10 Barrel Brewing Portland Update

GI Clybourn usually has Virtue Cider (Greg Hall's new project) on tap. Wrigleyville only closed because they couldn't secure a lease that extended through the next Cubs season - it basically operates in the red in the off season. IIRC the entire block is being razed to put up condos. (Who in their right mind would want to buy a condo in Wrigleyville is another matter.)

 

You have a deal kind sir. cheers!

 

Too entry level/basic? Not my favorite Seattle brewery, but they still make a few solid brews....Jive Espresso stout probably being my favorite.

 

The Gin Botanical Porter they've done is awesome.

 

I think I just threw up in my mouth...

 

Yup

 

If you sell out to a company (InBev/AB) that is dedicated to destroy the very community that brought you success, well, that speaks for itself.

 

If it had to be someone in Bend, I'm glad it was them. Won't be difficult to not buy their stuff anymore since I almost never bought it in the first place.

 

I am curious to know what you mean by "destroy the very community". I like to hear opinions on these matters and your words struck me.

 

Dismantra,

Just for the record: NEVER.

Because Beer Matters, Bro.

Switzer,

AB-InBev uses their clout to limit craft beer options at every available venue, from stadiums to stores to bars. Craft brewers are constantly fighting them across this country for the right to self distribute (like they do), sell pints in tasting rooms (like they do), hell, even exist as a licensed operation (the fuckers have fought in every state against craft brewing even being legal). So, this is part of the picture. When they find one of us that will sell out, they use the legitimacy of that brewery's business to undermine the rest of us by selling the brand (now it is a brand, NOT a craft brewery) at ridiculous prices (witness Goose Island kegs of IPA FOR $65) and pushing us out of major venues (they control Safeway beer placement and limit craft options, cans, etc) like stadiums.

So, this is a brief summary but indicative of what I was attempting to communicate. AB-InBev seeks to destroy craft beer to retain market share. With shrinking share for their own beer in the US, they are trying to buy craft breweries as a weapon against the enemy. Us.

Fremont is a part of our craft beer community. We will NEVER sell out.

Because Beer Matters.

 

Haven't been to Fremont but I love the beers, and kds kills bcbs. I'm with you, I'm sick of big guys buying out or using their money to squeeze great businesses.

 

An educational reply, thank you. I have wondered if AB was buying in for the revenues of the breweries and synergies or if they were ultimately propping up their existing brands. Clearly the margin is greatest on their mass production and that revenue base is the highest priority. Buying the competition as a defensive asset play makes a lot of sense. Thanks for sharing the perspective.

 

I love this community.

It can be hard to quantify what is "craft" vs. "crap" but some help can be found in literature. Anyone read "Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig? The basic premise is that "quality" is imbued with passion where commodities are imbued with greed. Craft is about quality beer.

We are here, talking about beer, because we care about beer and the values that infuse the creative spark that inspires it. Sometimes brewers hit the ball and sometimes they whiff but they always swing at the ball. This is craft beer..to try to create something good. Quality.

Because Beer Matters.

 

WORD UP.

 

Almost seems to me that the Fathead's thread was more negative about them coming to PDX than this one about the newly acquired 10 Barrel is.

 

The negative 10 Barrel thread was deleted.

 

I saw 6 packs of 10 Barrel Pale Ale in Grocery Outlet for $4.99.
A sign they are not selling well.
I bought 4 six packs since I like this beer..simple APA old style.

 

One thing I'll toss in here ...

It bothers me when people talk about corporations as if they are Borg-like monoliths. It's worth bearing in mind that AB-InBev is A) a corporation (with all the complexity that implies; corporations aren't even as one dimensional as people seem to think they are ... because consumers matter and have power with regards to brands) and B) a collection of tens of thousands (hundreds of thousands?) of individual people.

Does InBev do some sketchy stuff? Sure. But it feels disrespectful, ideological, and simplistic to pretend that those tens or hundreds of thousands of people working there in a variety of roles don't have a bunch of different reasons for being there and that, for some, that isn't because beer matters. Furthermore, there are probably some for whom beer matters a lot that simply could not do their jobs in a craft setting (or, at least, the positions would be limited to the very, very few largest breweries). Take, for example, the people doing brewing science stuff or helping to develop better packaging or investigating how beers stale. Will this research benefit other brewers down the line? Maybe - I'm not sure how much of it would be patented / trade secret type stuff. But perhaps they love beer, love science, and want to find a way to fulfill both those passions? Or think about the people that have families and want to be involved in the beer industry and get the benefits - insurance, better pay I imagine, retirement, etc - that working at a large company provides ... and maybe they work at Goose Island, or AC Golden, or even making Bud Light and home brewing on the side while they plan to open their own brewery. Does beer not matter to them? And wouldn't brewing at a large brewery give them really valuable experience for opening a smaller brewery with aims to grow large? I have a hard time believing that there aren't a significant number of people working at gigantic beer companies that didn't start down that path because it was "beer" and not "toothpaste" or any random consumer packaged good.

Everyone here bashing InBev probably works at a charity or is an entrepreneur engaged in their passion project. Good for you all! I know I've worked at big companies (technology) that do some sketchy stuff and I never felt evil or like I was trying to destroy the industry in which I was employed. I felt like I loved technology, that it had the potential to do magical stuff and improve people's lives, and that I wanted to be part of that. And I winced when I saw my company do stuff that felt wrong to me ... but on balance I was behind their mission. I felt I could have a positive impact from within.

You know what matters besides beer? People.

(Steps off of soap box ...)