Take Craft Back: The Brewers Association aiming to buy AB InBev

The Brewers Association (BA) in America has announced the craft brewing community’s intent to ‘Take Craft Back from Big Beer’, launching the largest crowdfunding campaign ever – with a target of $213 billion – to buy Anheuser-Busch InBev.

According to the BA, the not-for-profit organisation that represents America’s small and independent brewers, AB InBev represents “the biggest – and the most powerful – of Big Beer, so Take Craft Back aims to make them an offer they can’t refuse.”

“Over the past several years, Big Beer has been attempting to buy their way into the craft beer movement by acquiring small breweries at a rapid rate and using their acquisitions to invent craft brewing bona-fides.”

The Take Craft Back campaign features a ‘not-yet-superstar’ Andy – described as an avowed lover of craft beer – who has stated that his affinity for craft beer makes him highly qualified to serve as a campaign spokesperson.

“Since 2011, Anheuser-Busch InBev has quietly acquired 10 small and independent breweries, but they won’t tell you that on their packaging,” said Andy.

“Just try to name all 10 without Googling…exactly. Big Beer creates an ‘illusion of choice,’ but we are presenting them with a reality check—and hopefully, at the end of the day, with a real check too.

“Independent craft brewers refuse to be muscled out by Big Beer, and we are uniting on an unprecedented scale to take on Big Beer and their efforts to make it harder for beer drinkers to find their favorite independent craft beers at their favorite bars, liquor stores and restaurants.”

At the time of writing, the campaign had raised over $2 million from more than 6000 contributors – leaving only $212,998,000,000 left to be raised.

To reach the total amount of $213 billion, the campaign would require that every person in the US contribute $653.37, and every person on the planet $28.78.

The BA encourages beer lovers everywhere to spread the word with hashtags #TakeCraftBack and #IndependentBeer.

For full details of the campaign, including how to contribute, visit TakeCraftBack.com. Pledges will only be collected after all $213 billion has been secured.