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Jan
25
4

The Countdown is On

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!

FILED UNDER: General
Comment
Dec
14
9

Over to you…

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.

I want to see more of...

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FILED UNDER: Community, Extras
Comment
Dec
11
1

Let’s not forget the imports…

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)

FILED UNDER: Beer
Comment
Dec
10
17

Who Owns What? Part II

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? Read the rest of this entry »

FILED UNDER: Beer
Comment
Dec
1
32

Who owns what?

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). Read the rest of this entry »

FILED UNDER: Beer
Comment
Nov
24
2

Thanksgiving

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):
Read the rest of this entry »

FILED UNDER: General
Comment
Nov
11
7

Sticks and Stones

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.
Read the rest of this entry »

FILED UNDER: Reviews
Comment
Oct
14
5

The Latest David and Goliath Saga in the Beer Wars

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:
Read the rest of this entry »

FILED UNDER: News
Comment
Sep
4
0

2 Thumbs Up

I like the company we’re keeping… My turn to see Inglourious Basterds this weekend.

From today’s USA Today “Pop Candy”:

Best movie I watched: The last couple weeks have been a wonderful blur because of my vacation, but I thought Inglourious Basterds was just fantastic. I also saw Beer Wars, the documentary about independent breweries. I’ve always been pretty picky about what I drink, but this film really makes you think about the industry.

FILED UNDER: General
Comment
Aug
27
6

Filmmaker as Enforcer

Social media means no more secrets. I was surprised to see a screening of my film advertised and retweeted over the past few days. It was happening at a bar in San Diego. One problem. I knew nothing about it. No one contacted me. Or asked for permission. Read the rest of this entry »

FILED UNDER: DVD, General
Comment
Previous
Next
Oenophiles have SIDEWAYS and BOTTLE SHOCK; now their beer-loving counterparts can claim a film as their own.
- Rotten Tomatoes
A David and Goliath story pitting the country's smallest brewers against the largest.
- CNN
Beer Wars: Brewed in America, is an eye-opening, funny and righteously infuriating documentary by first-time filmmaker Anat Baron. Her film (think of it as Suds: A Love Story) is also a pretty damning indictment of not just the beer industry but contemporary unfettered unregulated capitalism's disturbing excesses.
- Box Office Magazine
In Beer Wars, entrepreneurialism and opportunity go awry when tainted by greed and a thirst for power.
- Los Angeles Times
Beer Wars certainly raises some interesting questions, the most potent of which is, is this what capitalism is meant to be?
- New Times
For those who are keeping the American dream alive, this spirited documentary raises a toast.
- St Louis Post-Dispatch
A trenchant analysis unapologetic in its rebuke of Big Beer, Beer Wars is heartily recommended for patrons already inclined to opt for the local brew at every tap. It will also appeal to patrons interested in craft foods as well as homebrewed beer and wine and others particular about quality.
- Library Journal