Boston Beer Co Inc (SAM) Opens Up a (Better) Can

Color me convinced, but now Boston Beer looks like the overachieving kid in science class. Sure, it may not have the enviable worldwide distribution channels and marketing muscle of behemoth competitors like Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE:TAP) or Anheuser-Busch InBev NV (ADR) (NYSE:BUD), but the big boys’ gimmicky “Vortex” bottles and vented wide-mouth cans seem just silly in comparison.

In all fairness to Molson Coors and AB InBev, their massively popular products like Coors Lite and Budweiser aren’t likely to fall from atop the list of America’s best-selling beers anytime soon. However, as I noted last month, moves like AB InBev taking a significant stake in the tiny Craft Brew Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:BREW) show that the big guys recognize a threat when they see one. It’s a safe bet, then, that Boston Beer’s candid move into their aluminum turf has raised some eyebrows.

Was it worth it?
Of course, considering Boston Beer’s relatively small size, one can’t help but wonder whether this was the best use of capital, especially when we consider that they could have put that money to use to either improve brewing capacity or help fund the coming year’s increased marketing expenses.

In the end, however, considering Boston Beer’s high-quality roots, nobody should be surprised by Koch’s insistence on refusing to settle for anything less than perfection. By going the extra mile with the new “Sam Can,” Koch was simply maintaining the brand that he has spent nearly three decades to build.

From a long-term investors’ standpoint, I’ll happily drink to that.

The article Boston Beer Opens Up a (Better) Can originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Steve Symington.

Fool contributor Steve Symington has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Boston Beer and Molson Coors Brewing (NYSE:TAP) Company. The Motley Fool owns shares of Boston Beer.

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