Diageo rigged micro-brewers award.

skoomi

Scummy tactics:

Drinks giant Diageo apologises over rigged beer award

Diageo brands include Guinness, Smirnoff vodka and Johnnie Walker whisky

Drinks giant Diageo has apologised after admitting a "serious misjudgement" over the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) awards.

Diageo staff allegedly told BII Scotland to change one of the winners at their annual event, or risk losing Diageo sponsorship in future years.

The winner of the 'Bar Operator of the Year' award - Aberdeenshire-based BrewDog - was subsequently changed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18005851

The story from BrewDog themselves:

http://www.brewdog.com/blog-article/diageo-v-brewdog


EDIT: Fixed link.

Phill Ewinn

I'll accept an apology if it comes with free beer.

Biggins

Why was he selected for change in particular?
Was he a upcoming threat to them?

Micro brewery's are an upcoming thing, even in Ireland. See: http://www.beoir.org/
Diageo must be quietly worried.

Disgusting blackmailing behaviour by the way, by them.

Birneybau

Stinks alright, like a Guinness fart.

Sindri

skoomi wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-18006291

Something wrong with your link.

Are you in any way affiliated with BrewDog?

Biggins

Sindri wrote: »

Something wrong with your link.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18005851

Sindri

Biggins wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18005851

Thanks.

I'll buy you a pint of Diageo.

TPD

Disgusting behaviour. Hopefully the craft brewing culture continues to grow. Would be great to have small town breweries in Ireland, competing for county and national awards each season / year etc. Also, to have Diagio out of small pubs and have some proper choice on a night out.

Biggins

TPD wrote: »

Disgusting behaviour. Hopefully the craft brewing culture continues to grow. Would be great to have small town breweries in Ireland, competing for county and national awards each season / year etc. Also, to have Diagio out of small pubs and have some proper choice on a night out.

If you go to http://www.beoir.org/ you will find there is many places now in Ireland that are specialising and making their own brew.
In central Dublin alone judging by the graph on the website above, there seems to be a good few in the city capital centre.

I have no objections to supporting new Irish Irish businesses like this.

(At least that my excuse I'm telling the other half, for popping out for a swift one!)

Big Nasty

Great growth of craft breweries here, over 20 domestic on the island of Ireland now plus a growing interest in speiclaity beers. Last year Diageo brought out Smithwicks Pale Ale 'Craft Beer' in response to the growth of the craft beer scene here.

The above article is obviously poor form by Diagep but the result will be a positive increase in knowledge / interest in craft beers as the subject is given international coverage.

Big Nasty

Biggins wrote: »

If you go to http://www.beoir.org/ you will find there is many places now in Ireland that are specialising and making their own brew.
In central Dublin alone judging by the graph on the website above, there seems to be a good few in the city capital centre.

I have no objections to supporting new Irish Irish businesses like this.

(At least that my excuse I'm telling the other half, for popping out for a swift one!)

Nearly all the craft breweries are outside Dublin but the highest demand / largest amount of pubs specialising in craft beer would be in Dublin.

There's growth in most other cities though for sure. Mostly a per capita thing though.

Biggins

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Nearly all the craft breweries are outside Dublin but the highest demand / largest amount of pubs specialising in craft beer would be in Dublin.

There's growth in most other cities though for sure. Mostly a per capita thing though.

Fingers crossed it might turn into a good little earner/industry countrywide.

Big Nasty

Biggins wrote: »

Fingers crossed it might turn into a good little earner/industry countrywide.

It is already - the growth over the last few years proves same. It's slowed a little this year but over the last few years there's been 2-3 craft berweries opening here each year. They're mostly 2-4 man shows so distribution is an issue. Most supply locally and to the growing number of pubs in Dublin specialising in craft beer also.

nlgbbbblth

Deplorable behaviour from Diageo. Trying to get craft beers outside Dublin isn't easy. Off licences have some decent stuff but the vast majority of pubs have a rubbish selection.

Sindri

MCMLXXV wrote: »

It is already - the growth over the last few years proves same. It's slowed a little this year but over the last few years there's been 2-3 craft berweries opening here each year. They're mostly 2-4 man shows so distribution is an issue. Most supply locally and to the growing number of pubs in Dublin specialising in craft beer also.

Aye, especially since Diageo control most of the distribution to pubs around Ireland.

Biggins

Fair play to the people that refused to take the award.
They knew who really deserved it.

Big Nasty

I don't want to see this thread moved to Beers / Wine / Spirits as it won't give the same coverage to domestic, Irish owned business' and of course good beer but for anyone interested you will find numerous conversations in relation to craft and 'proper' beer on that forum to include locations to find same.

beoir is even more informative but a bit more geared to the beer entusiast as opposed to the beginner.

Big Nasty

Sindri wrote: »

Aye, especially since Diageo control most of the distribution to pubs around Ireland.

Diageo only distribute their draught beer and spirits directly - everything else comes from wholesalers. Craft brewers usually distribute themselves.

Zebra3

Suicidal stuff from Diageo.

But unsurprising. :rolleyes:

skoomi

Diageo's official response, fairly shyte.

“There was a serious misjudgement by Diageo staff at the awards dinner on Sunday evening in relation to the Bar Operator of the Year Award, which does not reflect in anyway Diageo’s corporate values and behaviour.

“We would like to apologise unreservedly to Brewdog and to the British Institute of Innkeeping for this error of judgement and we will be contacting both organisations imminently to express our regret for this unfortunate incident.”

So was it the fault of the lowly staff in the field? Surely a decision of this nature would have come from way up.

Tis fairly shocking stuff. Twitter is in bits with talk about this, the hash tag is #andthewinnerisnot

Sarky

I've given up on Diageo brands. Mostly because compared to newcomers like Brew Dog, their beers taste like a hamster's arse.

AnonoBoy

Brew Dog make some great beers so they do!

Glad to see Diageo being shown up for the useless, bullying bunch of pr*cks that they are.

ScumLord

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Last year Diageo brought out Smithwicks Pale Ale 'Craft Beer' in response to the growth of the craft beer scene here.

I tried that pale ale and it was lovely, can't find it anywhere since though, there are signs everywhere but no beer left.

skoomi wrote: »

Diageo's official response, fairly shyte.

So was it the fault of the lowly staff in the field? Surely a decision of this nature would have come from way up.

That's how corporations work, they fob off blame onto some employee and carry on as normal. Corporations are never accountable.

Just bought a load of O' Hara's beer, with the thread about ale earlier I had a lip on me for booze. Their all lovely so far.

Baneblade

They also said the new "winner" refused to accept the trophy as it already had "BrewDog" engraved on it.

lol they could have at least whipped out a key and tried to hide the name a bit

Big Nasty

ScumLord wrote: »

I tried that pale ale and it was lovely, can't find it anywhere since though, there are signs everywhere but no beer left.

Just bought a load of O' Hara's beer, with the thread about ale earlier I had a lip on me for booze. Their all lovely so far.

Smithwicks Pale Ale isn't bad but comes nowhere near any 'proper' pale ale or any other speciality / craft beer I know.

O' Hara's are one of the major success stories of Irish craft beer and do very well in the US.

dan1895

Intending to head down to the Carlow Brewing Co soon and stock up on the various types of O'Hara's. I've heard you can get it off them direct at a very good price.

Micky Dolenz

Sarky wrote: »

I've given up on Diageo brands. Mostly because compared to newcomers like Brew Dog, their beers taste like a hamster's arse.

Eewww, you've tasted a hamster's hole. :pac:

ScumLord

MCMLXXV wrote: »

O' Hara's are one of the major success stories of Irish craft beer and do very well in the US.

Just finished a bottle of leann follain, love chocolatey stouts.

Bottles of guniness stout are really nice, it's many times better than the stuff out of the tap, I'd drink it if they served it in pubs.

Sarky

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Eewww, you've tasted a hamster's hole. :pac:

Tastes kinda like chicken.

Sweaty, sweaty chicken.

bgrizzley

i drink Guinness, but havin a think about this, ive decided, i wont anymore. fcuk you Diageo and your too cold stout. New day.........

120_Minutes

I'm lead to believe that this type of behaviour is nothing new from Diageo, only this time they were caught.

Delighted.

RichieC

I really like brewdog! their hardcore IPA is very nice!

RichieC

bgrizzley wrote: »

i drink Guinness, but havin a think about this, ive decided, i wont anymore. fcuk you Diageo and your too cold stout. New day.........

Drink Beamish! it's cheaper and nicer! don't listen to faux no-it-alls who tell you Guinness is better, they probably never tasted a real stout in their lives.

Benny_Cake

dan1895 wrote: »

Intending to head down to the Carlow Brewing Co soon and stock up on the various types of O'Hara's. I've heard you can get it off them direct at a very good price.

Really? Would be great if that was the case, I love their pale ale and Leann Follain is a fantastic bottled stout.

Sky King

bgrizzley wrote: »

fcuk you Diageo and your too cold stout. New day.........

YES!

Big Nasty

Superquinn do an excellet deal on craft and speciality beers charging 6 for 5 which usually works out about €2 a bottle. Tesco have recently introduced a good portfolio of quality beers.

WoollyRedHat

Baneblade wrote: »

lol they could have at least whipped out a key and tried to hide the name a bit

Diageo, Always rig responsibly.

Lollymcd

Reading this has me hankering for some Punk IPA... Brew Dock here I come...

Seaneh

ScumLord wrote: »

Just finished a bottle of leann follain, love chocolatey stouts.

Bottles of guniness stout are really nice, it's many times better than the stuff out of the tap, I'd drink it if they served it in pubs.

You are in Galway, yeah? E. Bruin (sp?) on domminick street have it, pretty sure Murphys and Freeney's do too.

Sky King

I have some nice homebrew here but I only bottled it on monday

Caliden

Mirco brews are amazing.
In Boston there are some bars where you could be doing well to try all of their micro brews or their rotating local brews, really spoilt for choice.

Before coming over my poison would've been Heineken (don't mock) but now, I just try everything.
Last Friday I had an IPA that was 8.5% and it was seriously tasty.

ScumLord

Seaneh wrote: »

You are in Galway, yeah? E. Bruin (sp?) on domminick street have it, pretty sure Murphys and Freeney's do too.

Not in the city, They do stock it in all the local shops it's just always sold out.

themandan6611

scummy Diageo, i hear that some pubs who have a contract with them can't install any craft beers on tap, cartel-vill like

Sky King

False, a publican can put in what they like, unless the pub is owned by the brewery as is the case in N.I.

Big Nasty

Sky King wrote: »

False, a publican can put in what they like, unless the pub is owned by the brewery as is the case in N.I.

Depends though, you only have a limited number of lines, breweries battle for same. I've heard stories of reps damaging other breweries lines.

ScumLord

You can sell what you like but then Diageo are under no obligation to sell you any of their beer.

Big Nasty

ScumLord wrote: »

You can sell what you like but then Diageo are under no obligation to sell you any of their beer.

The only time any brewery will say no is if it's not economically viable. For some rural pubs it's not logical to send a truck for two 50L kegs a week. Similalry for some craft brewers it's not logical to send a transit van for one 30L keg a month.

Blackjack

TPD wrote: »

Disgusting behaviour. Hopefully the craft brewing culture continues to grow. Would be great to have small town breweries in Ireland, competing for county and national awards each season / year etc. Also, to have Diagio out of small pubs and have some proper choice on a night out.

That would be a dream come true....

Big Nasty

Blackjack wrote: »

That would be a dream come true....

It's not completely unbelieveable that it could happen though. Let's face it, pubs are quietier and Diageo and Heineken are often refusing to travel to rural pubs to drop 1/2 kegs. Local breweries can pick up the slack. Also, most pubs have identical stock, can you imagine if every restaurant had the same menu? Pubs greatly need to diversify and provide alternatives to the pub next door.

P_1

Good to see that Diageo are finally starting to be put under pressure by the independent craft brewers. This incident could well be a win-win for those of us who can't stand the majority of the swill that is available in most pubs.

1 - More craft brews become available
2 - Diageo up their game and bring out some decent beers.

Sky King

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Depends though, you only have a limited number of lines, breweries battle for same. I've heard stories of reps damaging other breweries lines.

Beer lines are allocated according to the publicans preference and installations are grant aided by the three main breweries on this basis. There's no 'limit' to the number of lines in a pub, and breweries don't 'battle for them'. The only limit is the physical space for the beer line python and of course the beer cooler capacity (though there's nothing stopping the publican adding a plug-in flash cooler at their bar if there's no space in the main line cooler).

And as for other breweries 'damaging beer lines' that's just plain daft.