Originally Posted by
TMOliver
I'll disagree. "Malt Liquor" isa product aimed at an indentifiable and addressable market segment, few of whom are looking for "high octane" beers or the expensive to produce/distribute "craft" beers.
"Cheap" and "plenty of buzz", in most cases available in a big container are the keynotes, and the folks buying and drinking malt liquor won't be switched to "Chimay", etc., no more so than will drinkers of "Thunderbird" start buying "Harvey's Bristol Cream".
As I read it, gregwiggins's original point was just the opposite.
Because of the legislation, even the "high octane" or "craft" beers were required to be called malt liquors, which turned off the intended buyers because of the cheap buzz reputation.
The makers of Chimay certainly do not think the average malt liquor buyer would look for their product, but they certainly would not want to have their beer called malt liquor.
Cheers,
T.