Saturday, April 25, 2009

Beer Wars


2009, A documentary by Anat Baron about craft breweries and their struggle to gain market share against the big breweries. It was shown only once, Thursday April 16, as an event, live to 440 theaters nationwide except in the West where it was tape delayed in it's entirety including the pre screening credits and the panel discussion afterward.

What better way to get prepared for a movie about craft beers than to have some. Several of us Yelpers met up at the Scottsdale location of Four Peaks Brewery for beer and appetizers before walking across the parking lot to view the screening. I had two glasses of Kiltlifter, very good! I also had a very good spinach artichoke dip which came with warm flat bread and totillas that was recommended by one of the folks I knew. My first thought was at $9 it was expensive for an appetizer but it was enough food for dinner for two people.

All in all it was a very fun evening even though it was on the far side of the valley on a weeknight.

Here is the synopsis of the movie
"In America, size matters. The bigger you are, the more power you have, especially in the business world.

Director Anat Baron takes you on a no holds barred exploration of the U.S. beer industry that ultimately reveals the truth behind the label of your favorite beer. Told from an insider’s perspective, the film goes behind the scenes of the daily battles and all out wars that dominate one of America’s favorite industries.

Beer Wars begins as the corporate behemoths are being challenged by small, independent brewers who are shunning the status quo and creating innovative new beers. The story is told through 2 of these entrepreneurs - Sam and Rhonda - battling the might and tactics of Corporate America. We witness their struggle to achieve their American Dream in an industry dominated by powerful corporations unwilling to cede an inch.

This contemporary David and Goliath story is ultimately about keeping your integrity (and your family’s home) in the face of temptation. Beer Wars is a revealing and entertaining journey that provides unexpected and surprising turns and promises to change the world’s opinion on those infamous 99 bottles of beer on the wall."

2 comments:

Knitterman said...

I'm not particularly interested in beers, per se, but would you recommend the film to someone like me, as a boutique yarn designer up against all the commercial yarn companies? Would I learn something from it?

SharpScott said...

Probably not much. It was very industry specific.