Craft Brewers Boycott Brands Acquired by Anheuser-Busch

May 09, 2024

Craft brewers are banding together to cut off beer brands acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the largest brewer in the world.

Brew Studs, a blog dedicated to craft beer, published a list of brands acquired in part or completely by AB InBev — including Goose Island, Blue Point, and Wicked Weed — and is calling on craft-beer fans to ditch them.

"Welcome to the page that keeps you informed about impostor craft beer brands, those who try to benefit from the power of craft beer, even though they are aligned with forces who are trying to tear it down," the post says.

AB InBev, the company behind brands like Budweiser and Busch, says it intends to help craft beer brands grow with its investment and that they'll operate unchanged after acquisitions.

"To say our beers are 'imposter' craft ignores the intense skill, time and meticulous attention to detail that goes into making any great beer. And beyond that, our partnership couldn’t be less about trying to tear down craft," Steve Crandall, founder and CEO of Devils Backbone, told Business Insider in an email. "It's allowed us to hire many more craft beer-loving employees, invest in our local community through new facilities, and partner with other craft breweries on things like safety initiatives for brewers of all sizes."

Some craft brewers remain unconvinced. Here are the 14 brands Brew Studs says fans should "cut off" because of their ties to AB InBev:

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