The end of 3.2 beer in Oklahoma?

[Jersey Boss]

High-point Budweiser products approved for Oklahoma | News OK

A good article touching on the ramifications of this development and the possible effect it could have on craft brews.

[BoulderSooner]

this doesn't end 3.2 beer .. Budweiser could have always sold high point in Oklahoma they didn't as a matter of policy (and the ability to not have exclusive distribution licenses)

interesting policy choice for bud ..

[bchris02]

I don't see this ending 3.2, but hopefully it leads to cold beer being available in liquor stores. That would also allow New Belgium beers to be sold in Oklahoma. Does anybody know if that would require a constitutional amendment? If not, I am sure a large brewer like Anheuser-Busch may have the weight to get it done.

[GaryOKC6]

Very Good. If this happens I am sure that Coors will follow soon after.

[GaryOKC6]

I always thought it funny that Bud did not offer higher percent beer in Oklahoma because it could not be sold cold. But then you go into all the grocery stores and see hot Budweiser satcked up everywhere. They seem to sell a lot of it that is not refrigerated.

[bchris02]

One thing that is likely once Coors follows is for this to pretty much end 3.2 beer in bars and restaurants. I doubt they will continue to sell low-point when high-point is available.

[Bunty]

I assume Oklahoma can't have 3.2% beer due to fear that the liquor stores will lose an obscene amount of profits, due to no longer being the only place to buy the next step up from 3.2% beer. But in return, let them try to make money off of being allowed to sell other products related to alcohol use.

[bchris02]

Now that liquor stores can sell high point Bud, it may spur the grocery and convenient store lobby to push harder to be able to sell high point now that they have competition. I am a craft beer fan, not a Bud fan, but this is great because it sets the stage so that real change eventually may be a realistic possibility.

[SouthsideSooner]

This has nothing to do with the end of 3.2 in Oklahoma. Bud has no desire to do that. They have the lions share of grocery and convenience store cold box space as it is now and going single strength would only open that up to increased competition. By going this route, they maintain the status quo in the 3.2 realm while going after the market share they're missing in liquor stores...

[Bill Robertson]

This may indeed lead to change Oklahoma beer laws. But it won't change beer that much. According to Budweiser regular Bud is 5.0% alcohol by volume. Oklahoma regular Bud is 3.2% alcohol by weight. According to Realbeer.com 3.2 by weight converts to 4.0% by volume. So there's only 1% difference between weak Bud and strong Bud.

[RadicalModerate]

O'Doul's Amber N.A. actually tastes better than either "Bud" or "Coors".
Now "Coors" is actually something like "United Beverage International".
I wonder if the new law will force "Coors" to stop serving it at "Banquets" or to change their misleading label . . .
(not the "Beer" part . . . the "Banquet Beer" part)

[SouthsideSooner]

The first products to come in to liquor stores will be 8.0% Lime-a-rita, Straw-ber-rita and Cran-ber-rita and also, kegs of some of the beer in Nov. The other beers mentioned will come in in 6 packs either in Dec. or Jan.

[Just the facts]

This may indeed lead to change Oklahoma beer laws. But it won't change beer that much. According to Budweiser regular Bud is 5.0% alcohol by volume. Oklahoma regular Bud is 3.2% alcohol by weight. According to Realbeer.com 3.2 by weight converts to 4.0% by volume. So there's only 1% difference between weak Bud and strong Bud.

It is a 25% increase.

[SouthsideSooner]

Nope... This all but assures that beer laws in OK. won't be changing in the foreseeable future... with Bud making the decision to sell their strong products in OK., expect Miller and Coors to follow soon after. They both sell products in liquor stores already anyway...

[RadicalModerate]

It is a 25% increase.

Yes. But a 25% increase in next to nothing . . .
which shouldn't affect the taste one way or the other.

[bchris02]

Yes. But a 25% increase in next to nothing . . .
which shouldn't affect the taste one way or the other.

The watered down taste of 3.2 beer isn't because of the low alcohol content. It is the result of a stronger beer being literally watered down to 3.2. Beers, like Guiness, that are naturally 3.2 don't taste watered down, despite their low alcohol content.

[BoulderSooner]

It is a 25% increase.

or oklahoma 3.2 beer has 20% less alcohol than texas beer

[onthestrip]

I dont see this doing much for changing our liquor laws. Its still going to take a huge legislative effort or for it to be put on the ballot. All this will probably do is take away shelf space from better craft beers. Who is really going to go buy hot Budweiser from a liquor store just because there is a minimal more amount of alchohol content?

[RadicalModerate]

or oklahoma 3.2 beer has 20% less alcohol than texas beer

so, how much alcohol is in texas 3.2 beer?
(i'd bet not much . . . or drink neither--or is that either, if it refers to Coors or Bud?)

[BoulderSooner]

I always thought it funny that Bud did not offer higher percent beer in Oklahoma because it could not be sold cold. But then you go into all the grocery stores and see hot Budweiser satcked up everywhere. They seem to sell a lot of it that is not refrigerated.

that is not why bud didn't /doesn't offer high point beer ..

they don't/didn't because they can't control the distribution ie they would have to share the money

[SouthsideSooner]

that is not why bud didn't /doesn't offer high point beer ..

they don't/didn't because they can't control the distribution ie they would have to share the money

Yep... That and their concern over losing an element of control over quality control issues...

[SouthsideSooner]

I dont see this doing much for changing our liquor laws. Its still going to take a huge legislative effort or for it to be put on the ballot. All this will probably do is take away shelf space from better craft beers. Who is really going to go buy hot Budweiser from a liquor store just because there is a minimal more amount of alchohol content?

This does nothing to change liquor laws, if anything, it takes away one of the reasons for changing them.

Don't kid yourself... this is a huge get for liquor stores. Most Bud drinkers would much prefer full strength over the watered down 3.2 version... it doesn't take that long to bring it down to temp...

[OkieHornet]

i don't care about the alcohol content - as long as it somehow gets us the opportunity in the future to be able to buy good-tasting beer not currently available in the state (new belgium, dogfish head, kona brewing...)

[Jeepnokc]

The first products to come in to liquor stores will be 8.0% Lime-a-rita, Straw-ber-rita and Cran-ber-rita and also, kegs of some of the beer in Nov. The other beers mentioned will come in in 6 packs either in Dec. or Jan.

Pure speculation on my part but IMHO...this is the reason for the move. My wife and all of her friends are bootlegging lime-a-ritas into OK by the cases. There have been several times we have had to go to more than one store because the store was sold out and the manager told us it was because all of the Okies coming down and buying it. (btw...they are 8%).

Under our system....it has to go through a liquor distributor before it goes to liquor store which means that Bud would have to add in another middle man which isn't required when supplying directly to c-stores in 3.2%. 3.2% could be sold 24 hrs a day up until the law change a while back and can still be sold cold 7 days a week until 2 am. whereas the supply times are more limited with liquor stores. C-store sales are hugely profitable. How else can you explain several imports adding 3.2 version over the last several years. You can get Dos XX and Heineken at c-store in 3.2 and also at liquor store at higher %.

[Bunty]

I dont see this doing much for changing our liquor laws. Its still going to take a huge legislative effort or for it to be put on the ballot. All this will probably do is take away shelf space from better craft beers. Who is really going to go buy hot Budweiser from a liquor store just because there is a minimal more amount of alchohol content?

You mean real beer drinkers never buy beer unless it's already cold?