AB InBev’s Beer Publication Shutters, Because Media Is Messy
Last week, The Beer Necessities, a beer publication funded by Anheuser-Busch InBev, somewhat unexpectedly shut down. The site going dark was a surprise to some, who figured a website funded by the world’s largest beer producer had a better chance surviving than many competitors. To others, the closure was less of a shock. In either case, it’s a move that will no doubt put a smile on many faces, namely those who support relentless independence in their beer (and incidentally, media) choices.
So, what happened? The issue was not The Beer Necessities’ content — it was a matter of ABI choosing its favorite web mag child. In addition to The Beer Necessities, ABI indirectly supported the publication of October, another beer publication. October was funded in part by ZX Ventures, an ABI investment arm. Read more here, from VinePair.