft
Michelob Golden Draft Light

Michelob Seasonal Beer

Beach Bum Blonde Ale
Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale
Hop Hound Amber Wheat
Winter’s Bourbon Cask Ale

Busch Family

Busch
Busch Light
Busch Ice

Natural Family

Natural Light
Natural Ice

Imports

Bass
Beck’s
Beck’s Dark
Beck’s Oktoberfest
Becks’s Premier Light
Boddingtons
Czechvar
Harbin Lager
Hoegaarden
Kirin Ichiban
Kirin Light
Leffe
Leffe Brown
Lowenbrau
Staropramen Pilsner
Stella Artois
Tennent’s Lager
Tiger Beer

Specialty Beers

Bare Knuckle Stout
Bud Extra
Ray Hill’s American Pilsner
Redbridge
Rolling Rock
Rock Light
Wild Blue
ZiegenBock
ZiegenBock Amber

Regional Beers

SkipJack Amber

Malt Liquors

Hurricane High Gravity
Hurricane Ice
Hurricane Malt Liquor
King Cobra

BACARDI Family

BACARDI Silver Mango Mojito
BACARDI Silver Pomegranate Mojito
BACARDI Silver Mojito
BACARDI Silver Lemonade
BACARDI Silver Raz
BACARDI Silver Strawberry
BACARDI Silver Watermelon

Specialty Malt Liquors

TILT Orange
TILT Green

Alliance Partner Products

Redhook
Widmer Brothers

Non-Alcohol Brew

O’Doul’s
O’Doul’s Amber
Busch NA
Beck’s NA

Energy Drinks

180 All-Natural Energy
Monster Energy

Specialty Waters

BORBA Skin Balance Water
Icelandic Glacial

MillerCoors Brand List

Domestic

Coors Banquet
Coors Light
Extra Gold Lager
Hamm’s
Hamm’s Golden draft
Hamm’s special Light
Icehouse 5.0
Icehouse 5.5
Icehouse Light
Keystone Light
Keystone Premium
Magnum Malt Liquor
MGD 64
Mickey’s
Micky’s Ice
Miller Chill
Miller Genuine draft
Miller High Life
Miller High Life Light
Miller Lite
Milwaukee’s Best
Milwaukee’s Best Ice
Milwaukee’s Best Light
Olde English 800
Olde English 800 7.5
Olde English High Gravity 800 Red Dog
Southpaw Light
Steel Reserve High Gravity
Steel Reserve Triple Export 8.1%
Steel Six

Import

Aguila
Cristal
Cusquena
Grolsch Amber Ale
Grolsch Blonde Lager
Grolsch Light Lager
Grolsch Premium Lager
Lech
Molson Canadian
Molson Canadian Light
Molson Golden
Molson Ice
Molson XXX
Peroni Nastro Azzirro
Pilsner Urquell
Tyskie

Craft

Blue Moon Belgian White
Blue Moon Full Moon Winter Ale
Blue Moon Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale
Blue Moon Honey Moon Summer Ale
Blue Moon Rising Moon Spring Ale
Frederick Miller Classic Chocolate Lager
Henry Weinhard’s Belgian Style Wheat
Henry Weinhard’s Blonde
Henry Weinhard’s Blue Boar
Henry Weinhard’s Classic Dark Lager
Henry Weinhard’s Hefeweizen
Henry Weinhard’s India Pale Ale
Henry Weinhard’s Private Reserve
Henry Weinhard’s Summer Wheat Ale
Leinenkugel’s Berry Weiss
Leinenkugel’s BIG BUTT Dopplebock
Leinenkugel’s Classic Amber Lager
Leinenkugel’s Creamy Dark
Leinenkugel’s Fireside Nut Brown
Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss
Leinenkugel’s Light
Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest Lager
Leinenkugel’s Original Lager
Leinenkugel’s Red Lager
Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy
Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat
Sheaf Stout

Specialty

Coors Non-Alcoholic
Foster’s
Foster’s Premium Ale
George Killian’s Irish Red
Sharp’s
Sparks
Sparks Light
Sparks Plus 6%
Sparks Plus 7%
Winterfest

]]> http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/12/10/who-owns-what-part-ii/feed/ 12 Who owns what? http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/12/01/who-owns-what/ http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/12/01/who-owns-what/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:29:47 +0000 Anat http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/?p=927 I’ve received hundreds of emails and tweets since the film came out asking for a list of the beer brands owned by the 2 big brewers. I’ve been meaning to pull one together and when I received today’s issue of Modern Brewery Age, I decided to go with their partial list (for now). The list includes the top brands sold by Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors (based on sales for the 4 week period ending 11/1/09 from IRI Data Total US Food, Drug & Convenience).

So here is the list. Debate on why it matters will certainly follow.

ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV
BUD LIGHT
BUDWEISER
NATURALLIGHT
BUSCH LIGHT
BUSCH
NATURALICE
MICHELOB ULTRALIGHT
BUD ICE
BUD LIGHT LIME
BUDWEISER SELECT
BUD LIGHT GOLDEN WHEAT
MICHELOB LIGHT
KING COBRA
HURRICANE HIGH GRAVITY
BUD LIGHT CHELADA
ROLLING ROCK
BECKS
STELLAARTOIS LAGER
ODOULS NA
HURRICANE MALT LIQUOR
BUSCH ICE
MICHELOB AMBER BOCK
BUDWEISER CHELADA
BUDWEISER SELECT 55
BUD DRY
LANDSHARK LAGER
MICHELOB
MICHELOB GOLDEN DRAFT LIGHT
TILT 8% LEMON LIME
BUSCH NA
SHOCK TOPBELGIAN WHITE ALE
MICHELOB ULTRALIME CACTUS
MICHELOB ULTRAAMBER
BUDWEISER AMERICAN ALE
BASS ALE
KOKANEE GLACIER PILSENER
BACARDI SILVER MOJITO
ODOULS AMBER NA
ANHEUSER-BUSCH SEASONAL
BECKS PREMIER LIGHT
BACARDI SILVER RAZ
MICHELOB ULTR POMEGRANAT RSPBRRY
BUD ICE LIGHT
TILT
HAAKE BECK NA
HOEGAARDEN WHITE ALE
ZIEGENBOCK AMBER
BACARDI SILVER STRAWBERRY
BODDINGTONS PUB CREAM ALE
BECKS DARK
BECKS OKTOBERFEST
BACARDI SILVER LEMONADE
KIRIN ICHIBAN
MICHELOB SEASONAL
WILD BLUE
ROCK LIGHT
BACARDI SILVER SIGNATURE SANGRIA
MICHELOB ULTR TUSCN ORNG GRAPFRT
BACARDI SILVER WATERMELON
REDBRIDGE
BACARDI SILVER MOJITO POMEGRANATE
KOKANEE GOLD
TAKE 6 HOME VARIETYPACK
BUSCH ASSORTED
BACARDI SILVER MOJITO MANGO
BUD EXTRA
MICHELOB HONEYLAGER
LOWENBRAU

MILLERCOORS BREWING
COORS LIGHT
MILLER LITE
KEYSTONE LIGHT
MILLER HIGH LIFE
ICEHOUSE
MILWAUKEES BEST LIGHT
STEELRSRV HI GRAV LAGER
MILLER GENUINE DRAFT
MILWAUKEES BEST ICE
COORS
MILWAUKEES BEST
MGD LIGHT 64
OLDE ENGLISH 800 MALT LIQ
MILLER HIGH LIFE LIGHT
BLUE MOON BELGIUM WHITE
KEYSTONE ICE
MICKEYS MALT LIQUOR
FOSTERS LAGER
GEORGE KILLIANS IRISH RED
SPARKS
SPARKS PLUS
MOLSON CANADIAN
BLUE MOON SEASONAL
STEELRSRV TRIPLE EXPORT
MILLER CHILL
HAMMS
MAGNUM
RED DOG
KEYSTONE
MOLSON ICE
LEINENKUGELSEASONAL
HEN WNHRDS PVT RSRV
OLDE ENGLISH HG800
FOSTERS PREMIUM ALE
SOUTHPAW LIGHT
HEN WNHRDS BLUE BOAR PALE
LEINENKUGELSUNSET WHT
MILLER LITE ICE
PILSNER URQUELL
PERONI NASTRO AZZURRO
LEINENKUGEL
BGROLSCH LAGER
LEINENKUGELCLASSIC AMBER
MOLSON GOLDEN
SHARPS NA
MICKEYS ICE ALE
COORS NA
MOLSON XXX
HEN WNHRDS HONEYHEFE
LEINENKUGELBERRYWEISS
MOLSON CANADIAN LIGHT
HEN WNHRDS BLOND LAGER
LEINENKUGELRED
LEINENKUGELVARIETYPACK
OLD VIENNA
HEN WNHRD CLSSC DARK
COORS EXTRAGOLD
HEN WNHRDS BELGIAN WHT
SPARKS LIGHT
LEINENKUGELLIGHT
HEN WEINHARDS SEASONAL
LEINENKUGLCREAMYDARK
HAMMS SPECIALLIGHT
TYSKIE GRONIE

]]> http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/12/01/who-owns-what/feed/ 28 Thanksgiving http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/11/24/thanksgiving/ http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/11/24/thanksgiving/#comments Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:53:37 +0000 Anat http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/?p=922 It’s been an amazing year. I finished my film. Released it theatrically and on DVD. And just closed the biggest deal yet which will get the movie into the mainstream. Announcement to come soon, I promise.

So much to be grateful for. Especially the supporters who believed in the film from the start (before they even saw it) and stood by it despite the naysayers. A big thanks to (in no particular order):

  • Dogfish Head — especially Sam and Mariah Calagione.
  • Stone Brewing — especially Greg Koch who is the epitome of walking the talk.
  • Brewers Association — especially Charlie Papazian for believing in the big picture.
  • Beer Advocate — especially Todd Alstrom who not only promoted the film but invited me to be a part of the American Craft Beer Festival.
  • Yelp — for taking a chance on this indie movie and engaging the Yelp community through its super enthusiastic community managers.
  • Reason Foundation/Reason TV –- especially Jon Graff for all the exposure.
  • Maureen Ogle -– for her support and smarts.
  • Jay Brooks — for telling it like it is.
  • Shaun O’Sullivan and Brock Wagner –- for helping to promote the film despite the fact that their brewery isn’t in it. They embody the collaborative spirit of craft brewers. I wish more would follow suit.
  • On a personal note, thank you to my number one supporter and social media guru, my sister — Ayelet Baron.

And a heartfelt thank you to all the bloggers, journalists, Facebook fans and Twitter followers who helped promote the film. I couldn’t have done it without you.

The journey continues. I’m glad to have you on my side.

Happy Turkey Day!

]]> http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/11/24/thanksgiving/feed/ 2 Sticks and Stones http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/11/11/sticks-and-stones/ http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/11/11/sticks-and-stones/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:36:11 +0000 Anat http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/?p=918 When you make a film, you steel yourself for reviews. You know intellectually that not everyone will be a fan. Like real life, most documentaries are flawed. Your characters aren’t make believe. There’s no script for them to follow. You can’t just make shit up.

And indeed, as expected there have been 2 kinds of reviews – love and hate. Luckily, for my emotional well-being, the positive reviews run at 75%. I’m happy with that. Especially when they come from film critics whose opinions I respect.

What I wasn’t prepared for were the personal attacks. Yes, I know that I set myself up for it. After all, I chose to put myself into the film. Frankly, I tried everything not to have to do that. But the film needed a narrator to tie it together and well, I didn’t think a celebrity voice over would do. How would I explain their connection to the film? So I tried to limit my on screen time and voice over so as not to take over the film but rather guide it along. And most people got it.

But this past week, I saw this comment on a blog “review” of the film: “her shrill nasal tones were totally inappropriate as the narrator. “ Really, he didn’t like my voice? Another reviewer thought I looked and talked like a schoolteacher. Must be the glasses. I made this movie to start a conversation about issues. Real issues. And some critics really get it: “Beer Wars is a pretty damning indictment of not just the beer industry but contemporary unfettered unregulated capitalism’s disturbing excesses.” Now you’re talking. So you can insult me all you want. But can we please focus on the issues? And how to fix them. Because much as I try, my voice is here to stay. And yes, I’m working on closed captioning…

]]> http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/11/11/sticks-and-stones/feed/ 5 The Latest David and Goliath Saga in the Beer Wars http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/10/14/the-latest-david-and-goliath-saga-in-the-beer-wars/ http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/10/14/the-latest-david-and-goliath-saga-in-the-beer-wars/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:41:14 +0000 Anat http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/?p=900 I just got off the phone with Matt Nadeau of Vermont’s Rock Art Brewery. I’ve been following the story of Matt’s fight to keep the rights to his Vermonster beer. For those of you that don’t know the story, it’s one that is unfortunately becoming all too familiar. Big corporation (in this case, Hansen Beverage Company, makers of Monster energy drink) going after a small entrepreneur (Rock Art) over the right to trademark a name (Vermonster). Read and watch more about this ludicrous story:

While I fully respect trademark law and understand how important it is to protect your brand, in this case it’s gone too far. Does anyone really believe that someone drinking a Vermonster beer will confuse it with a Monster energy drink? Oh Please.

For those of you who have seen the film, this is reminiscent of Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head’s fight with Anheuser-Busch over over the right to use the words Punkin Ale and Chicory Stout in 2 of his beers. He eventually prevailed.

By the way, do you know who distributes Monster in the US? 2 guesses and the first one doesn’t count. Yup, it’s none other than Anheuser-Busch wholesalers. Read more here and here.

So what can you do? You can join the Facebook group Vermonters and Craft Beer Drinkers Against Monster and/or join the conversation on BeerAdvocate and also watch the YouTube video so Matt can document his supporters.

Let’s hear from you and see what else can be done to stop this kind of bullying. Matt just wants to get back to making beer.

]]> http://BeerWarsMovie.Com/2009/10/14/the-latest-david-and-goliath-saga-in-the-beer-wars/feed/ 3