I was going to post this as a comment at Lew's blog but it is really a tangent to his post about new board members being elected for the US's Brewer's Association. Question: do we have an issue with what the BA does as, in Lew's correct observation, an industry lobbying group in the awareness that "we" the drinkers are not distinctly represented in the dialogue? Is there something about the Brewers Association and other craft brewer marketing efforts that inhibits the development of a consumer's advocacy group?
Without suggesting an intentional effort or any sort of "gotcha", I do think there is at least some passive effect. Note the BA's motto: "a passionate voice for craft brewers" - is that always in line with being passionate for craft beer? And, really, can't we just "like" stuff? How many six packs of better beer are you going to sell in a corner store if you go around insisting the prospective buyer summons up "passion" for your product?