Samuel Adams Sales Decline

As soon as they go on an incline in quality, their decline in sales with reverse itself. When people say "Sam Adams is always a tap option at the pizza joint, or in the gas stations" as a justification to getting it, it's clear, that when better craft options are available, you're not going to pick up a Sam Adams 6-pack at a nice bottle shop.

 

QUICK SHIP THE OKTOBERFEST CANS OUT NEXT WEEK!!!!

 

Not that your point isn't valid, but aside from Utopias, none of those beers are all that note worthy. I'm sure they're all solid beers, but nothing worth driving out of your way for. For all the money and expertise Sam Adam's has, you'd think they'd be able to drop some sort of BCBS competition. Doesn't even need to be a bourbon barrel aged stout obviously, but something at that level. Barring Utopias, they really don't have any beers worth hyping.

 

Tried boston lager a few times and one other SA beer .. didnt like either one so I NEVER buy any of them. When I browse the bottle shops or grocery stores im faced with lagunitas, stone, saint arnold, real ale and so on .. why would I ever buy crap adams ? Dont like it... and the commercials annoy me.

 

Sam Adams...just some brew we buy when we dont feel like spending 40 bucks on the real shit. Their brews really dont impress. I think the last one i really enjoyed was the white water ipa. Not surprised they've gone down in sales. Most BA's wanna knock jimbo kotch out for his commercials anyway

 

Seems to me it used to be everyone had Sam Adams as the only beer alternative. Now more and more I see all kinds of options at places that used to have none. I think Sam Adams is just losing their control as the beer alternative thanks to other craft brewers expanding.

 

Why on earth is Sam Adams considered "craft"? Oh, I remember: if they weren't the craft beer numbers would look crap.

 

I dont have a prob with SA, other than its no longer a craft beer company. Oh sure, the BREW. ASSN. defines them as one, but only because they keep adjusting their definition to include them. As such, i see them as a fine company which is contributing to its macro competitors need for changing their game and offering better brews.

Im not surprised to see cider leading the way. Its everywhere, and ciders are hot sellers the last 18 months.

 

"Gross margin decreased to 50% compared to 55% in the first quarter of 2012. Increased brewery processing and ingredient costs, combined with $2.2 million of customer programs and incentive costs that are now recorded as reductions in revenue, were only partially offset by pricing increases"

Yes, brewing a double IPA with MORE expensive ingredients in it is definitely going to alleviate this issue. Especially when this beer would have little chance of being consumed within a month or two of bottling.

 

That's not a fair comparison. If you want to compare Sam Adams to Sierra Nevada, that's one thing.

 

Sam Adams will always have a place in my heart, but it's lost its place in my liver. There's no point in buying a sixer of Boston Lager when for just a dollar or two more (and sometimes for the same price) you can get something that blows it out of the water.

That said, I'll be giving the Boston Lager another go soon, because cans.

 

This.

I currently view most Sam Adams' brews as "solid"; not bad, not great. I like Boston Lager when I'm at a regular bar and that's the best choice among a bunch of BMC stuff. I thought their new IPL was pretty good and would consider that as a "sessionable" option when out on the golf course or at a BBQ. I owe Winter Lager and Octoberfest for playing a big role in my transition to craft beer.

Having said that... as far as comparing Sam Adams to Sierra Nevada goes, this is where SN pulls ahead, for me, because I will still go out of my way to purchase Celebration, Bigfoot, Narwhal, Hoptimum, the Hemisphere beers, etc. I can't say the same about any Sam Adams products at this point. This doesn't mean they are a "bad" brewery in my book, just nothing memorable that has me wanting to come back for more.

 

That's a great way to put it. I liked Boston Lager a lot way back in the day, but Sam doesn't do much for me. I'll try new beers when they come out but they rarely get on my "buy again" list.

 

Interesting,didn't know they did away w/this one.Def. one of my favs. from SA.

Cheers

 

In a sea of BMC at a restaurant or sporting event Sam Adams is a welcomed site. But when I go to the store there are about 652 other beers I will pick before anything Sam Adams. That said I want them to continue to pull people into craft, which is the only purpose I see them serving.

 

Boston beer has the resources to brew A+ beer in whatever style they want and yet always seem to play it safe. If it was me I'd keep the Sam Adams brand as is and start up a new label to brew, in Koch's words, more extreme beer. Then they'd be able to hit every demographic of beer drinker.

 

5 beers ranging from 86 points to 99 points. I think that's a sign that I need to try more of Sam Adam's less introductory brews.

 

Do you know this because you've tried them, or are you just assuming this because they are made by Boston Beer Co.?

BBC could clone KBS and most people would drink it and think, "meh." We aren't their target consumer for their core brands (BL and seasonals), it's the "gateway" consumers they are targeting with those. That doesn't mean their other beers should simply be dismissed as mediocre, without even being given a chance. Sadly, that seems to happen far too often.

 

I hear ya. Be careful of judging what is good based off of what is discussed here. The hype machine corrupts far too much. Cheers!