Women Enjoying Beer

Survey Update

Mar 9, 2012 Beer, Something To Think About, Women and Beer

Women all over are speaking up

Many of the respondents of the first ever State of Women and Beer survey indicated they’d love to hear the ‘results’. We’ll be sharing some info once we compile and can get our minds around the huge volume of input given.

Part of the information will be shared for sure at the 2012 Craft Brewers Conference.

Today I simply wanted to provide an update on what’s what:

• Over 120 women have responded so far…we’ll continue to take completed surveys indefinitely. Send them in and along at any time to me at Ginger (at) WomenEnjoyingBeer (dot) com
• Pennsylvania, Texas and Oregon are leading the pack of number of respondents per state
• We’ve not heard from women in these states yet and would really appreciate their input: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
• Women from the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada have all contributed (ALL women are welcome).
• 5 surveys came from great women, yet did not indicate their locations.

Keep them coming – for those who shared it forward, thank you very much! Clearly women enjoy beer and want to talk about it.

Tags: survey, women and beer survey

U.S. Alcohol Market Share – Where Will The Growth Come From

Feb 29, 2012 Assumptions & Myth Busting, Beer, Marketing, Something To Think About, Women and Beer

According to Beverage Marketing Corporation, 2010 beer market share was 50.4% (wine = 19.5%, spirits = 30.1%). The forecast they predict for 2015 indicates beer will be 46.8% of market share, with wine at 22.6% and spirits at 30.6%.

Where then do you suppose breweries need to look for new market share to make sure this does not happen?

.

.

.

If you said “women” you’d be right. Only the grossly untapped, under-tapped, misused and under-regarded female consumer can help beer continue to grow. 

If you didn’t say women, it’s time to wake up.

American women affect fully 75 – 85% of all purchases, across categories. Females also make up more than 50% of the global population. Crunch just these numbers alone and then tell me otherwise.

NOTE: Later in the article where I read this, Beverage World January 2012, a source from Symphony IRI states he’s going “to be paying attention to in the coming year is the private label beer.” Are they looking at who’s first and foremost buying the beer to begin with??

Tags: Beverage Marketing Corporation, looking for the right information, US alcohol beverage market share

Jennifer Cirillo is Right on the Glass

Feb 28, 2012 Assumptions & Myth Busting, Beer, Education & Training, Something To Think About, Women and Beer

Jennifer Cirillo’s article in the January 2012 Beverage World Magazine is right on the money. And on the money is where more businesses that serve beer would be if they used proper glassware for beer.

beer glassware matters

Instead of paraphrasing her piece, the entire thing is worth reading and bookmarking yourself. Sometimes, It’s About The Glass is well worth your time.

One thought that really connected about her writings and the research WEB conducts was this:

“Certainly, drinking is about the quality of the liquid…it’s also about the experience and the mood.”

Bingo! Thanks Jennifer.

p.s. this fits with the Three Universal Truths we talk about.

Tags: beer glassware, Beverage World magazine, Jennifer Cirillo

One Entity Some Forget To Account For

Feb 27, 2012 Beer, Marketing, Something To Think About, Women and Beer

“….there is one entity in this business with perhaps even more power [than Coca Cola]. With a few taps of their keyboards, and some clicks on the “send” button, it can influence the decisions of even a company as large of a Coke. I am talking about the consumer.” – Andrew Kaplan, Managing Editor, Beverage World magazine .

Ahhhhhh!bita Gets Packaging right

Feb 26, 2012 Beer, Marketing, Something To Think About

In examining some beer packaging recently I came across a case of Abita Purple Haze. I’ve seen the beer on cooler shelves before so that isn’t what caught my eye. It was the smart packaging that peaked my interest.

Packaging and information on said packaging on the vast majority of beers need a lot of improvement. There’s a dearth of pertinent consumer information that should be included, which is not, and there’s info on the beers that’s not pertinent, yet there it is.

Is your packaging leading people to your brand - or away from it?

A case = flat of 4 – 6 pack of 12 ounce bottles (granted cans would be much better) and the entire set up was worth reading completely – so I did.

Here’s what Abita has done right.

1. Clear easy to read text and font. Not over crowded or too small, fancy or otherwise difficult to read.
2. Flavor Profile – YES!!!! Color scale, Hops scale, Yeast info, Malt and water notes.
3. Food Pairing  - I can’t stress enough that this is a million dollar idea. Why wouldn’t a brewery include food pairings AND recipes on their packaging?? This should be standard practice.
4. Brief description of the kind of beer and a the few sentences are easy for everyone to understand and not technical (which isn’t very important to most average consumers). Save the technical info for your website.
5. “Beer doesn’t grow on trees.” – Environmental comments on the businesses responsibility factor.
6. A list of all their beers = nice optional info. If they like one, then they’ll look for others your list. Make it easy for them to ask for your beers by name.
7. A list of avenues to connect with Abita. Sharing how the consumers can get a hold of the brand is critical. Communication and availability of information is more important all the time with consumers.
8. A small map of where the brewery is located. They utilized all sides of the packaging they’re already buying and printing on. Use them all – you’re paying for the whole thing, right?

Take a nod and provide plenty of information to the consumer in your packaging. You’ll get more brand buying, more brand buy in and happier customers. Which should make for a happier and more successful business.

Cheers Abita – this Purple Haze is to you!

Tags: Abita, design, info to include, labels, packaging information

NRA Chef Survey of “What’s Hot in 2012″ Includes Beer

Feb 21, 2012 Beer & Food, Something To Think About

If you’ve not yet seen the results, it’d be an interesting read to see the results of the National Restaurant Association’s Chef Survey for What’s Hot in 2012.

A few notables:

• Top 20 Trends #7 Gluten Free/food and allergy conscious, #8 Locally produced beer and wine
• Preparation Methods #2 Fermenting
• Culinary Themes – almost the entire list
• Alcohol and Cocktails #1 Locally produced beer and wine, #4 food-beer pairings/beer dinners, on-site barrel aged drinks, #7 Gluten free beer, #8 Specialty beer, #10 Craft/microbrews, #12 Beer sommelier, #15 Organic beer

Survey consisted of 1791 NRA members (what do non members have to contribute?), October to November 2011. They were given a list and asked to rate them (was there the opportunity to offer new non list ideas?)

Survey information is as good as the format, questions and objectivity of the surveyor. You can usually find interesting applicable information in them…just as everyone can.

Tags: 2012 What's Hot Chef Survey, National Restaurant Association, trends

Beer Words I Hate: Words To Purge From Your Beer Vocabulary

Feb 16, 2012 Assumptions & Myth Busting, Beer, Brain Stew, Education & Training, Something To Think About

What words tip you off, make you scream or want to throw that gorgeous beer in the face of an offending and sometimes uneducated or ignorant or snobbish mouth?

I’ve got a few that almost drive me to distraction.

Microbrew = quantity of output and outlets

While I usually focus on the positive and like to make people think, today I’m going to vent on words that I think should be sent into orbit concerning beer. Some are the entire word and some are contextual. Caveat: Words are like guns. It’s the people that wield them that need education and correction. Insist on proper words per your beloved beer. 

In any event, I’d love your help purging these words from our current beer vocabulary.

1. Real. As in people saying they only drink or make “real beer.” What is real beer? Is it someone’s opinion? Is it based on some rule or law a few people with an agenda put forth a long time ago or very recently based on what they think beer should be? “Real” for beer is whatever you want it to be. There’s a snob component here that’s unattractive. It’s all about education and in the end liking what you yourself like to drink. [Suggestion: shift to 'beers I like']

2. Microbrew. AUUUUUUUGGGHHHH!!!! Okay….I’ll be alright…. This is an extremely misused and overused and misunderstood word. At one point it was proper and properly used. Today it’s flung about like saying microbrews or microbrewed beer is what delineates ‘real’ beer (see above). Per the Brewers Association a Microbrewery is: A brewery that produces less than 15,000 barrels (17,600 hectoliters) of beer per year with 75% or more of its beer sold off-site. Time to shift your words, folks! Not every beer that isn’t from a really large house or from a brewery that someone thinks is too big (for whatever their own goofy reasons) is NOT a microbrew. [Suggestion: learn the brewery size category descriptors - either use it right or don't use it at all]

"Dark" and "Light" get a bad - and usually wrong - rap

3. Import. Who else has been to a bar or restaurant wherein the menu with beer includes an “Import” list…and at least one of the beers is from an incountry brewer?! Plain and simple – this is sloppy and unacceptable. Know where the beers you’re drinking are from before you share that info with others. Incorrect education is hard to reverse. Stupidity is totally inexcusable – plus look at the ‘truth in advertising’ idea. [Suggestion: find out where the beer is from and get the info right]

4. Heavy. Oof. Even the word sinks to the sidewalk like lead. Get rid of it. Use other fabulous more descriptive words like robust, full, lush, chewy. Take a nod from describing people: would you rather be called robust and full bodied or heavy? Not rocket science here, folks. [Suggestion: load your vocabulary with plenty of descriptors that you can use]

5. Domestic. It kills me when I hear people still use this word. To me this falls into the ‘who cares’ category. Beer is beer and it’s made everywhere, literally. And it also borders on beer racism, like import does. It’s a totally outdated term. [Suggestion: know the country of origin, if you wish, and simply enjoy the beers for what they are]

6. Light. This one must be contextualized before it can leave your lips. Light what – body? Color? Flavor? Mouthfeel? It’s a great word to describe that also needs a partner word to complete what you are trying to communicate. Using only the word ‘light’ is a disservice to the beer and indicates an incomplete and uneducated and outdated thought. While most of us have an idea of what the talker or writer might be discussing, it’s time to throw the blanket “light beer” idea to the curb. [Suggestion: only use 'light' when you will augment it with another word that will fill out the meaning of what you're trying to describe]

Improve your beer vocabulary for the beer's sake, if not your friends' sake

7. Dark. See Light, above. The most powerful – read: educated – beer folks have a whole litany of terminology at their tongue tip. Develop your beer vocab. There’s a whole rainbow of words to describe color and other beer characteristics. [Suggestion: get rid of any racist beer terms - again]

8. Good. This is a totally subjective word. Don’t use it. Good should be supplanted by ‘quality’ if anything, when applicable. And again, if you really want to know and love your beer, increase and improve your vernacular first. [Suggestion: don't use this word with beer - it indicates either a snobbery or an ignorance]

9. Bad. See Good, above. Bad should only be used if the beer has truly turned into something other than what the brewer intended. Too many people use Good and Bad to throw their weight and opinions around. Arrogance is never attractive nor helpful. [Suggestion: don't use this word with beer - it indicates either a snobbery or an ignorance]

I feel better already.

Tags: bad, beer words I hate, dark, domestic, good, import, light, microbrew, real, terms to purge, words to purge

Handmade, Not Homemade

Feb 9, 2012 Assumptions & Myth Busting, Something To Think About

“We want things to look handmade, not homemade.” – Sandi Globus

Nail on the head. Hand made or hand crafted is something you can talk about endlessly if it is indeed well done, high quality hand work.

Homemade echos amateur efforts that may display sub par quality.

Which are you after?

Tags: hand crafted, hand made, home made, quality

Black & Can – What’s In A Name?

Feb 6, 2012 Beer, Something To Think About

Wynkoop Brewing’s Black & Can, Black Lager, is a clever and very useable name. While they didn’t ask me, here are 2 reasons why we give it a thumbs up:

• It’s a play on words (Black & Tan) that should make those familiar with beer smile. All takers, women and men.
• The graphics look very German with no inappropriate sexuality – it’s focused on the quality beer in the can and straight forward design.

Wynkoop Brewing Company, Denver CO

Canned beer is a great choice and a better one (over glass) all the time per sustainability. It’s encouraging to hear about more and more breweries canning their beer.

The days of tin-y tasting beer is more than over. If you have a hesitancy about present day canned beer, it’s all in your head – challenge yourself to try all the ‘newer’ canned beers you can wrap your fingers around.

This also means we can teach everyone that using cans for beer portability and enjoyment makes Mother Nature happy.

And when Mother’s happy, we can all be happy. Pass me a Black & Can, please….

Tags: Black & Can, canned beer, Mother Nature, Wynkoop Brewing Company

Information on ABV from Merchant du Vin

Feb 5, 2012 Beer, Education & Training, Something To Think About

Thanks to our friends at Merchant Du Vin for the following information. Most of it was new to me.

Regarding ABV on our labels: As you probably know, it was not legal to put alcohol content on US beer labels until 1995.  Apparently, the BATF (the agency that approved labels at that time) didn’t want brewers “marketing by strength.”  We work with our breweries to produce US labels.  Many European labels don’t show ABV, but over the years since ’95  we have added ABV to more US labels.   

We sell most of our beers in all 50 states, and there’s a vast number of state beer labeling laws that sometimes actually contradict each other – some states require ABV over a certain threshold to be listed on labels; others prohibit it.  I think each of our beers at 5.7% ABV or higher currently does list ABV on the label.  (One of my favorite wacky state beer laws: in Texas, a beer under 5.0% ABV must be labeled “beer”; one over that must be labeled “ale” or “malt beverage” – even if it’s a lager, it can’t have the word ”lager” or  “beer” on the label.)

Our breweries tend to order labels in pretty big batches, to keep the costs down . . . and there are always pending issues that affect reprinting, as well: current potential changes include nutrition panels, allergen listing, and states that add or drop bottle deposits.

It’s an interesting & complex topic – I have a colleague here that spends many hours a month on federal and state beer registration, compliance, and label approvals.

We do list ABVs (as well as IBU & OG) on each specific web page for all our beers – hopefully that helps.  We’ve also recently added a super-cool retail beer finder for consumers – you can just put in your zip code, and find any of our beers close to you:

http://www.merchantduvin.com/find-our-beer.php

Tags: help, importing beers, Merchant du Vin, reading beer labels