Since it has been out for quite a while now this post is probably way past due here, but I have my hands full enough reviewing/evaluating beers and feel that I should leave the movie stuff to the Richard Roeper’s of the world. Beer Wars will be the one exception, at least for now. I thought Redlight Brent made a good point the other day when he said (basically) that everyone should watch it once; especially those who are not in the beer business and who have at least a casual interest in beer. Since I agree with that, I thought perhaps I could convince a few extra people to watch it.
You can go to the Beer Wars website or do whatever other research you want to learn more about the person who made the movie and how it came to be since I am only going to try to hit on a few points from the content of the film. So let’s not call it a review, but more of me giving you a reason or two why you should see it if you have not done so already.
Here we go . . .
First, I do have to say that I found it at least mildly funny (if not confusing) that it took someone that worked with Mike’s Hard Lemonade to make a movie like this, but I guess it makes some sense as they all go on many of the same trucks in the end. Combine that with the fact that she says very early on that she is allergic to alcohol and does not drink any of the stuff this movie is about and you really have to look at the movie as more of one about our capitalistic system and the business of alcohol as much as, if not more so, than the world of craft beer specifically.
Short of getting to see more of the politics behind the beer business, I was aware of most of the stuff in this movie going in. To be truthful I actually fell asleep half way through the first time trying to watch it (what a great pitch, huh), but I cannot be blamed for the lack of explosions in Beer Wars. For those of you who just pick up your same beer at the grocery store time after time without really thinking about it, you do owe it to yourself to see Beer Wars if for no other reason than because everyone owes it to themselves to know where everything they consume comes from and how it gets to them.
In the end it still comes down to drinking what you like (and nothing should change that), but after watching this and learning how distribution works for the smaller guys and how scary the politics behind the beer industry is, you will at least start seeing the store beer displays quite differently.
As with really any documentary style film there is an agenda going in and is likely edited together accordingly, so you do have to keep that in mind as you watch this one. I mean if I was able to pick the light beers in a blind test when I never drink them otherwise, I have to think that there is a pretty good chance at least a few people passed that little test for her. However as with most documentaries, this one is definitely based on many truths and you can easily do the research on whatever facts you may be suspicious of.
Is it really all about innovation or should it be about excellence? Why not both? You can watch and decide for yourself where you fall on the conflict in the beer world of advertising and hype versus quality and character.
If you do see it or have seen it already, let me know what your thoughts are!
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