10 Best Selling Craft Beers for Retailers and convenience store owners

chuckl8899 21 months ago

all due respect, but you'd have to be an idiot to consider Bud Lite Lime a craft beer

Captain W 21 months ago

Chuckle,

Understandable that Bud Light Lime sticks out like a sore thumb in the craft beer section. However, distributors and Vendors in the convenience chain channels classify Bud Light Lime in the "craft beer" category.

Also, the merchandisers from 7-eleven corporate (my former company) categorize this product as a Craft Beer as well, per the request of Anheuser-Busch, when tracking sales on this product.

The term "craft beer" refers to beer that is brewed using traditional methods, without adjuncts such as rice or corn, and with an eye (or a tongue) to what's distinctive and flavorful rather than mass appeal.

So agree to disagree, but thanks for reading!

chuckl8899 21 months ago

Wow, you're the first person I've ever heard who has used that definition for craft beer. Usually the size of production has something to do with it or maybe quality. I guess according to your definition any wheat beers. Don't tell the people who make weisse beers or wits, they'll be very disappointed

Nunzio 18 months ago

WTF bud lt lime a craft beer? Blue moon?????? Which of both are massively produced. This is a crock of crap. I own and operate a packaged goods store in northern nj. I sell a ton of craft beers wether they are all year round flagship beers from reputable craft brewers or very limited or "allocated" brews from small or larger craft brewers. The vast amount of my customers are highly educated on these delicious brews and understand when a 4pk of founders kbs, founders nemisis, dogfish head ole school, Oscar blues ten fidy......gubna, or gordons, mad/naked elf 6pks, nugget nectar, flying mouflan........etc you get the point, cost a leg and and a arm. Varieing from $10 to $25 a 4pk/6pk. And at that I conceive those brews mentioned above as accepted mainstream/demanded limited brews from top craft brewers. That does not include all mom & pop brewers and unique brews that only fanatics know exist. I have good friends that brew beer in there households/garages that I sell in my retail store. In a nutshell I've been in the beer industry since 1993 and have witnessed a lot of change and originality since then and it had done nothing but benefit my pockets n customers. This is a revolution for the individuals that are educated in the very broad term "craft beer" and persons with a good palate to either make a profit and be happy you pleased someone with a rare item or for your average Joe that just loves original brews. So about a hour later, two riverhorse oatmeal stouts, a few ciggerettes and some input from my offended mind/palate/opinion/career......if anyone were to mention to my face that bud lt lime, blue moon, or any of the bs Sam Adams puts out is a "top rated craft beer" you need to slap your self before I do it for you or re-define the term "craft"

JMason 15 months ago

Definitions of craft beer on the Web:

* An American term which refers to beer brewing using traditional methods. This type of beer is brewed to be distinctive and flavorful rather than appeal to everyone.

I have worked in the beer industry for 8 years, and yes, there are beers that fall under the craft category that might not seem to fit. The general public has a misunderstanding of craft beer. Craft beer does not refer to the amount brewed in any way. It has absolutely nothing to do with that.

Mass produced beers can simply be referred to as SUCCESSFUL. People think that because something is mass produced it loses quality and distinction. Those who truly appreciate beers history and what is has become today, will be the first ones to tell you that craft does not refer to small brewers only.

- SPIM Manager (AB-Inbev)

(Specialty, Import, Micro)

retodd66 14 months ago

Just passing through looking for some information in particular and saw this. Had to comment.

JMason - Nonsense. Nothing says craft brewery goodness like InBev.

There are more than a few definitions for what a 'craft brewer' is, pick one to suit your needs. Getting Bud Lite Lime in any sort of a 'craft beer' category or list is nothing more than good but deceptive marketing by the big boys trying to pretend they are something they are not in order to capitalize on the growing trend.

Most of us in this business would at least begin to draw a definition line at single batch brewing, all malt products (with any lambics, meads, wits, et all. staying true to traditional ingredients and brewing methods). Some would go so far as to throw in pasteurization. Whatever the case, there is clearly a different method of production and ingredients between craft brewed beer and the 'mass produced’ adjunct filled bile churned out of the beer plants. Problems are that you do not have to disclose ingredients, styles, brewing methods. Worded and packaged correctly you can sell Coors Light as a stout.

I also love Anchor Steam being referred to as an ‘up and comer is a rising star in the craft beer segment’. Fritz Maytag and Anchor Brewing were pivotal in the ‘revival’ and remain a big influence on success of the craft brewing industry today.

I also struggle with Sam Adams being on the list as they were a copack/contract situation until they had enough success to buy out Boston Brewing. Kinda skipped all the steps of the breweries in the trenches today and they don’t get too much kudos within the industry for their ‘craft brewing’ skills. I suspect this will be a growing trend and is a topic for another day...

Bottom line is this is simply not a well researched article written by someone with little craft or brewing industry understanding, but there are thousands of these…