Jeff Williamson OUT at Flat Earth?

Best of luck to Jeff and his family. He is a great guy and a talented brewer. I wish I had some money to invest in his next endeavor.

I don't believe that having only bombers hurt him. Steel Toe and Boom Island seem to be doing just fine. I think Jeff hit the market 5 years too soon. If Flat Earth opened today, instead of a few years ago, they would be as warmly received as all of MN's new breweries. Unfortunately, they got lost in the shitstorm of new entries into our market. IMHO.

 

I wonder how different things would have been for Flat Earth if they had opened up a year before Surly instead of a year after.

 

When I compare Furious to NW Passage, the answer becomes obvious.

 

When I compare Cygnus X-1 with Bender the answer becomes less obvious. The point I was trying to make is that they might have had a better time starting out if they had been the first new brewery to open in Minnesota in twenty years instead of the second.

 

"...first new brewery to open in Minnesota in twenty years instead of the second."
Uh, Ambleside, James Page, Town Hall, Fitger's, Granite City, Great Waters+++...

 

I think they were around for 2 or three years. BeerBoy can tell you all you want to know.

 

You forgot Glacial Lakes!

 

Sounds like somebody needs to buy Hoversons book! Beerboy could give you a little background on Ambleside, as he had just a little history there.

 

I meant production brewery.

 

I had the honor of meeting Jeff during a tour early last year, great guy indeed. I wish him the best and hope to see him again in the craft beer scene sometime!

 

Even then, the quality of Surly exceeds that of Flat Earth significantly in my opinion. I see contrasting views in this thread about Flat Earth's "timing". Some say it was too early, some say it was too late. I just feel that there's more to it than timing.

 

Bender is a brown ale, Cygnus is a porter. It's hard to compare different styles.

 

I will happily argue Flat Earth as being equal in quality, and in some areas kicking Surly's ass. I think timing didn't bite them, more marketing. Surly comes in a sexy package, with sexy graphics, with good copy. Flat Earth is forgettable on the shelf.

 

Bender is as much a porter/stout as it is a brown ale it seems to me. Sort of a beer that defies style.

 

Cans are all the rage right now, but I don't really recall that being the case in 2005. Quite the opposite in my opinion.

 

I beg to differ. Yes, it does defy styles, but it's closest to a brown ale brewed with oats. They call it an American brown ale on their website and I'm sure that's what Todd would catigorize it as if he had to.

 

I don't know...whenever I drink a Bender, it's because I want something like a porter.

 

But it stood out, and basic marketing says that if people see it and remember it, it will sell.