Founders Brewing Entering The Seattle Market......

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by JasonJYoung, Oct 6, 2016.

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  1. JasonJYoung

    JasonJYoung Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2015 Washington
    Trader

    It looks like a major player in the craft beer industry is FINALLY coming to Seattle

    [​IMG] .

    The Founders Brewing Company is seeking 'Marketing & Sales' professionals for the Seattle, Washington market.

    IMO, Seattle is in for a real treat! Founders consistently produces some of the highest quality and sought-after products in the beer industry. From year-round and seasonal offerings, to one of the best barrel-aged programs in the world. You'll see......
     
    #1 JasonJYoung, Oct 6, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2016
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  2. Moose90

    Moose90 Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2012 Washington

    Should see their beers in early - mid 2017. Probably no KBS yet though.
     
    #2 Moose90, Oct 6, 2016
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  3. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I can see people excited initially, but the year round beers will eventually languish on the shelves while people complain that we don't get enough of the seasonal limited releases.

    The same thing happened to Deschutes in other areas. Always an interesting trend.
     
    #3 distantmantra, Oct 6, 2016
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  4. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    You really think so? Personally, I have a very high regard for their backstage series and barrel aged program, and my beer hating fiancé absolutely adores their Blushing Monk. In general, I think those beers will do well here.

    However, while I think beers like dirty bastard and centennial are solid efforts, I'm not sure how well they'll sell out here in the NW. Devil Dancer is one the hottest, sweetest, booziest DIPA's on the planet, and in general I think their IPA's and DIPA's have been nothing to write home about (though I did enjoy double trouble).

    They're a very solid brewery, no doubt, but I'm not sure if their beers are going to really standout here in the NW (outside of things like KBS, CBS and backwoods bastard I guess). That being said, I think they'll be a welcome addition to the local beer scene (depending on what they're able to send out here).
     
    #4 John_M, Oct 6, 2016
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  5. itracy63

    itracy63 Savant (1,187) Apr 20, 2013 Washington

    Yawn. Plenty of local beer as good or better, regardless of style.
     
    #5 itracy63, Oct 6, 2016
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  6. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Devil Dancer is terrible. I happily drink their IPAs when they're the best thing available, but they're not going to be the best thing available out here. One more Fresh Hop at my disposal with Harvest and the Mosaic IPL they did a couple years ago was really nice, though.

    My wife will be happy about Breakfast Stout.
     
    #6 distantmantra, Oct 6, 2016
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  7. EdwardAbbey

    EdwardAbbey Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2015 Washington

    Methinks no supermarket shelf here would be harmed by the introduction of Founder’s Breakfast Stout, Imperial Stout, Porter, and Sumatra Mountain Brown, to name a few. On the contrary, there’s plenty I wouldn’t mind seeing go (if that's even necessary) to clear up a little space for these.

    Perhaps I’m in the minority, but I fully welcome this news, and regardless of whether we end up seeing much of the limited release stuff. More good options in our market is not a bad thing.:slight_smile:
     
    #7 EdwardAbbey, Oct 6, 2016
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  8. Slamminson

    Slamminson Crusader (423) Mar 24, 2012 Washington

    I wouldn't mind picking up a 15-pack of All Day IPA here, that's my favorite "camping beer".
     
    #8 Slamminson, Oct 6, 2016
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  9. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I welcome Founders, I'm just not ecstatic about it. I'm also from here and have no geographical or nostalgiac fondness for the brewery. They make some good beers but I have a feeling many of the year-round regulars will sit on the shelves and go unsold.
     
    #9 distantmantra, Oct 6, 2016
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  10. stevesbeer

    stevesbeer Initiate (0) May 17, 2016 Washington

    More variety is always good, I welcome them and hope that the "Seattle market" might include the right side of the Cascades as well.
     
    #10 stevesbeer, Oct 6, 2016
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  11. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It's unfathomable to me how anyone could say differently, but there are some very high, adoring reviews of the beer on BA.

    Years ago, I remember going to a DIPA festival in the Philly area, where the DD was one of the featured beers, and was one of the primary reasons I drove up from Baltimore. At the time, I think the beer was still in the BA top 100 beers on the planet. My initial reaction upon tasting the beer, was that someone was trying to play a joke on me. I couldn't believe how awful it was, or how anyone could possibly enjoy a beer like that. Some friends later told me this was an old keg, that the beer hadn't been distributed in the SEPA area in some time (back in the day, many taphouses thought nothing about holding onto a keg of IPA or DIPA for a year or two, waiting for a special occasion to tap it). I figured that had to explain my experience, until I tried it on tap again down at the Big Hunt in DC. Damn if it wasn't nearly almost as bad as my experience at the Drafting Room.

    Anyway, I'm completely with you, but apparently there are still people out there who think it's a great beer.
     
    #11 John_M, Oct 6, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2016
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  12. sanford_and_son

    sanford_and_son Initiate (0) Jul 23, 2012 Washington

    /flips desk

    my dream of having Founders Breakfast Stout in my fridge at all times is finally coming true oh my fucking god what a time to be alive!!!! WOOOO

    ps: totally agree that most of their other standard offerings are middle of the road and will languish on shelves at Total Wine BUT DAT BREAKFAST STOUT THO
     
    #12 sanford_and_son, Oct 6, 2016
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  13. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    My wife happily shares your sentiments. I've told her about KBS's existence, so it would be nice to get her a bottle in the future.
     
    #13 distantmantra, Oct 6, 2016
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  14. Ninjakillzu

    Ninjakillzu Initiate (0) Oct 5, 2015 Washington

    I can now look forward to buying more FBS. I'm down to my last bottle from my San Diego trip.
     
    #14 Ninjakillzu, Oct 6, 2016
  15. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Alright, ya talked me into it John, now I gotta try this beer. Excuse me while I go add it to my wants.:flushed:
     
    #15 BBThunderbolt, Oct 6, 2016
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  16. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    It is ridiculously malty/boozy sweet. I could not detect any hops, and it was a fresh bottle that I bought in Ann Arbor the week before I drank it.

    I really liked Dissenter, their Mosaic IPL. Too bad it was a limited bomber release.
     
    #16 distantmantra, Oct 6, 2016
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  17. LockeNess33

    LockeNess33 Initiate (0) Feb 2, 2016 Oregon

    I would certainly welcome Founders to Oregon should they ever choose to enter this market. But for now I'll settle for a short drive into Washington.

    They do have some average offerings, but I find many of their beers to be very much above average, especially the Breakfast Stout, Backwoods Bastard, Curmudgeon, Imperial Stout, and the Porter (and KBS obviously). Actually the only time I ship beer is when I send my cousin some Oregon locals and he sends me back various Founders and Prairie beers (and the occasional Ozark BDCS). Though now that we are getting Prairie in OR that will be replaced with something else out of my distro.

    Let me know next time you're down in Oregon and I'll gladly let you take a bottle back for her.
     
    #17 LockeNess33, Oct 6, 2016
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  18. JasonJYoung

    JasonJYoung Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2015 Washington
    Trader

    Ha, I was going to conclude the original post with the venerable "shelf turd" reference, as it was likely to come up.

    Of course we all have differing opinions, but I'd be really surprised to see Founders become a ho-hum beer in the Seattle area. As some already know, Founders will not be your typical West Coast and/or Pacific NW type beer (for the most part). Totally different style and taste with a lot of their stuff. Yes, this will be a welcome addition for many of the out-of-state transplants currently living in and near Seattle, that enjoyed Founders in other places.

    I'm sure there will be some blow-back towards Founders with those that refuse to step outside the ultra popular styles dominating this region. I wanted to use Great Notion Brewing in Portland as an example, but probably not a good idea. There is plenty of criticism being thrown at Great Notion for various reasons that shouldn't apply to Founders, except the possibility of something "different" appearing on the scene.

    As far as the Deschutes reference.......well, I again have to disagree. Different situations and styles/quality of beers. In fact, Deschutes was all over the Midwest as Founders began to expand outside of Michigan. It just seemed like Founders was more highly sought after in comparison to most of Deschutes beers. Black Butte Porter was possibly the only beer with similar sales volumes compared to Founders?

    Don't plenty of people "whale chase" Goose Island's Bourbon County Stouts in the Pacific NW? From past experiences, Founder's tends to generate this behavior with things like KBS, Backwoods Bastard, One-Offs, and yes.....Breakfast Stout on occasion. In fact, Canadian Breakfast Stout is rumored to be headed this way in the near future (keg). I predict this will create buzz rarely seen around here (no, Fremont is not a valid comparison) :slight_smile: Again, this is just a personal opinion and will be very interesting to watch.
     
    #18 JasonJYoung, Oct 6, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2016
  19. ExVashonGujy

    ExVashonGujy Pooh-Bah (2,114) Mar 7, 2013 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Founders does dark beers exceptionally well. On my regular visits to Minnesota, I get Breakfast Stout every time. Their Scotch ales, Dirty Bastard and Backwoods Bastard, are pretty good as well, and will be welcome out here. I agree that their IPAs are not so special, although I am fond of their Red Rye IPA. I look for Surly IPAs when I'm back there.
     
    #19 ExVashonGujy, Oct 6, 2016
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  20. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I really liked the Nemesis Wheatwine I had from them.

    I'm on the skeptical side of how well they'll sell the core beers out here, I don't see myself grabbing a sixer of their IPA, for example, over a sixer of Field 41. More beer is better, IMHO, and there's a lot of midwesterners out here, so their sales should be at least steady, but, I'm not doing my happy dance of joy over this news.
     
    #20 BBThunderbolt, Oct 6, 2016
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