RateBeer Founder Joe Tucker Sells 25% Stake to InBev

[DonRocks]

Be careful what you rely on, friends.

"AB InBev's ZX Ventures Buys Minority Stake in RateBeer" on beeradvocate.com

Joe Tucker had the balls to say this:

"The focus of the agreement was on maintaining RateBeer’s value as an unbiased beer authority, retaining our operational independence, informing a whole new group of global consumers and keeping them excited about the beer." (*)

Mr. Tucker, at least be honest with yourself. I don't blame you for selling out, but AT LEAST ADMIT THAT YOU SOLD OUT, and stop trying to dupe the consumer. You did this nine months ago, following eight months of discussions, and didn't say anything?

"Anheuser-Busch InBev Acquires Minority Stake in RateBeer ... in 2016" on goodbeerhunting.com

If and when I sell out, I'll make damned sure to let everyone know on a timely basis, so they can make informed decisions as consumers - I refuse to issue a "Jolly Press Release" NINE MONTHS after the fact, not for ten million dollars. Not for all the money in the world. I'm not saying it won't happen, but I am saying that I won't pretend it didn't.

Joe Tucker, I don't blame you for cashing in; I blame you *immensely* for implying that nothing will change in terms of independence. 

Your reputation as an "independent source" is done. It's gone. All your hard work amounted for, is (possibly) several years of sound advice - long ago - followed by the money you received from AB InBev - nothing more than that. You are, from this point forward, and possibly from some point-in-time in the past, a shill.

Come out and admit it, and regain your self-respect. There's nothing wrong with working for a company; just don't deceive consumers by pretending that you don't.

The "Craft Beer" con-job is just that: a con-job. I'm on-record as saying that for a long, long time now, but nobody has listened to me.

(*) PS - In case it's not obvious, you really *suck* for putting your name on that statement.

[pras]

This is more troubling to me than AB buying up breweries, because you can let the product speak for itself in those cases, but Rate Beer is intended to be an independent rating system.  I for one have posted my last rating on the site.

[Rovers2000]

I can't put my hands on the link at the moment - but Dogfish is actually leading the charge in terms of removing their RateBeer footprint.  It appears quite a few breweries are following their lead.

[dcs]

1 hour ago, Rovers2000 said:

I can't put my hands on the link at the moment - but Dogfish is actually leading the charge in terms of removing their RateBeer footprint.

Citing a conflict of interest, Dogfish Head founder requests removal from RateBeer site, by Jeff Neiburg, jneiburg@delmarvanow.com Published 10:34 a.m. ET June 6, 2017 | Updated 8:31 p.m. ET June 6, 2017 on delmarvanow.com.

[DonRocks]

When I got my Accounting degree, the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) drilled home, over and over again: 'It isn't just actual impartiality that matters - it's also the *appearance* of impartiality.' Perhaps Joe Tucker really will be impartial from this point forward ... but I guarantee he wasn't an Accounting major (either that, or he didn't learn much).

Does anyone really think that PricewaterhouseCoopers would ever make their Academy Awards blunder again? They'd have so many safeguards in place that it would be nearly impossible; but the public has lost confidence in them, so the Academy *had* to let them go for the credibility of the Awards, such that it was.