KimyReizeger

so, because they're good at marketing it's not as worthy as the produce of other brewers? fuck off and stop stirring shit.

this thread is popular because people are enjoying brewdog beer, mainly because it tastes good but the fact that it's local and run by people of a similar age, with imagery and sensibilities we can relate to, means that there's a greater sense of attachment to the 'brand'. we're all aware of how marketing works, but thanks for patronising everyone.

i enjoy beers from everywhere and also give regular support to cairngorm and deeside brewery by purchasing and responsibly consuming their beverages. don't overanalyze it, just enjoy it or don't enjoy it.

I'm not patronising. I find advertising really interesting and have a lot of admiration for the people behind it. I'm glad you're honest about identifying with characteristics of the brand such as the age of the owners, their symbols, icons and what they purportedly represent. Obviously both music and art have long attachments to the notion of a simple, social existence, and a rejection of corporate culture and consumerism. Indeed, I'm sure you'll find plenty on here who feel this way.

The fact that Brewdog tastes good is of little relevance. I would posit that taste is not the main reason people drink it. There's nothing 'bad' about that. There's nothing 'wrong' with associating with brands. We all do it. But really, are products worth believing in? Does anyone else just think this is all a case of perception, and that if a regular brewer released the same beer, there's nothing to suggest people would enjoy it as much?

Don't know if you're entirely well informed. I attended the tasting thing the other week, and the chap from Brewdog didn't look much like an evil Rich Uncle Pennybags whatsoever.

Yeah, but neither does Ronald McDonald.

Our beers are in no way commercial or mainstream.

We do not merely aspire to the proclaimed heady heights of conformity through neutrality and blandness.

We are unique and individual

A beacon of non-conformity in a increasingly monotone corporate desert.

We are proud to be an intrepid David in a desperate ocean of insipid Goliaths.

We are proud to be an alternative.

Fuck off and get me a Trade Winds.

I'm still waiting on the completion of my extensive market research. Apologies.

Ok, back to the original point:

The association of alcohol with music, ideas and rebellion is a see-through, cringeworthy marketing tac which appears to be working rather nicely indeed for a couple of businessmen in Fraserburgh. It's no different from the association of Coca-cola with christmas or Nike with sport. By grappling hold of 'values', companies can transform base products into more than which they are, the best example being Coke, which is really just brown sugary water. By the same token, Brewdog beer is just like any other beer, but through clever marketing they've managed to work themselves onto a warped ethical high ground and capture the imagination of an 'alternative' group of consumers, which in turn begins to perceive the beer as something more than what it is. Perception is everything.

It's called branding, and everyone here seems to be supping it up fairly happily. I was just wondering what you thought about it? I mean, are people here happy to let marketing take its course on them?

Two local guys out of nowhere started a brewery and did well. They've upset the major brewers in the country, and have got nationwide recognition for a very successful business venture.

Is the fact that they're successful a reason to drink their beer?

I suppose it's because they're local, and they had a bit of bother with a big brewery in which they triumphed. 12 pages isn't really that big a deal.

Would you say the beer is popular around here because it is local?

Tastes nice. And yours?

Yeah, it's ok. But if that's all you want to judge it on why do we have a gushing twelve page thread?

The kids out there getting smashed of a weekend won't go near Brew Dog because it costs so much.

But surely it's not just kids who abuse alcohol. 18% beer is irresponsible because it contradicts regular, understood criteria concerning the word 'beer'. It's confusing, and encourages people to drink on the basis of alcohol content.

Plus they are local and sticking two fingers up to the main breweries and the government

But aggressively marketed 18% beers are irresponsible.

I'd wager that people like the brewery's beer.

I thought rock music fans might be put off by the association of music and ideas with fermented cereal grains?

Any thoughts?

Can anyone explain to me why a brewery is so popular on here?

Why'd it make the news? Because it's a very busy, well-known junction in the UK's top city.

Why'd it cost 5m?

The redesign doubles the amount of pavement

Sounds like a lot of night-time digging to me.

I think the inside is reasonable aesthetically. Wide passageways, revealing upper-deck cutaways and plenty of light. Gives a nice expansive feel as opposed to others.

there was a couple of parts that i heard didnt quite sink in to place if you get me.

yeah, totally on that wavelength. Crystal-clear.

Did anyone else get accosted by a chef from Handmade Burger at the Blue Lamp last night?

Loads at university. Not sure if they'd let you play em, but if you ask real nice...

58,000 people attended over 8 hours yesterday. Incredible. People queuing up at the Apple store for free 'exclusive' Apple T-shirts. In fact, I couldn't understand why the Apple store was so busy. Can anyone explain? What's so interesting about a few gizmos, phones and laptops?

And what'll happen to Union Street, which already looks grubbier and shopper-hostile by the day.

Soul-less shopping centre? Good addition to retail atmosphere of Aberdeen?

I think it was the 'un-listenable' part that ruined the diplomatics. .

I just meant that because of the number of 'things' happening in several of the tracks - particularly those of the whooshing, sweeping, abrasive sort - and taking into account the reduction in audio quality inherent to myspace, that I found it a painful listen.

Different people work in different ways. I tend to get spurred on by negative criticism; the I'll show you complex of a rampant narcissist.

I think I was a bit harsh last night, I do actually enjoy bits of it. How do you make your tracks?

Maybe because your influences shine through so obviously I'm just seeing it as a imitation of Boards of Canada and Aphex Twin. It's routine, nothing new, and a pretty unpleasant listen at times. On the plus side it's occasionally musical and considered which is nice. Not so keen on the soaring pads or abrasive leads though. A hell of a lot of em are mixed badly (too loud) and very preset-like. My fave bit is definitely the quirky thing at the start and end of the 3rd track, with the kind of dodging, cut up thing.

My personal experience of creating electronic music involves spending long periods of time working on (what I hope are decent) sounds and interesting, cohesive structures. This idea of just slamming everything down doesn't really appeal to me. It's fast paced, unrefined and disorderly. I'm an techno tory

I think:

The beats are pretty generic and it's way too busy. A lot of the songs seem to be, rather than one or two really good ideas; many ok-ish ones. I often think DAWs give you too much choice. A bit of character in the sounds and depth perspective in the production would be nice. Given poor myspace quality, I find it almost un-listenable.

But there are also some pretty cool ideas, and the beginnings of both the second and third songs are unusual and quite gripping.

If he blinged himself up a bit for the vid, I'd buy it.

I think you suggested it was 'right wing satire'. In truth, you mock the pompous attitude and inflated ego of the aristocratic speaker, therefore rendering it a fairly 'left-wing satire' in my book. Sort your wings out before you, erm, fly

I thought the 'John-major-in-nothing-because-he-was-born-in-brixton' bit was funny.