What four brewers would mark the end of craft beer if they ever sold out?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Lone_Freighter, Mar 9, 2019.

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  1. Lone_Freighter

    Lone_Freighter Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2017 Vermont

    They just bought out Sufferfest (sp?), a gluten free brewer, but still a brewer nonetheless, I don't see Sierra Nevada selling out, just my opinion.
     
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  2. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Well then I'd guess it would talke about half of the over 7,000 in the US to be bought for there to be a reason to worry....:slight_smile:
     
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  3. HopsAreDaMan

    HopsAreDaMan Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2015 Missouri
    Deactivated

    I don't think so either. Ken went on record as saying he plans to leave the business to his kids.

    Still, there's what Tony always said and what Tony ended up doing ...
     
  4. Lone_Freighter

    Lone_Freighter Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2017 Vermont

    This would DEFINITELY be the end, then, right :grin:
     
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  5. HopsAreDaMan

    HopsAreDaMan Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2015 Missouri
    Deactivated

    Ok, that made me laugh out loud. I'm a little embarrassed to say it, but I don't think I have ever had a beer from them.
     
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  6. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,282) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Zero. Beer was around before "craft", and i will be around well after. No brewery, or even group of breweries, is bigger than the beverage itself.
     
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  7. Lone_Freighter

    Lone_Freighter Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2017 Vermont

    Yeah, I would shit bricks too. Forgive me if I started a shitstorm on here. I only wanted opinions from others what they thought if certain brewers got bought out if they would "trigger" certain people to think the end has come. Me, eh, I prolly think about this shit too much and prolly should just get back to reviewing beers. Time to shut my trap. Sorry to all if I came across the wrong way.
     
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  8. Lone_Freighter

    Lone_Freighter Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2017 Vermont

    Would a better title of this thread be "What Brewers That Sell Out Would Trigger An End To Craft Beer?" I'm just looking for opinions to what people think.
     
  9. Lone_Freighter

    Lone_Freighter Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2017 Vermont

    "Nobody's indespensable?" So 3 Disciples Brewing in Sebastopol, CA is off base, right? Are these guys important?

    I'm just here in Vermont, man.
     
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  10. Beer_Stan

    Beer_Stan Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2014 California
    Trader

    Or which breweries would be the infinity stones ABInbev Thanos would need to wipe out half of craft beer
     
  11. Rajaholick

    Rajaholick Zealot (666) Jan 9, 2011 Ohio
    Trader

    Bell's and Sierra Nevada for sure. Bell's packaging now has a statement about being family owned etc and Sierra Nevada is just synonymous with craft beer.
    Stone given how vocal they have been about craft beer independence.
    Dogfish head for all the reasons above and because along with the other 3 breweries I mentioned was one of the breweries that got me into craft beer way back when. If any of these "sold out" it would be a blow.

    All this being said, if any of these did sell, I would just drown my sorrow in more craft beer including ones made by these breweries just like I did when founders sold a stake in their brewery.
     
  12. Lone_Freighter

    Lone_Freighter Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2017 Vermont

    Thank you for actually answering my thread and not try to argue or interchange my thoughts to what others think I'm trying to say in their minds. Too many people are over thinking a simple question I asked.
     
  13. EnronCFO

    EnronCFO Pooh-Bah (1,969) Mar 29, 2007 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Stone Brewing already sold a piece to private equity.

    Rumor on the street is that Shaun Hill doesn’t even drink beer anymore. He’s always hated being in the spotlight, I could see him selling the whole thing and taking on a new project that fits with his current artistic interests.
     
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  14. Ronmarley1

    Ronmarley1 Savant (1,175) Jan 20, 2014 Ohio
    Trader

    Glad to see Stone mentioned here. They get quite a bit of hate on BA. They’ll always have a place in my fridge, going back to the early 2000’s and my first sip of Arrogant Bastard. OG Ruination is tops in my book.
     
  15. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,161) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    In all seriousness, I think GI would have made many people's lists in the 2000s ...

    I don't think any craft brewery selling would "end" craft. But for me, if a Sierra Nevada sold, or Revolution Brewing, or Pipeworks, or say UCBC, I would personally, be very disappointed and saddened.
     
  16. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,862) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Stone, Sierra, New Belgium, Bell's. The distressing thing to me would be the thought that the leadership of these dominate brands no longer thought it was worth it. I would wonder what they were seeing
     
  17. dcotom

    dcotom Grand Pooh-Bah (5,503) Aug 4, 2014 Iowa
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Noooo! Say it ain't so!!!
     
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  18. islay

    islay Savant (1,187) Jan 6, 2008 Minnesota

    I had to check the date on this post. The "Big Beer" craft brewery buyout boom is long over. It's been about two years since AB InBev's last brewery purchase. Sure, there's been some consolidation as well as some private equity purchases here and there, but, for the most part, serious investors are looking askance at breweries as an investment option. The industry has changed massively in recent years as consumers are shifting their purchasing ever more local and toward numerous tiny breweries. That trend has dampened the growth prospects of the large, regional to national players that used to be buyout targets and has in turn significantly depressed their valuations. The apparent failure from a profitability perspective of high-profile acquisitions -- such as most of AB InBev's old High End lineup and Constellation Brands' massive money-flush on Ballast Point -- has further curbed enthusiasm. In addition, the industry is concerned about the dual prospects of a broad recession and, even more worrisome, a shift in consumer preferences away from craft beer. The next wave of brewery "sellouts" may well be of failing businesses to vulture capitalists, a la Green Flash.

    Therefore, I don't think you need to worry much about your favorite brewery selling out anymore. Worry instead about your favorite brewery selling enough beer to continue as a going concern. Or don't worry at all, as others have pointed out, as there are tons of other options.
     
  19. jasonmason

    jasonmason Zealot (658) Oct 6, 2004 California
    Trader

    I completely understand some of the responses to the effect of no one single brewery being a death knell for craft. I would like to believe you are right.

    However, if someone like Sierra Nevada ever sold out...man, it would sure be a shock. It really would make me question the ability of large-scale craft beer to maintain staying cultural presence, as opposed to just cyclically cresting into (and out of) it.

    As to the Stone comments: 10 years ago it would have blown my mind if they sold out. Now I would not even be mildly surprised.
     
  20. cmiller4642

    cmiller4642 Initiate (0) Aug 17, 2013 West Virginia

    I don't see Stone, Sierra Nevada, or New Belgium selling out because they never have in the past.

    Their excitement factor is not what it was at the beginning of the decade.
     
    Mindcrime1000 likes this.
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