Why Don't More Large Craft Breweries Have Small Distro?

Same reason big produce farmers dont sell only at local farmers markets. More distro equals more customers equals more money for the brewery and then the cycle repeats/expands until equilibrium.

There may be some drop off in quality (this is mostly limited to hop forward beers through) but so long as the drop off in quality due to shipping is acceptable to the prospective long distance customers, everybody wins.

 

New Glarus is the exception not the rule. Do any others in the top 50 have such a small footprint? Also, they've been around for 20 years. A new brewery has to compete with hundreds of brands that already have some level of recognition. Best to cast as wide a net as possible.

 

Agreed many breweries seem to expand past what they can reasonably support I've been saying it for a while now but to me Founders is the best example of this but you also get brewers like 3 Floyds who IMO do the right thing sure I wish they sent beer to MI and that I had Dark Lord Tickets so I could get dark lord this year but I wish Founders would do the same for KBS and CBS and release both every year only at their brew pub

 

What the hell are you talking about? Are you talking about expanding only to pull out of new markets? Inadequately supply existing markets? FFF is not an example that should be used here.

 

Im honestly glad they do. Here in AZ we dont have a huge presence of brewers so without access to other states breweries we would have a pretty boring selection. I would rather give up a little quality then to have nothing at all. As it is we don't get a lot of the top ones here that I would love to try.

 

Other breweries don't sell as many pints per-capita.

 

Huh? What problem do you see founders having stocking shelves? You can go into most stores and find what you want from founders except special releases or KBS...Your way off base

 

Different breweries have different goals and different definitions of success. Some tend to believe they have to massive distribution footprint while others are happy making a living where they live. Different strokes.

 

You actually said alot of the stuff about 3F that I like Founders should pull their special releases from most markets and I'm guessing Munster IN gets an adequate supply of 3F locals should be served 1st hats off to 3F for pulling out of some markets since they didn't have enough supply

 

Selling beer in a different state is apparently a pain in the ass. You have to get your label approved and jump thru whatever hoops the other state has (label, ABV%, etc). Three Floyds isn't altruistic - they just don't want to deal with the bullshit.

 

Yes but they should keep the special releases at home was my point I wish they would announce that while they are expanding to new markets the new markets won't get limited releases and will pull out of some existing markets until they have a much bigger supply

 

You missed the point. Indiana is often lacking in FFF distribution, Munster is only really supplied at the brewery. Many of the markets that are distributed to often receive a bare minimum. Not something to praise.

Pulling out of markets, like FFF has, should not be praised either, it is a sign of poor planning and lack of foresight.

FFF is not a good example of how to run a business. They make great beer but pick a better example if you are talking about business.

 

I find this to be the support "me" thinking that is very common...Would I love more KBS for me, YES..100%...But founders does what founders believes is best for the company and is very successful..I have no problem with it...But to say FFF does it right when they cant even support their own community with a year round releases makes no sense..

 

Because if you get into the business of brewing beer, the ultimate goal is to get your beer into as many hands as possible...not necessarily to make as much money as you can, but to spread your beer so others can enjoy it. If you're passionate about what you brew, you want others to enjoy it. That's the whole point of expanding your brewery and expanding your distribution. Some of my favorite beers are from the West Coast or Midwest and I'm very glad they decided to expand into MA. The more beer you can get in your home market the richer your beer drinking life will be. Why on earth you would want less beer is beyond me.

And what's this business about not getting the most solid version of a beer? I really don't think you're gonna taste any difference whatsoever between a bottle of Arrogant Bastard bought in San Diego vs. one bought in NC.

 

Dont see how you can make that argument since I don't live in IN

 

I agree with the it wont taste different for the most part but I've heard that some west coast brewers are going to open brewing locations on the east coast if a beer is brewed thousands of miles apart I can tell you even if the difference is slight there will be differences for one thing I'm sure they wont ship the water from the west coast

 

The only reason to open a brewery is to make money. If you lose sight of that, your brewery will close.

 

With modern commercial scale brewing techniques, where the water comes from has little to no effect on the taste of the finished product.

 

There are flavor differences due to the time in transit, Sierra Nevada has said they have done panel test and have found it to be true. Beer is mostly water, and when you add the packaging weight it is not cheap to ship. That is the real reason that the West Coast Brewers are opening breweries in the East.