Calfkiller Brewing Company is officially at odds with Budweiser of Tennessee. The brewery claims that their brewery has purchased used kegs at auctions, breweries that have shut down, or from keg companies. Last month, Bud of TN went into accounts and “confiscated” kegs belonging to the brewery, claiming theft, or not giving a reason at all. Of course, Calfkiller takes a bit of exception to this. From the brewery:
Grab your Kool aid kids and take a seat. Here’s the story of Calfkiller Brewing Company, and Budweiser of TN.
Once upon a time there was this little guy (Calfkiller Brewing Company). A very honest hard working little guy with a dream to make great beer that folks could enjoy. After many years of
hard work this dream became reality. Slowly but surely the little guy was rubbing shoulders with the big guys in the market place. All was well…….or so they thought.
See being the little guy you start small if your smart. You buy used equipment, and or convert things to serve a purpose you need. You recycle and do the best you can with what you have to
work with. Used equipment for beer making is everywhere! Everything from full brewery systems to the kegs for transporting the beer. KEGS!! did someone say kegs??? Ahh yes, this takes us
back to point of the story.
Over the years the little guy has purchased used kegs from all across the country. A few examples would be unclaimed freight auctions, breweries that have closed, or keg companies
that sell new, used, and refurbished kegs. Anyone can purchase these, and Calfkiller has done it as well. Everything from website sales to store fronts in public with huge signs by the road for
everyone to see. LEGIT businesses! So Calfkiller has been using kegs like these from day one.
Smooth sailing and all has seemed well…..until about a month ago! That’s when the “Budweiser keg police” began trying to strong arm the little guy. Now no one is sure really why. Maybe they simply want the entire market. Maybe they simply don’t like the little guys. Maybe they got their first quarter reports for 2012, and noticed the little guy had taken a piece of their pie. The only thing the little guy knows for sure is the truth isn’t in them so it does no good to ask questions at Budweiser in TN.
So the big monopoly Budweiser has started walking in to accounts, and simply taking the little guys kegs! FLIRTING WITH SLANDER they have told business owners that Calfkiller had stole the kegs.
WRONG WAY TO PLAY BALL BUDWEISER!! Calfkiller is pissed, and is sharing their side of the story. THE TRUTH of the story to the public. The little guy tried to be civil about the matter. They
contacted distribution to try and resolve the issue, but were lied to, ignored, and simply not dealt with.
Budweiser has said they have never sold a keg. Really??? How can they be purchased from places by the truck load then??? They also informed Calfkiller that it had come down from corporate, and was out of the local distributions hands. Although Calfkiller found it flattering that the big dogs even knew who they were they also found it highly unlikely that the beer giant cared that Calfkiller had a few 20 year old kegs of theirs. After researching, and talking with St. Louis. St. Louis said “we know nothing about this”. Calfkiller figured as much. Plus after 5 phone calls not returned it was pretty obvious it was on the local scale, and the So Called “King of Beers” had little if anything to do with it. Speaking of stealing… “King of Beers” they stole that from a German beer company many many moons ago. They have always been bully’s. Look at their 2012 business strategies. They can be found online.
Everything from threatening 500 wholesalers, to telling local distribution what they can, and can not deliver on their trucks. OH, and American beer??? lol Check the chart showing who’s in charge of anything Budweiser in America… very interesting, and comical. So the moral of this story kids is “morals” Calfkiller has a great standard of them. Now Budweiser may wrongly take what they can from the little guy, but they will not take the Name of Calfkiller Brewing Company, and run it through the ringer without a fight. Calfkiller has done no wrong to anyone. Calfkiller HAS lost all respect for Budweiser of TN, and the Hand company.
Plain, and simple folks the truth has been here by told, and now you know……the rest of the story.
Budweiser is losing business, while the little guys are gaining business. Budweiser is so scared that people will realize what beer is supposed to taste like that they’ll do anything to try to get rid of competion except improve their own “beer”
These guys have been putting their beer into AB kegs. Bud just wants their kegs back. It is nothing more sinister than that. If I owned a brewery and someone else was putting their beer in my keg, I’d not be very happy and I would want my keg back. They should buy their own kegs. You have to admit, this is a low cost business model… probably illegal but low cost.