Dear Founders: What has happened to you as you have grown?

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by geneseohawk, Mar 20, 2013.

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  1. geneseohawk

    geneseohawk Initiate (0) Nov 4, 2008 Illinois

    Recently I visited your facility over this past weekend. I have been coming to your place for the last 5 years on an annual basis. I remember sitting at the bar with about 10 people in the entire place. I remember having conversations with the coolest bartenders who knew about craft beer, styles, and were decked out in cool dreads. I remember ordering a KBS and a Sappy Slappy on draft and drinking both side by side while being able to have a conversation with my BA buddies.

    Wow have you changed. Now- I can no longer sit at a table (if you can get one) without having to scream to talk to my BA buddies. Now- I am lucky if there is a class 2 beer on tap that is exclusive to the beer bar itself. Now- I have to be part of a crowd that reminds me of a college sorority/frat scene, or wrigley field where half the people there don't give a shit about craft beer. Now I have to wait 10 min or more in line to order a beer- because the wait staff can't keep up with the crowd and the bartenders can't even explain the style of some of the beers. WTF?

    This is not about me or others being entitled to anything. This is now who you are whether myself or others do not like it. I don't like it. But it is what it is. The good thing about free enterprise though- is that I can take myself to a new place where I can feel like I once did at your facility.

    Your Friend,
    True craft beer experience.
     
  2. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    Another overreacting thread.

    Founders has big goals, big long term goals. Long term goals sometimes require short term sacrifice. The sky is not falling, Founders is still putting out great beer and things will get better given time. In the meantime, criticism if fine but lets be constructive and fair.
     
    adamdd, libbey, KWMiles and 51 others like this.
  3. BeastLU

    BeastLU Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2012 Virginia

    Bet you thought it was cool when all those beers took off and you were one of the few that knew about them. Typical puck rock syndrome...
     
  4. geneseohawk

    geneseohawk Initiate (0) Nov 4, 2008 Illinois

    This was completely fair..... and I was being nice. Nothing I stated I was untrue for me and about 10 other BA's who make the trip every year to Michigan. I respect your opinion but respectfully disagree.
     
  5. CloudStrife

    CloudStrife Initiate (0) Nov 20, 2008 New York

    I was really hoping to make it up there again this weekend with a flight in and out of Grand Rapids.... First world problems.
     
  6. anth0ny

    anth0ny Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2012 Michigan

    Riiiiiigggghhhhtttt.....
     
  7. Steimie

    Steimie Maven (1,404) Jan 7, 2012 Michigan

    What's the point of this?
     
  8. gatornation

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,502) Apr 18, 2007 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Founders still makes great brew more people know this and drink it
     
  9. JulianC

    JulianC Initiate (0) Mar 9, 2012 Illinois

    Things change, Founders has grown since 10 years ago, and good for them. Luckily for you, you're in the biggest beer boom ever, and for every brewery that doesn't meet your expectations anymore, there's 3 more to take it's place. You live in the great lakes area, once of the best possible places to be as a beer lover. So many fish in the sea.
     
    pschul4, aasher and geneseohawk like this.
  10. geneseohawk

    geneseohawk Initiate (0) Nov 4, 2008 Illinois

    Don't disagree- good brews and even some great ones.
     
  11. willbm3

    willbm3 Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2010 Massachusetts

    I'm sorry other people found out about your little beer paradise. Get over it. Maybe you wanted them to stay small and brew beers for a small group of people. I can assure you they had much higher aspirations than that.
     
    skinsfan, loweball727 and SadMachine like this.
  12. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    You said many things that are fair, but then you go off on a tangent that is not. You are blaming Founders for being too popular. You are making assumptions about their patrons and staff, that is not fair. The whole " I liked them before they were popular" mindset no longer works in breweries now a days. We will see larger and more diverse crowds and sometimes that will mean a more crowded bar and longer lines. You don't rip a brewery for this or frame your comments in a way it suggests the brewery in doing wrong by you. That is not fair and is not right.
     
  13. geneseohawk

    geneseohawk Initiate (0) Nov 4, 2008 Illinois

    Its not about staying small- look at FFF.........
     
  14. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    If there was a law prohibiting small breweries to get bigger, that would take care of everything. Vote for me.
     
  15. Steimie

    Steimie Maven (1,404) Jan 7, 2012 Michigan

    Seriously...what was the point of your post? Why did you write this?

    Your friend,
    Guy who still likes Founders and is glad that they're popular so I guess I don't understand the true craft beer experience
     
    adamdd, skinsfan, woodchopper and 8 others like this.
  16. willbm3

    willbm3 Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2010 Massachusetts

    What's your point? FFF is small
     
  17. colonelforbin

    colonelforbin Initiate (0) Aug 23, 2007 California

    another fine example of an entitled BA.

    Wow, if it's not one thing, it's another. Always something to complain about, no matter what.

    Times change, especially in ten years and with the craft beer boom the way it is. Founders has almost nothing to do with your experience.

    Should they make their patrons bring in a craft beer geek resume each time someone wants to drink a beer at the brewpub?
     
    pmccallum86 and Beeranator like this.
  18. hoppytobehere

    hoppytobehere Pooh-Bah (1,982) Aug 10, 2012 District of Columbia
    Pooh-Bah Society

    fuggin' hippies
     
    vivasbeer, loweball727 and Shmuffalo like this.
  19. aasher

    aasher Grand Pooh-Bah (4,471) Jan 27, 2010 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    Three Floyds is a rarity in all of this
     
    Casedogg43 and geneseohawk like this.
  20. geneseohawk

    geneseohawk Initiate (0) Nov 4, 2008 Illinois

    Not blaming founders for being too popular (good for them)- just stated what has changed with their popularity. There is a difference is there not? Staff- again what happened to us while there.
     
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