http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/06/the-heineken-experience-marketing-that-leaves-a-bad-taste-in-my-mouth/ Business, Better. Since 2005 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:05:16 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/06/the-heineken-experience-marketing-that-leaves-a-bad-taste-in-my-mouth/comment-page-1/#comment-9593 robin Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:02:53 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/06/the-heineken-experience-marketing-that-leaves-a-bad-taste-in-my-mouth/#comment-9593 I definitely second your thoughts on the Anchor Steam tour, which I took a couple of years ago. It was so fun learning about the history of steam beer and the guy who started Anchor Steam, talking to the brewmaster, seeing the facilities and so forth. That's too bad about Heineken. But it's not terribly surprising either, considering their size. They are the Wal-Mart of Dutch beer. I think that nothing as large and global-capitalist as that can really compete with the smaller, more local and individual experience. I definitely second your thoughts on the Anchor Steam tour, which I took a couple of years ago. It was so fun learning about the history of steam beer and the guy who started Anchor Steam, talking to the brewmaster, seeing the facilities and so forth.
That’s too bad about Heineken. But it’s not terribly surprising either, considering their size. They are the Wal-Mart of Dutch beer. I think that nothing as large and global-capitalist as that can really compete with the smaller, more local and individual experience.

]]> http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/06/the-heineken-experience-marketing-that-leaves-a-bad-taste-in-my-mouth/comment-page-1/#comment-9592 Anonymous Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:48:57 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/06/the-heineken-experience-marketing-that-leaves-a-bad-taste-in-my-mouth/#comment-9592 Those "unknown" tourists look either drunk or deranged. I will definitely not be visiting the Heineken brewery on my next visit to Amsterdam. Those “unknown” tourists look either drunk or deranged. I will definitely not be visiting the Heineken brewery on my next visit to Amsterdam.

]]> http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/06/the-heineken-experience-marketing-that-leaves-a-bad-taste-in-my-mouth/comment-page-1/#comment-9591 Nick Aster Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:17:11 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/06/the-heineken-experience-marketing-that-leaves-a-bad-taste-in-my-mouth/#comment-9591 I definitely felt like a sucker for paying ‚Ǩ15 for this tour. There was, indeed, next to nothing describing the beer. The "experience" is a branding assault on steroids. That said, I wonder if I'd feel different about it if it had been free. No major brewery that I'm aware of (Miller, Anheuser-Busch, etc) charge for tours, and they offer similar, though not quite as technically advanced, branding "experiences". I left in awe of the power of Heineken's brand and the global empire they sit upon. I did not feel particularly compelled to increase my loyalty to their beer, however. What DID impress me were the <a href="http://www.triplepundit.com/pages/heineken-wobo-bottle-a-solution-to-susta.php" rel="nofollow">Wobo Bottles that I wrote about here</a>. Those things make me want to drink Heineken all day. I definitely felt like a sucker for paying ‚Ǩ15 for this tour. There was, indeed, next to nothing describing the beer. The “experience” is a branding assault on steroids.
That said, I wonder if I’d feel different about it if it had been free. No major brewery that I’m aware of (Miller, Anheuser-Busch, etc) charge for tours, and they offer similar, though not quite as technically advanced, branding “experiences”.
I left in awe of the power of Heineken’s brand and the global empire they sit upon. I did not feel particularly compelled to increase my loyalty to their beer, however.
What DID impress me were the Wobo Bottles that I wrote about here. Those things make me want to drink Heineken all day.

]]>