It's easy to get cynical about corporate blogging efforts when you look at past examples such as Raging Cow or Juicyfruit gum. That said I tried to keep an open mind when I read in the Good Beer blog about the Brew Blog by Miller Brewing Co.

It does look like they are trying to make an honest attempt, so rather than simply be negative, I'll note potential issues and suggest an alternate path that may improve the quality of the site.

Author
According to the About page Jim Arndorfer is "a reporter who spent many years covering the beer industry for magazines like "Advertising Age," with occasional contributions from other folks." Who is Jim? Why does he like beer? It's impossible to know from what this site provides. Jim, you need to tell us, the audience, something about yourself. A sentence of work history isn't really going to explain why you like beer enough to write this blog. The second problem is no author tag on the posts so while Jim may run the site he may have an intern posting all their material and we would have no way of knowing.

Posts
Since May 1st there have been 64 posts not bad, better than I have been doing. Approximently 25% of the posts are promoting Miller and 30% of the posts are about A-B, mostly in a negative light. I can understand disliking A-B, heck most of my friends and fellow homebrewers would agree. That said we see no difference between your bosses at Miller and them at A-B. So prove me and my friends wrong, pull a Scoble, seek out what makes Miller great and tell us about it, but also be prepared to tell us when they screw up. Do that and you will start to gain some creditability on the web.

Sources
I don't know much about Harry Schuhmacher but you must think a lot of him and his publication since you mention them almost as often as you do Miller. Get out and read the web more Jim. I am sure Harry has a great publication but the majority of your audience won't since his material is locked behind a subscription wall. Same goes for Wall Street Analysts, they are fine to mention if you provide a link or perhaps an article title, but otherwise leave it out. That said you have done a great job of linking to newspaper articles, I just think you need to start linking to beer blogs as well.

Off Topics
What do Malt beverages, Wine, Spirits, and a Walmart energy drink have to do with a Beer blog? I don't know either but they all have been mentioned. How about sections on beer history, craft brewing, homebrewing, beer podcasts, and beer blogging (yes I suppose I am harping on this) instead. They keep closer to the point of the blog which is supposed to be beer and the beer industry.

Links
I see you mention industry, associations and news sites. I worked in DC and went to a fair share of Beer Wholesaler sponsored events, that said I don't think any of your readers will care enough to go to their website. I am a beer and politics geek and I doubt I would. Link to places your readers want to read, or places you like to read. And beer blogs (last time I promise).

Comments
Last I think it's great you have comments, but do your commenters a favor and set the comments to hide email addresses please, we already get too much spam.

To sum up, the problems I see with the Brew Blog may be easily cured. Jim, don't be afraid to show us your voice, it comes out in some of the posts so I know there is a human posting to the site. Expand your reading, there are a lot of people out on the web writing about beer and willing to give you a chance. The reason I don't dismiss this effort immediately is I have seen how Scoble has been able to show us the human side of Microsoft and perhaps you can do the same with Big Beer. I am willing to at least listen. Last and most important have fun. Good Luck.