Beer Wars

Here's an interesting, informative and entertaining documentary, 2009's Beer Wars.

Written and directed by Anat Baron, a former executive for Mike's Hard Lemonade, this movie describes the fight micro-breweries have to endure to try to compete with the "Big Three" (Anheuser-Busch, Coors, and Miller).

I've been interested in this subject ever since Coors bought the rights to Caffrie's Cream Ale and then refused to sell it in the U.S.A.

Do not be put off if you're not a beer snob/aficionado/casual fan. This documentary doubles nicely as a Big-corporations-are-too-greedy essay.

Information is abundant in the movie. I learned Stella Artois, Kirin, Bass and other "good" imported beers' rights are owned by Anheuser-Busch, if not owned outright, for example.

There are a few problems with Beer Wars. The female subject isn't nearly as sympathetic as she should be, and Anat spends almost all her time on the east coast. Stone Brewery and Mike's are mentioned in passing, but those are the only mentions of anything west coast - Odd, I thought, as the micro-brews are doing so well here.

But over-all I liked this movie and would recommend renting (or streaming) it!