Beer Wars (2009) on Netflix

Plot summary

American beer is dominated by three large brewers, Anheuser-Busch, Miller and Coors, whose advertising reach and political weight shape what drinkers find on the shelf. Against them stand small operations such as Dogfish Head, Stone Brewing Co., Yuengling and Moonshot 69, which brew craft beer in far smaller volumes. The documentary examines how advertising and lobbyists influence the market, arguing that both work against competition and consumer choice. It also traces the three-tier system, the rules that separate brewing, distributing and retailing, which prevent a brewer from delivering directly to a store. Those laws, the film says, now slow the growth of smaller brewers and help the largest three hold their position.