34 replies to this topic

[TonyBrown]

[positiveContact]

link?

[Brownbeard]

Even worse, the head brewer resigned over the deal. Goose Island is going to become Red Hook soon enough. Of course 312 will be available nation wide now.

[Brownbeard]

link?

My link

[Tim the Enchanter]

I heard this on the news this morning. I've never had Goose Island, but it still made me sad. Two things those BMC bastages know how to do...follow the money and take the flavor out of beer.

[Brownbeard]

I heard this on the news this morning. I've never had Goose Island, but it still made me sad. Two things those BMC bastages know how to do...follow the money and take the flavor out of beer.

It was all the talk on Beer Advocate yesterday. I think we will see beers like Bourbon County Stout go away. Focus will be put on nationwide distribution of the base lineup of beers. So, Honker's Ale will be coming your way soon.

[Tim the Enchanter]

It was all the talk on Beer Advocate yesterday. I think we will see beers like Bourbon County Stout go away. Focus will be put on nationwide distribution of the base lineup of beers. So, Honker's Ale will be coming your way soon.

I'll walk right past it and buy something from Southern Tier or Ithaca Beer Company while looking down my nose.ETA: I'm sure I can get it here. Maybe I'll buy a sixer of the real thing before it all goes to shit...

Edited by Tim the Enchanter, 29 March 2011 - 08:20 AM.

[positiveContact]

Even worse, the head brewer resigned over the deal. Goose Island is going to become Red Hook soon enough. Of course 312 will be available nation wide now.

AB owns 35.6% of Redhook but they don't outright own it. Redhook still makes serious beers not intended for the masses so I don't know where this is coming from.eta1: CBA (who owns redhook) was the one who sold goose island to InBev-AB.eta2: count this thread as dead now that it's out of the PH

Edited by mashleyJwilliams, 29 March 2011 - 08:39 AM.

[TxBrewer]

I would love to get Honkers Ale and their IPA down here in Dallas but if the quality suffers it isn't worth it.

[positiveContact]

I would love to get Honkers Ale and their IPA down here in Dallas but if the quality suffers it isn't worth it.

I would guess losing the head brewer would be a pretty big setback

[ChicagoWaterGuy]

I would guess losing the head brewer would be a pretty big setback

Not really. The new head brewer has been around since May 2010 and he was head brewer at Deschutes. Kinda shows that this plan has been in the works for a while.

[positiveContact]

Not really. The new head brewer has been around since May 2010 and he was head brewer at Deschutes. Kinda shows that this plan has been in the works for a while.

good news for the locals then. I'm guessing the beer won't really suffer that much despite fears of the evil inBev.

[djinkc]

If it's anything like in STL there will be jobs lost.

[Genesee Ted]

It is funny to read this. I was just thinking the other day that if small craft brewers can make great beer, it stands to reason that large brewing companies as well. They can afford to hire the creative and engineering talent to make the best of the best consistently. I think that they will start to realize that palates are changing and that they can still make money at brewing. Basic brewing business emphasizes economies of scale. So at that, they are probably betting that they can brew better than the little guy, charge less but still making more profit than the little guy. I would not be surprised if this trend continues.

[positiveContact]

It is funny to read this. I was just thinking the other day that if small craft brewers can make great beer, it stands to reason that large brewing companies as well. They can afford to hire the creative and engineering talent to make the best of the best consistently. I think that they will start to realize that palates are changing and that they can still make money at brewing. Basic brewing business emphasizes economies of scale. So at that, they are probably betting that they can brew better than the little guy, charge less but still making more profit than the little guy. I would not be surprised if this trend continues.

on the one hand I def have no problem with more mass produced beer being more flavorful and varied. on the other hand I hope it doesn't eventually destroy the small scale craft brewers. they are still going to be more likely to try new things and bring us new and exciting beers/styles.

[djinkc]

on the one hand I def have no problem with more mass produced beer being more flavorful and varied. on the other hand I hope it doesn't eventually destroy the small scale craft brewers. they are still going to be more likely to try new things and bring us new and exciting beers/styles.

Yeah, maybe even something more than triple hopped. InBev doesn't care about anything except money. You're kidding yourself. They will brew to the lowest common denominator. And try to convince the masses that their swill is tastier than BMC. Light beer makes their money now, and they will try to sell it as tasty, manly stuff. And they will sell a bunch of it. Support the little guys, that won't sell out.I haven't really looked into this sale. I will be disappointed if there was not a chance for a sale to the employees or another person that wanted to keep it as it was.

[positiveContact]

Yeah, maybe even something more than triple hopped. InBev doesn't care about anything except money. You're kidding yourself. They will brew to the lowest common denominator. And try to convince the masses that their swill is tastier than BMC. Light beer makes their money now, and they will try to sell it as tasty, manly stuff. And they will sell a bunch of it. Support the little guys, that won't sell out.I haven't really looked into this sale. I will be disappointed if there was not a chance for a sale to the employees or another person that wanted to keep it as it was.

I'm completely aware that's what most businesses care about ultimately so no kidding required. What would be the point of taking a beer that your average drinker has never heard of and make it into something different to try to sell it? It's not like Goose Island has a lot of name recognition or brand value with the kind of people who want bud american ale type beers.

[BarelyBrews]

This situation reminds me of leinenkugel's brewery,i was a big fan(when i first started tasting beers and not just consuming them). I was let down when they sold out to miller,the beer tasted thinner to me immediately.

Edited by Kegdude, 30 March 2011 - 03:18 AM.

[positiveContact]

This situation reminds me of leinenkugel's brewery,i was a big fan(when i first started tasting beers and not just consuming them). I was let down when they sold out to miller,the beer tasted thinner to me immediately.

the beer scene was a little different in 88 I'm guessing

[ChicagoWaterGuy]

I'm completely aware that's what most businesses care about ultimately so no kidding required. What would be the point of taking a beer that your average drinker has never heard of and make it into something different to try to sell it? It's not like Goose Island has a lot of name recognition or brand value with the kind of people who want bud american ale type beers.

I disagree. A lot of younger beer drinkers, particularly women, who had drank beers like bud light have switched over to 312 because they think its cool. I believe these gateway craft beers are where BMC are losing market share. The buy out could launch 312 as the nationaly distributed cross over beer that Bud light wheat could never be. Also, Goose Island has been brewing a draft only pale ale named Green Line, think lighter Sierra Nevada pale ale, that definately could be leveraged to take tap handles away from SN, first locally then nationally. Green line is the beer bud american ale could never be.