Is Big Beer muscling micros out of Boston’s Taste of the Nation?

Who said Big Beer isn’t worried about the market power of craft beer? Boston Business Journal (BBJ) reported that a “large donation” from Anheuser Busch-InBev has jumped the fundraising donation of Taste of the Nation Boston up to $5,000. Before this year, attendees got a chance to sample the best microbrews Boston had to offer. Now with Anheuser Busch-InBev offering a chunk from their deep pockets, smaller breweries are struggling to pay the $5,000 donation in order to be served at the event.

Somerville Brewing Co. (“Slumbrew”) was invited to pour donated product for this year’s 2013 event. Last year, the brewery donated more than $1,200 in product. This year, Slumbrew was told the brewery was uninvited, bringing its $1,200 donation, unless the brewery would pay a additional $5,000 donation “table fee” as their policy has changed in light of the substantial Anheuser Busch-InBev investment, according to Caitlin Jewell of Somerville Brewing Co. “Slumbrew.”

While many Boston breweries were happy to donate beer to support the $95 general admission event, this new donation requirements impacts how small breweries are able to participate. Some breweries, like Somerville Brewing Co. (“Slumbrew”), told the BBJ the $5,000 required donation is neither a reality or a good business decision for the startup brewery.

Currently, only three beer, wine and spirits exhibitors have paid the donation big bucks: Cavit Collection, OneHope Wine and, you guessed it, Anheuser Busch-InBev.

Check out all the details over at the BBJ.