Beer Wars as it relates to you.

Nate Bell's Nebraska Beer Blog brings the Beer Wars story home. Here's the short version:

• Nate asks for a particular Nebraska-brewed beer at his local bar.


• Bar owner says he's been ordering it.


• Wholesaler says it's out of stock.


• Nate calls the brewer.


• Brewer calls the wholesaler.


• Wholesaler says it's been in stock the whole time.


• Wholesaler advises the bar owner to keep ordering the beer again and again, and maybe it will show up someday.

Read Nate's well-written story at the Nebraska Beer Blog, and then ask yourself:

Exactly what purpose does the wholesaler tier serve, besides jacking up the cost of doing business as a brewer and inflating the cost of retail beer?