Samuel Adams Sales Decline

I guess I'm in the middle here.

--A lot of people are throwing the word "hate" around if someone isn't a fan of BBC. Pretty weak tactic, the "hate" card gets thrown around a little too much these days. I don't even get the concept of how you can "hate" any brewery. . .

--A lot of people are saying BBC isn't any good because there are better options. Pretty weak too. Why does something have to be the "best" to get any props?

Most BBC beers aren't my thing, but come on, are there seriously BA's here who don't find any of their products to be worthy?

Maple Pecan Porter, IPL, Latitude 48 (esp. Simcoe), Utopias, Hallertau Imp. Pilsner, Noble Pils, Imperial Stout, Old Fezziwig, Coffee Stout, Chocolate Bock. . . I've never turned one of those down. Are any of them the "best" in style? No. So what? They're good and enjoyable, especially at the price point (save Utopias).

 

That honestly may be one of the dumbest things I have ever read. They had a drop in sales, not going bankrupt. The idea that they are asking for a handout is absurd.

 

The proposed Small Brewers Act would also give "handouts" to all the craft brewers, and biggger "handouts" to breweries less than 60,000 bbl. If I read that correctly.

Edit - one mans handout is another man's tax break.

 

First part sarcasm second part ignorance. Bad combination, I know.

 

The BI's point - the way I read it - is that BBC (and a few others) would get the full amount of reduced rate for their first 60k and then $2/bbl. off on barrels #60,001 through 2,000,000 and that their total dollar amount of savings would be larger than other "small" brewers. And certainly a better deal than AB or MC gets, since they pay $18/bbl. on their first barrel.

The BI-backed "BEER Act", of course, reduces ALL brewers FET down to pre-1991 level of $9/bbl, as well as cutting the reduced small brewers rate down to $3.50/bbl.

 

I guess you don't understand sarcasm.

 

Yes, they would get the most benefit. A local brewery owner has presented to members of Congress a few times on how this would benefit her small brewery, as the tax savings would be reinvested in new equipment and building improvements. Most small brewers are for the bill.

 

Did anybody even look at the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income? Sam Adams sales are actually up right now. They sold 636,000 barrels compared to 539,000 last year. They are still a growing company. The reason that their net income is lower than last year is because ingredients are higher and they invested 7.2 million in advertising. You have to spend money to make money.

 

But the Beer Institute's BEER ACT proposall would be just as good a deal for under 60k bbl. breweries - the same $3.50/bbl. (down from $7). And would be a better deal for any small brewery over 60k - now they're paying $18/bbl. on every barrel over 60k, and the BEER Act brings that down to $9.

 

The vast majority of BAs consider Sam Adams to be “craft”. Is there a reason why you posted the question of: Why on earth is Sam Adams considered "craft"? Do you personally consider Sam Adams to not be “craft”?

Cheers!

 

Id disagree. I've actually had some of those beers and they are pretty damn good. their imperial stout is actually one of the best ones I've ever had.

Id say that you should probably try them first before you write them off.

MY big issue with Sam Adams is that they don't distribute these beers as good as they should be.

 

Because they care about what their beer tastes like

Your thinking "microbrewery" that they are not.
But I argue that you can be a craft brewery without being a micro brewery.

Crazy thought process right?

 

Hoponious Union is arguably the hottest beer in or around Boston right now. And Sam Adams brewed Double Agent IPL. I wouldn't say he's completely ignoring styles craft beer drinkers enjoy.

 

I would say the sales only dropped because the market is getting bigger with more and more out there. I like Sam Adams(most of their stuff is great) and will continue to buy it as well as other beer.

 

I seem to remember the word "small" appearing in the official BA definition.

 

It doesn't, but if I'm deciding what beer to get I'm going to buy the better one, especially when they're nearly the same price. I don't understand all the people talking about the "great price point" of Sam Adams. At best it's a dollar or two cheaper than other six pack offerings.

Of course people will now say I hate them, which isn't remotely accurate. I just think they make mostly average products. IPL, Noble Pils, and Latitude 48 are pretty good; and some of their stuff that comes in large format bottles is pretty good, but I don't care too much for the rest. The seasonal mix packs are pretty horrendous (cough cough new summer mix pack). I wish they would spend less time concocting flavored wheat beers but I can't knock them for catering to the market. There's plenty of other beer out there for me

 

I think some of the younger drinkers lack some perspective for all the Sam Adams hating. I remember when the "only" good beers were lowenbrau dark and touborg gold. ewww. Sam adams saved me from a life of mediocre beer. Thank goodness. They do brew a lot to German style. Nothing wrong with that. I also think that they sometimes have too many offering as well. That does not mean they brew bad beer. Not everything has to be a hop bomb. I think some have not tried the full range available to them, for example. Octoberfest, noble pils, latitude 48, chocolate bock, imperial pilsner, imperial stout, and the entire barrel room collection.
Pick up a mix 12 pack, or some of the seasonal releases, you might be surprised. I'm from the Boston area, so I may have access to a greater range of the line.

 

If somebody has posted this previously I apologize for missing it.

Two Sam Adams beers that I think are very good, that I didn’t note being discussed, are:

· Black Lager – a very tasty Schwarzbier!
· Cream Stout - a tasty Sweet Stout

Cheers!

 

Go to the Brewery then.... They do brew some stuff that never makes it to bottle because of cost etc not because its a bad beer.
Reading through these threads people seem to forget that Sam Adams is a large business now. I am sure the brewers would like to be more experimental but they have a bunch of business people, who know shit about beer except what they learn in focus groups, calling the shots....
That said overall as a brewery they are good. I don't say great and I don't say bad. They have some brews that have failed and some that were exceptionally good. It waxes and wanes. They give a consistent product to make the non-sophisticated beer drinker happy while still trying to meet expectations of the craft brew audience.

 

100% agree with you.

But check the thread again, many are saying "Except for Utopias Sam Adams Sucks!" or "I don't like much from Sam, except Utopias."

Big surprise that the one beer people like from the brewery they "hate" is the most "extreme" beer in recent memory.....shocking.