Firestone Walker to distribute in MN

Any word on whether we can look forward to an expanded selection eventually (presumably based on market performance)? I'm only really interested in Sucaba and Parabola at the moment, but the whole line-up of sours would be fantastic, too.

 

Sucaba was 02/10 and Parabola is usually late March, would love if they bought both of those boxed goodness here to MN, Pivo and Easy Jack are great summer brews.

 

I was wondering when this was going to happen, especially since they're scheduled to pour at Rare Beer Fest.

 

A lovely brewery who sadly will have it's work cut out for them at Johnson Brothers.

 

We have had surprisingly good dates for Firestone Walker with Johnson Brothers in Iowa. Not like there isn't ever old product around but it's never ancient and they have enough new beers coming and revolving series like Luponic Distortion that there are trucks at least once a month and they usually are carrying fresh Pivo and core stuff alongside it. Admittedly I am in Des Moines metro which is alongside Eastern Iowa corridor one of the largest and most well served markets in the state so could be different elsewhere.

 

Out of sheer curiosity, which local distributor would you have preferred?

 

I really don’t care for any of them but I would listen to Capitol before the rest of them as they have the least amount of
craft breweries In their house.

 

Clear River, maybe?

 

They are enthusiastic but in my opinion they may need more sales coverage across the Twin Cities.

 

Isn't this sort of counter intuitive? I would think a craft brewery would want people that work with craft beer more, if not exclusively .

 

Agreed. Doesn't make sense for FW, a brewery that already distributes to numerous states throughout the country, to partner with capitol. From what I see on their site only distributes in the twin cities where as johnson brothers distributes throughout the state and the midwest and other states on the coasts.

 

Right now all the distributors have a lot of craft beer to sell, at times they cannibalize each other. For example, if you want Firestone Walker on draft many times the bar manager will ask you to take off one of your other beers currently on draft. The same goes for finding a way into the cooler or beer menu.

 

I think it is 5 years too late for Firestone Walker in this market how hyper local it has become. Should of come around the same time Deschutes did and enjoyed a few fruitful years.

 

Agreed. I'm sure limited beers such as Parabola will do fine, but I don't know about their standard beers.

I used to live in Kansas City, which has had Firestone distribution for years. When I moved here, I thought it was odd their beer isn't anywhere to be found in this area. After a while, though, I came to understand how much stronger the local brewery scene is here than it was down there. Now I sort of marvel at any non-local brewery that thinks they can start distributing here and be successful. It's not impossible, but there are so many quality local breweries around here that I think new non-local breweries hardly have a chance unless they have an extraordinary amount of name recognition.

 

Obviously any time a beer goes on draft another one has to come off. Is your point that they shouldn't come to MN at all?

 

Their barrel aged stuff is excellent so if they sell that I know I'll be buying. I really don't buy regular stuff so that makes no difference to me

 

I love FSW but it might not be a wise decision to come here with so much in state local breweries taking the pie. IMO, they will do well for 60 to 90 days and then sales are more difficult especially if they don't have a brand managers watching over Johnson brothers. There are not many non-Minnesota breweries who can come into our state with a bang of successful momentum. Possibly New Glarus may be the only brewery I can think of off the top of my head who can really do well.

 

Several out of state breweries do quite well in Minnesota, not sure why this one would be different.