Are "Brewery Only" Breweries Bad for Craft Beer?

This is pretty much a preconceived version of the point I wanted to make. The less breweries pay distributers, the less their prices (retail price points) are; therefore they can produce, and then sell, more beer.

 

Yea, I didn't consider that. I also have talked to some owners that have that same dilemma. That's really unfortunate. This points out a bigger problem with the power that distributors have...

 

If your bottleshop carrying beer from dozens/hundreds of breweries is affected noticeably by a single brewery's release, it may be a sign your market can't really support a bottleshop. Special releases, events, festivals, etc. are usually a sign of a healthy craft beer scene, but if the extra attention at the brewery comes at the expense of other beer sellers, that sounds like too little local business to go around.

 

NO, because these beers are what go on to become the next shelf beer.

 

Do they allow crowler/growler fills of said beer? If yes, then definitely NO.

 

Yes, because I loathe my Fedex bill at the end of the month

 

hahahaha ... welcome to capitalism at its best ... and woe is the middle man caught in the tide of a true free market

 

Don't know if it is good or bad for the industry, but definitely bad for the local beer store. Before the brewery you mention came into existence, I was dependent on out of state IPAs that may or may not be old. The days of sifting through bottles looking for indecipherable or non-existent bottle on dates are over I go right to the brewery now and get awesome fresh beer.

 

Over 30 states allow some form of self distribution by breweries. Hey, NY is one with the proper license.
https://www.brewersassociation.org/government-affairs/laws/self-distribution-laws/

 

Nope. Also, I'm curious as to why you care so much about the beer store having a dip in sales.

Big deal, sales dip for a weekend.

That's a problem with your beer store, not the brewery.

 

I suspect that brewery only releases are an important source of income for small breweries. Anything that helps small breweries profit is good for craft beer.

 

You get a Bud Light, you get a Bud Light, everybody gets a Bud Light.

{insert Oprah meme here}

 

I was also thinking about that store owner saying sales were down due a brewery only release. Maybe so, but I don't buy any less beer to take home just becuase I've had time to stop in at the brewery for a couple of beers. Stopping in for a beer anywhere is more like a "bonus" beer run for me. I still maintain my home supply at a certain level.

 

Breweries in NY are allowed to self-distribute

 

As long as the beer is good, I'm cool with it, create a buzz and the "I gotta have it" factor

 

I say let the small brewer brew, and not have to worry about dropping off and picking up kegs, or about getting slim profit from a distributor.

Buy your local beer at the brewery, release or regular lineup, it's more fun, you meet great folks, and you reward the brewer more directly.

I voted no to mean I believe brewery releases are very good for craft beer.

 

I can see a store that is in the general vicinity to a brewery take a slight dip in sales if the particular brewery is "big" enough to generate lines at their releases, but I don't think it would be extremely detrimental.

I like brewery only releases myself. It allows someone to try a beer and then trade for more beer!

 

So, how would this bottle shop owner feel if all the bottles were put into distribution and he just didn't get any of special beer X because he didn't sell normal beer Y? I'm with most of the other people here, good for whatever brewery it is that apparently has releases so rare it changes the purchasing habits of the entire local craft market.