UncleLankyFrank
Well-Known Member
For those that state they will buy more from their LHBS, why were you not already doing this?
Northern Brewer WAS my LHBS. The only other option in my market was Midwest Supplies and they too are now on the InBev train.
Aside from the obvious monopolistic, all-consuming assimilation of anything beer related, InBev now has the opportunity to influence the source from which the majority of craft breweries started. We forget that, 20 years ago, Northern Brewer (and stores like it) were a complete novelty. They were largely ignored by the brewing industry because they posed no threat to their sales volume or market reach.
If you read the "About Us" page of many successful craft breweries, you'll most likely find a story about humble origins in the garage or the homebrew kit received for Christmas. Now InBev can poison the well at the source and greatly influence what comes up the pyramid from its very base. Like a Monsanto pre-immersion herbicide, InBev can selectively engineer what NB customers brew.
If I add the lead shield to my tinfoil hat, I can also imagine that this database of homebrewing trends is a boon to their research and development end. Now, instead of being the dorky parent using youth slang and ripped jeans to try to fit in with the cool kids (Miller Fortune / Bud Platinum), they can use this avatar to go back to high school and become the cool kid (Tiny Rick!):rockin: