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luvmytbear
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Posted: Sat Apr 5th, 2008 05:35 am | 1st Post |
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I'm curious as to any of you beer nuts (ha ha ha) are fans of New Belgium Brewery's beers. If you are, are you a fan based on the product itself or do NBB's ethical and environmental practices sway you towards their product? Or perhaps both?
I'm writing a paper for my Business Ethics (an oxymoron if I've ever heard one!  ) class on NBB and I'm trying to incorporate more of a customer opinion vs. what the books and the company says.
Thanks if you can help!
Last edited on Sat Apr 5th, 2008 05:37 am by luvmytbear
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nhrich
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Posted: Sat Apr 5th, 2008 11:11 am | 2nd Post |
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This probably won't help, as I've never heard of NBB. Like you said, business ethics are an oxymoron with most corporations. With that said...
I'd primarily make my choice based on the product. If the product was as good as another one, and about the same price, then the other factors may play in. I'm not one to spend more or sacrifice the taste of my beer for the sake of a company PR machine, that may or may not be telling the truth.
Good luck with your paper. I don't miss those days.
Last edited on Sat Apr 5th, 2008 11:12 am by nhrich
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Cubechick
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Posted: Sat Apr 5th, 2008 01:28 pm | 3rd Post |
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On a trip to Phoenix a few years back, we tried Fat Tire amber ale and fell in love with the beer--we'd never heard of Fat Tire or NBB. Upon our return to the Northeast, we were dismayed to find their products are not distributed east of the Mississippi.  Most people in the east have never heard of NBB or have had the opportunity to try their products. 
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BeckyThane
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Posted: Sat Apr 5th, 2008 02:50 pm | 4th Post |
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Lora, I wish I could remember this article more explicitly, as I'm afraid the following information won't be much of a help. But maybe it'll jar something loose in your memory?
I was reading an article a couple of months ago. This author claimed that companies which lose their central business focus and instead shift time and energy to other concerns, e.g., environmental & social causes, are doomed to failure.
File that in your "For what it's worth" category... 
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BAMA X 2
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Posted: Sat Apr 5th, 2008 05:07 pm | 5th Post |
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"NBB's ethical and environmental practices sway you towards their product? Or perhaps both?"
Nope! Not me. What would an ethical parctice be in brewing anyway? As far as the enviorment goes that would be something Al Gore might consider and even take his private jet to Belgium to pick up a case or two!
Gore must have one of the largest carbon footprints on the face of this Earth!
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Brangwen
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Posted: Sat Apr 5th, 2008 06:39 pm | 6th Post |
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I love Fat Tire! Not a huge fan of New Belgium though... just taste-based. Not a clue what their business practices are, I tend to buy my beer based on taste.
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Sat Apr 5th, 2008 09:34 pm | 7th Post |
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| Lora, have you Googled New Belgium Brewery? Looks like they even have consumer reviews on them out there. Good luck!
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luvmytbear
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Posted: Sun Apr 6th, 2008 12:10 am | 8th Post |
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Thanks a million, guys and gals! :) I won't be using names of course, but will be incorporating these opinions into my paper.
NBB has some interesting environmental ideas. They recycle keg caps and make them into tabletops. After a year of employment, they give their employees a "cruiser" bicycle and encourage them to ride to work. Free of charge, they give the spent barley and hop grains to local farmers to feed their stock. They reduce energy usage by using a steam condenser that captures and reuses the hot water that boils the barley and hops. The steam is redirected to heat the floor tiles and de-ice the loading docks in cold weather conditions. NBB is also fully wind powered.
Not environmental, but if you are employed with NBB for 5 years, you get an all-expense paid trip to Belgium to study the fine art of beer! They are reported to treat their employees quite well. They allow them to bring their kids and their dogs? (yes, that is what they do) to work. They get free massages and also are given stock in the company.
I'm finding out all sorts of interesting information! lol
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BeckyThane
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Posted: Sun Apr 6th, 2008 12:17 am | 9th Post |
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Lora, another thought I had earlier today...
Some of those businesses that have incorporated their social & environmental concerns into their founding business plan have done quite well, e.g., Ben & Jerry's. So perhaps it's a matter of making these concerns a part of the original business plan which helps lead to success on both accounts, rather than trying to overlay these concerns at a later time?
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repete
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Posted: Sun Apr 6th, 2008 12:29 am | 10th Post |
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luvmytbear wrote: Thanks a million, guys and gals! :) I won't be using names of course, but will be incorporating these opinions into my paper.
NBB has some interesting environmental ideas. They recycle keg caps and make them into tabletops. After a year of employment, they give their employees a "cruiser" bicycle and encourage them to ride to work. Free of charge, they give the spent barley and hop grains to local farmers to feed their stock. They reduce energy usage by using a steam condenser that captures and reuses the hot water that boils the barley and hops. The steam is redirected to heat the floor tiles and de-ice the loading docks in cold weather conditions. NBB is also fully wind powered.
Not environmental, but if you are employed with NBB for 5 years, you get an all-expense paid trip to Belgium to study the fine art of beer! They are reported to treat their employees quite well. They allow them to bring their kids and their dogs? (yes, that is what they do) to work. They get free massages and also are given stock in the company.
I'm finding out all sorts of interesting information! lol
Sadly, I have yet to try an NBB product. (I know, some beerguru, lol).
Sounds like a great company to work for, more companies in other practices could take some lessons. FTR, I also compost my spent grains from homebrewing, and the tomatoes don't seem to mind. 
As far as dogs in the brewery, YUCK . I hope they are not allowed in any part where fermentation is going on.  My dog is banished to the backyard during any part of my brewing process.
I would love to hear more about this brewery. Anybody know if it is possible to find their products on the east coast?
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Sun Apr 6th, 2008 04:50 am | 11th Post |
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From what I understand from their web site, they do not distribute on the east coast. Here's some info:
Q. Where can I find your beers?
A. Good question. Crucial, really. We are a regional craft brewer distributing throughout the western United States. You can find most or all of our line in Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and (soon to be) Tennesse.
Q. Will you ever distribute your beer in my (fill in the blank) state?
A. Never say never. Never is an ugly word.
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GREGandamy
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Posted: Sun Apr 6th, 2008 07:22 pm | 12th Post |
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| I wish they would bring it to NY. I've heard and read a lot of good things.
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luvmytbear
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 03:55 am | 13th Post |
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BeckyThane wrote: Lora, another thought I had earlier today...
Some of those businesses that have incorporated their social & environmental concerns into their founding business plan have done quite well, e.g., Ben & Jerry's. So perhaps it's a matter of making these concerns a part of the original business plan which helps lead to success on both accounts, rather than trying to overlay these concerns at a later time?
And that they did! Apparently Mr. Lebesch (NBB's founder) and his wife wrote the ideas they had for the social and environmental aspects of their business down on a piece of paper while on a camping trip before they even started their brewery, which started in the basement of their home.Last edited on Mon Apr 7th, 2008 03:56 am by luvmytbear
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luvmytbear
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 03:56 am | 14th Post |
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GREGandamy wrote: I wish they would bring it to NY. I've heard and read a lot of good things.
Can I ship beer in the mail? lol I'd love to send you some. It's actually a pretty good beer!
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GREGandamy
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 02:55 pm | 15th Post |
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luvmytbear wrote: GREGandamy wrote: I wish they would bring it to NY. I've heard and read a lot of good things.
Can I ship beer in the mail? lol I'd love to send you some. It's actually a pretty good beer!
I don't know if it's legal or not , but that would be cool. I had read about the free bike thing a few years back, they're big proponents of cycling.
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TheWog
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 02:58 pm | 16th Post |
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| My wife works for A-B and when in Colorado took a tour of a NBB plant. She tried Fat Tire and thought it was pretty good and thought I would like it, but that is the closest I have had to trying NBB products. I choose beer products mainly on price (free) and what new offerings or specialties they may throw our way each month.
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