Devils Backbone Brewing Company Partners with Anheuser-Busch

Meh...just another business deal. Not really caring about this one.

 

DB makes a lot of very solid, well done beers, understandably not beers that are gushed over by many on BA, but I know plenty of people that enjoy DB.
Personally I rarely buy them either, but I have enjoyed visits to their brew pub and wonder how this affects the quality going forward.

 

I've always liked Devils Backbone. I think they make quite a number of really good beers. Are they the most boundary pushing of breweries? Of course not. But they are far from mediocre.

That said, I'm extremely disappointed that they have been acquired by Anheuser-Busch. I'm not going to straight out boycott them, but I'll most certainly buy fewer offerings.

 

Yet one more craft brewery who won't be getting any of my business, regardless of the quality of their beer, because I don't want Anheuser Busch to get any of my money. Ever. Too bad, because I thought the beers I tried from Devil's Backbone in the past were pretty good actually. Oh well, their loss. There's still hundreds if not thousands of other options out there for me to choose from where there is a 0% chance of any of my money going to Anheuser Busch.

Eric

 

Did realize 4 Peaks, GI and Breck were beer styles... interesting.

 

The details of money have not been disclosed yet but I am confident that the owners of Devils Backbone had a BIG payday. Do you begrudge them this financial opportunity?

Cheers!

 

I was referring to your previous post:

 

I feel like every time this comes up people on here become fiercely defense about not caring. You should care if u like the brewery. This consolidation will lead to fewer choices and crappier beer. Not good for beer...

And no i don't think that the owners should be faulted but i think they deserve to lose fans. Independence is one of craft beers guiding principles in my opinion. Cant have ur beer and drink it too.

 

From the founder Steve Crandall

 

LOL at Devil's Backbone not being great. They are one of the most medal winning breweries in the country and they've been doing it for years. This is a big deal.

 

Always so much hate about a brewery (business) selling to a bigger company. This will give them a bigger distro footprint, isn't being a advocate wanting others to enjoy the beers you like and have access to? With this many more will be able to see what Devils Backbone is all about, and try their beers.

I don't care who buys who, it wont determine who/what beers I drink.

 

I didn't know anything about them, and the fact that they make really good lagers according to many makes me sad, personally.

 

Think that a high number of us have been predicting this for years. Not a bit surprised or disappointed.

*Edit - for those not familiar with DB, they do indeed make many quality beers. Certainly nothing that's going to attract release madness, NE level acclaim or even a barrel program that gets folks all riled up, but what they DO make are several entry level beers. Vienna Lager has probably converted more craft drinkers in central VA than any other one beer. AB acquiring them can be a double edged sword, because yes, DB will be probably the most approachable craft brand they have, but they have proven to be horizon broadening, which may drive folks out of that AAL rut and into the arms of the craft world in general.

By the way, fresh Vienna Lager on a crystal clean tap is simply sublime.

 

This one is a typical choice for ABI, they seem to look for mid to small sized brewers with a big upside and a portfolio of accessible beers. The Vienna fits in well with the likes of Kilt Lifter from 4 peaks. And Jason does know how to brew a very good beer. Now hopefully I can drink DBB at my Capitals games. And they did it in only 8 years.....

 

When this happens, I think the "I don't care, I don't like their beer anyway" comments are way off base. With the distribution influence that AB has, and now a rapidly growling portfolio of craft brands, these are the beers that you're going to be seeing everywhere now. These will be your options at ball games, concerts, events, restaurants, airports, etc. It would really be better if they were buying breweries that you liked.

 

I'm in Lexington quite a bit, so this hits home for me a little. I'll have an 8 Point IPA every now and then, and their recent collab sampler and Skull Crushing Ape were out-friggin-standing. Reserving judgment for now.

 

This sucks to hear, but I find it interesting the amount of people calling them a 'bad brewery' or 'low tier' simply because they don't make the BA beers and sours that are the flavor of the week. Most of their beers are a fine example of the style in which they are brewed. There's a reason that they are the most awarded brewery in VA.

 

No, I understand that a lot of these owners have put in a lot of work, sweat, blood, tears, finances, lives on the line and a big payday is certainly hard to turn down after all of that sacrifice. I was more bemoaning the rate of consolidation than their decision alone.

And the other part was wholly in jest.

 

"The High End"....? Is that between "premium" and "super premium" Or above? How about "ultra"?

 

yes indeed, DBB is an excellent brewery making very high end products. Sure the best seller is a Lager, but thats a good thing too. They also have a nice Rolec brewhouse.