Craft brewery reacts to President Obama's beer choice

As I posted earlier this week, the beer choices (Bud Light, Red Stripe and Blue Moon) for President Obama's "summit" have raised concerns in the craft beer world. Craft brewer Magic Hat out of Burlington, Vt., (beer geek aside: I visited them while on my honeymoon!) has issued a news release on the matter, as reported by BeerUtopia.com.

Magic Hat writes:

Craft Brewers the country over are chagrined by the President’s choice to consume a beer owned by a company based outside of America’s borders. Bud Light, owned by Belgium-based AB InBev, and Blue Moon, owned by London-based SAB MillerCoors, together control over 90% of the beer market in the United States. However, the United States boasts almost 1,500 craft brewers, the majority being made up of small Main Street Businesses that employ less than 50 people. In the humble opinions of Magic Hat and American Craft Brewers, it would be a strong show of support for American businesses for President Obama to embrace the free and diverse expression that comes with each American-made craft beer.

Magic Hat Brewing Company urges its thirsty nation to contact the White House directly at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact to ask President Obama to drink American Craft Beer ...

 Let's hope it's not too late to change the beer menu at the White House to craft beer.

Thanks to Herald-Tribune Assistant Business Editor Gerard Walen for the story tip.