Jeff Williamson OUT at Flat Earth?

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by mnstorm99, May 9, 2012.

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  1. mnstorm99

    mnstorm99 Initiate (0) May 11, 2007 Minnesota

    A Perfect Pint made an announcement on facebook this morning that Williamson (Flat Earth founder) was fired at Flat Earth. They also noted that there was some long standing tension between Williamson and the investor who bought the company.

    I knew nothing about any of this, but it is suprising none-the-less. It will be interesting to see the direction Flat Earth goes at this point...
     
    #1 mnstorm99, May 9, 2012
  2. HomeBrewed

    HomeBrewed Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2006 Minnesota

    Hmmm, interesting that the Founder of the Brewery could be fired...think he would've included a clause in his contract...not even sure if that's possible I guess, but I would think so...maybe this will bring their prices down to "Earth"
     
    #2 HomeBrewed, May 9, 2012
  3. incutrav

    incutrav Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2007 Minnesota

    I recall them looking for investors a few years ago so they could purchase more equipment, apparently Jeff wasnt the majority .
     
    #3 incutrav, May 9, 2012
  4. mnstorm99

    mnstorm99 Initiate (0) May 11, 2007 Minnesota

    Word I saw was that one of the Warner's (Warners Stellian) purchased the majority of the company. From my understanding, Jeff retained some ownership and was meant to focus more on the brewing side of the business.
     
    #4 mnstorm99, May 9, 2012
    beerkittycat likes this.
  5. mnstorm99

    mnstorm99 Initiate (0) May 11, 2007 Minnesota

    #5 mnstorm99, May 9, 2012
  6. EddieB23

    EddieB23 Devotee (375) Nov 26, 2008 Minnesota

    Jeff submitted his resignation 3 weeks ago (for reasons only he knows) and yesterday was his last day....
     
    #6 EddieB23, May 9, 2012
  7. mnstorm99

    mnstorm99 Initiate (0) May 11, 2007 Minnesota

    I saw that he put in his resignation a few weeks ago, but was then "fired" today? Confused, I am.
     
    #7 mnstorm99, May 9, 2012
  8. HawkEye19

    HawkEye19 Crusader (413) Jun 15, 2006 Minnesota

    Oh, so there's a spin to it?
     
    #8 HawkEye19, May 9, 2012
  9. EddieB23

    EddieB23 Devotee (375) Nov 26, 2008 Minnesota

    A "spin" to things in this industry? NEVER.....
     
    #9 EddieB23, May 9, 2012
  10. Chaz

    Chaz Grand Pooh-Bah (3,668) Feb 3, 2002 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    One post on this forum, Probrewer ad goes up a couple of days later. Hmmm, I wonder if there's a connection.
     
    #10 Chaz, May 9, 2012
  11. minnesotaryan

    minnesotaryan Initiate (0) Dec 27, 2010 Minnesota

    was thinking the same thing, especially with his wife posting in it. bummer for them.
     
    #11 minnesotaryan, May 9, 2012
  12. mnstorm99

    mnstorm99 Initiate (0) May 11, 2007 Minnesota

    Flat Earth just posted this on facebook:
    "Jeff submitted his intent to leave the company over 3 weeks ago, yesterday was his last day, why he chooses to say he was fired is not accurate. Please be sure you know all the facts. We wish Jeff the best."

    Two sides to every story, who knows what really happened. It does seem that Jeff put in his resignation a few weeks back (but is that even true? Who knows?). Jeff seemed like a pretty decent guy, and I hope he surfaces somewhere. Warner seems just like a business man, and for all we know Flat Earth will become a contract brewer.

    Why the hell am I caught up in this drama? Like sand through the hourglass...
     
    #12 mnstorm99, May 9, 2012
  13. incutrav

    incutrav Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2007 Minnesota

    'By 2010 the brewery had hit financial difficulties and the decision was made to sell the company to an investor to head off foreclosure.'

    I gotta believe that selling only bombers in the retail setting hurt them. Perhaps they didnt have the capacity/capital to put out six packs though. who knows.
     
    #13 incutrav, May 9, 2012
  14. Chaz

    Chaz Grand Pooh-Bah (3,668) Feb 3, 2002 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Didn't they used to do some contract-brewing? Seems my memory is fading (time to hit the espresso...)
     
    #14 Chaz, May 9, 2012
  15. Chaz

    Chaz Grand Pooh-Bah (3,668) Feb 3, 2002 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Could be that bombers and the 4-pack variety assortment didn't fit into the retail mix in the metro area as well as it could have, but finding them has always seemed to be a little more hit-and-miss than some of the newer breweries in the area.

    I'll crack a bomber tonight in honor of all the effort Jeff put into this!
     
    #15 Chaz, May 9, 2012
  16. mnstorm99

    mnstorm99 Initiate (0) May 11, 2007 Minnesota

    Lift Bridge contracted there for a little while when they first started. As far as I know Lift Bridge moved on because Flat Earth couln't keep up with their own demand at the time, and needed the equipment for that reason. This is all what I "think" I know. Other than that, I am not sure if they did contract brewing.
     
    #16 mnstorm99, May 9, 2012
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  17. beerkittycat

    beerkittycat Initiate (0) Jun 12, 2007 Minnesota

    Thank you to all our family, friends, and fans over the years for the support. Jeff and I will not be posting any further comments about what happened today because this situation is still in motion. We ask the BA community to be respectful during this time. Peace out.
     
    #17 beerkittycat, May 9, 2012
  18. olympuszymurgus

    olympuszymurgus Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2009 California

    Very sorry to hear that things didn't work out between Jeff and the new owners. He is a damn fine brewer, and always a great guy to work with. People can nitpick all kind of crap about why things didn't work out, but most of them don't have the prospective to judge. Thanks for all the beers.
     
    #18 olympuszymurgus, May 9, 2012
    libbey, Ungertaker, Penguin3200 and 6 others like this.
  19. beerkittycat

    beerkittycat Initiate (0) Jun 12, 2007 Minnesota

    False
     
    #19 beerkittycat, May 9, 2012
  20. accordselux

    accordselux Initiate (0) Nov 26, 2007 Minnesota

    I know a little about this issue, and not enough to be a fair judge, and I am not going to say anything here. And with that said, there's a lot of speculation and inaccurate statements being made in this thread.

    Definitely a fan of Flat Earth, and Jeff was the founder and original brewer. I hope whatever comes next for him is good. I will also continue to go there for my growlers and tastings. Hopefully good things on the horizon for all involved.
     
    #20 accordselux, May 9, 2012
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