Ken Grossman (Sierra Nevada) – Beyond Beer

I didn't even know what Kombucha until I just googled it. Looks like it's tea.

 

I associate it with Molson Coors.
Molson Coors signs new “beyond beer” partnerships
They even have a website/blog called Beer & Beyond and use the term in various articles like https://www.molsoncoorsblog.com/news/beyond-beer
But it's older than those recent MC examples:
The Boston Beer Company and Dogfish Head Brewery to Merge ... Craft Beer Pioneers with Unrivaled Brewing Expertise and Portfolios of Leading Beer and "Beyond Beer" Brands

 

I had a hard Kombucha just the other night (wife ordered it, she doesn’t like beer), and I thought it was pretty good, like a funky farmhouse/wild ale but not sour. The one I tasted had raspberries added. I wonder if these mass produced versions will have all the probiotic stuff in there to help with health or whether all the good funk will get filtered and pasteurized out?

 

Da Boss and I had lunch at the Mills River taproom back in May. We sat at the bar and being curious asked the bartender for a sample of the Ginger and the Watermelon. It was different for my palate as i drink coffee religiously every morning. The flavors used were interesting, especially the ginger based one as this is one of our favorite spices to cook with. There was a touch of sourness going on top of each variety and although not bad i found it not to be my “cup of tea”. But i get why the larger brewers are looking for different ways to increase revenue streams in this ever evolving beverage world and do not fault them for it.
Cheers!
Tom

 

As long as Ken Grossman is involved, Sierra Nevada will not broach 16% of "beyond beer" share, the complete opposite of Boston Beer Company's 16% (and falling despite purchases of theoretical beer brewing companies like Dogfish) beer share vs. 84% "beyond beer" share of contract "craft" "beer" owners of "Boston" "Beer" Company.

https://cobbxcounsel.com/2021/07/how-to-become-a-brewer-without-owning-a-brewery/

Jim Koch, Harvard MBA great businessman. Ken Grossman Chico California trained great brewer of beer.

Jim Koch is all jacked up on Mountain Dew, I heard Jim threw a bunch of Dogfish's GABF's medals off a bridge today.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...launch-hard-mountain-dew.660665/#post-7320050

 

Feels like the SN we have come to love is changing.

Enjoy

 

It's sweetened tea fermented with a blend of bacteria and yeast. Depending on the specific culture (kombucha people call it a SCOBY and it usually moves from batch to batch), the level of sweetener, abs the fermentation conditions you will produce varying levels of alcohol.

 

I read the articles. I am familiar with Jeff White. Ken is the chairman, Sierra Nevada is not publicly owned, so Ken doesn't have to be at the brewery to ultimately call the shots as long as he controls the company. He would of sold it years ago if he wanted to, doubt he'll want to see what he spent his entire life building destroyed during his final days for a windfall he doesn't need.

I would be interested in any news regarding their transition plan, and whether he intends to keep this a privately owned company or whether they plan to go public or sell to a VC firm or another brewery. If they do plan on following the Boston Beer Company model, to go public (or a VC Fund) and be slave to short term growth and profits, than it portends for a dismal future for SN customers. I already have not liked a few smaller changes over the past year or two, and perhaps this is only the beginning.

 

Well, I guess, for me, while I understand what this newish marketing term means, I'll probably continue to use some form of the terminology I've been using:
"FMB's, seltzers and all that other non-beer crap."

 

I thought it was pretty well understood that his children, two of whom already work at SN, will run the company. According to BLOOMBERG in 2015:
"(Grossman) plans to let his son (Brian - GM at Mill River) and daughter Sierra, (then) 37, run the company when he’s done."

 

I recently had some fresh, around 3wks ginger, lemon, hibiscus strange beast. Not my cup of tea. Maybe a different flavor would work, I've had juneshine and enjoyed it. Distro not the greatest, i waited a long time for a fresh batch to come around. In addition, i like to have tea at asian restaurants.
As for the benchmark that is SN, I have bought considerably less in the last few years, with choices elsewhere taking over

 

I was at the Mills River taproom in June. First time since they reopened. Had two “beasts” on tap… the lemon ginger one and a watermelon and sea salt version at around 5%, if I remember correctly.

I was prepared not to like them, but they kind of blew me away…lots of funk, almost farmhouse, and a subtle tartness. Not sharp like your typical lacto-derived sour. Thinner on the palette, but not necessarily in a bad way.

They are being produced in Chico only. Proprietary blend of bugs they developed in-house. Mostly on tap at the two breweries, but I’ve seen a few cans (singles) around here at $5/pint.