How Much Bourbon Talk is Too Much?

[Gillman]

Gary, there are "fans", and then there are pretentious snobs. As much as you can poke fun at Joe Sixpack (of course in this Joe's case, that refers to my ripped abs...), you surely can poke fun at the other end of the spectrum and the snooty craft beer snob as depicted in the A-B commercial.

Arguably, yes, Joe, if they represented only one side of the equation. But they sell craft beer too. I can't believe the sales managers for the craft side were impressed, it doesn't make sense.

(I.e., the dividing line between pretentious snob and devoted fan becomes difficult to discern after a while, but even if we set that aside…).

Gary

Edited February 6, 2015 by Gillman

[smokinjoe]

I think it was just playing to their core customers, who probably loved the commercial. Sometimes advertising is about getting a new audience to try your product. Sometimes it's about maintaining your base. Brand recognition. This was the latter. Their goal wasn't to get the avid Pumpkin Peach Ale drinkers to switch to Bud.

I think this is an excellent take on it, TS. A-B along with the other micros are losing volume and share, and this ad was about shoring up their core support by telling their loyal, average, Joe Sixpack customer, "You're OK if you drink Bud. And be proud that you don't look like these guys."

[smokinjoe]

I can't believe the sales managers for the craft side were impressed, it doesn't make sense.

A-B probably told those guys to go stand in the corner...

[nd2005]

I have a general policy of not speaking unless spoken to about bourbon. My close friends know that I'm a big fan, and if they ask me a question about a particular product or ask for a recommendation I will answer.

But amongst casual acquaintances, work friends, strangers at a social event, etc. I pretty much play dumb. I don't even bother correcting someone when they say something wildly inaccurate.

[R-Savage]

I just had to post this.

This reminded me of this Video

I laughed really hard

[smokinjoe]

I just had to post this.

This reminded me of this Video

I laughed really hard

[R-Savage]

Thanks Joe. Yeah I've watched that video a few times and it cracks me up. :slappin:

[LakeJ]

Except for my brother in law who got me into bourbon most people I know, know nothing about bourbon. They know I'm passionate about it so they come to me for recommendations once in awhile. When I go into to much detail they seem to look at me like I'm speaking in tongues. So I learned less is more for the common folks.

[flahute]

I know, but they sell Pumpkin Peach ale, via their new unit, Elysian. Do you think Elysian drinkers were impressed by the ad?

Gary

Elysian is right down the street from my office. Elysian drinkers here are not excited about this recent acquisition. Something about "corporate beer sucks......." is the refrain around here.

[Gillman]

Right, that's the tag line of one of their noted brands, devised of course long before the buy-out. A subtle thinker might think the Bud ad was a not-so-subtle riposte. I suppose this is possible. The big breweries like to present the craft brands as a separate identity, so from that standpoint, sparring with an apparent, not real competitor is a plausible take on it. Nothing like having the best of all possible worlds.

Gary

Edited February 7, 2015 by Gillman

[squire]

I liked the ad, thought it cleverly done, and as Gary noted it plays to both sides.

[dcbt]

But amongst casual acquaintances, work friends, strangers at a social event, etc. I pretty much play dumb. I don't even bother correcting someone when they say something wildly inaccurate.

I had this happen to me yesterday at work. Two colleagues were talking about liquor, and of course "Texas made Tito's" came up. I just sat there silently but eventually went to the restroom to keep myself out of the conversation.

[AaronWF]

Re: thread drift. Much better than what aired at the Super Bowl, eh?