Pour Decisions/Bent Brewstillery Merger

I heard PD wasn't doing well financially, but they also seemed to be growing. Anyone know why this happened? What happened to the other owners/employees of PD?

 

God the Perfect Pint interview is a mess. This guy does not sound like he know what he's talking about. He sounds like a beer drinker who messed around with a homebrew kit for awhile and decided to go big. I know that's how Kristen started, but he won awards and was a leader in the local homebrew scene. Bartley sounds like he's in over his head.

Big red flag here with regards to drinking: "Well, I’m kind of too busy. I’m running a business. To tell you the truth, I’ve cut down quite a bit since all this happened. It’s a good thing, of course. I don’t miss it."

 

My reaction as well. Canned ravioli aside, it didn't really inspire much confidence in his ability to create a successful brewery/beers. I guess we'll see.

 

Just wait until he busts out "Ravioli Fatha," a limited release 750ml with special spices thrown in.

Then you'll all be believers.

 

Funny I got the opposite feeling. They were hands down my favorite taproom in the metro.

I hope they keep the huluhoops in the taproom.

 

Will it be this or will it be rc dark fatha? Ageing beers in ravioli cans may be the next big thing in brewing.

When he mentioned deciding which sours to keep/drop I started sharping my pitchfork for when the mob forms. Ambiguity is the only one I wouldn't be totally pissed about losing and even that is unique enough that I like having it available in this market.

 

Can we still use our Pour Decisions growlers? Inquiring minds want to know...

 

this thread reminds me of the rumbleseat song...
everybodys always hacking on people they never met
everbodys always hooting about something they dont know about yet

 

member since 2007 - 1 post

give us an insider's perspective on the merger

 

Care to explain exactly what is it that you are taking exception to in this thread? Not that your reference to some obscure song that no one has ever heard of wasn't greatly appreciated, but maybe you have useful information to contribute (or at least an opinion)?

 

Member and post thing not even gonna go there....
I don't have an insider perspective..

anyone can read an article and twist in in a certain way which what all the replys on this thread are....that is not hard to see

 

But you understand why we (BA at large) wonder why you chose to comment on this thread for your first post after being a member for 6+ years and posting nothing... plus, it was a cryptic reply... just makes ya wonder...

 

Or, folks can read an article and have a legitimate concern because they appreciated what Kristen at Pour Decisions was doing and the reputation that he was building, and then they see that a new person, Bartley at Bent Brewstillery, is stepping in and changing the name, changing the nature of what is going on, and while he is saying some good things (expanded sour program), Bent Brewstillery is the less established brand and people are concerned that what they liked about Pour Decisions will be diluted by the expectations of the new owner.

Also, holy crap was that a run-on sentence.

On the other hand, I think everyone also acknowledges that this could work. I think we all hope that it does. Or, at the very least, I do. Kristen is still brewing the beer, so we'll see what happens.

 

Bent Brewstillery is a completely horrible name. Pour Decisions was not great either, but kinda unique and catchy (and maybe clarvoyent if they really were having financial woes).

 

jesus....I have commented on other threads (though this is not my forum of choice) no idea why beeradvocate shows me as one post nor do I care.
I know what Pour decisions is doing and the caliber of there beers...top notch in the country if you ask me. But people in this thread just changing and twisting the article to what they want to hear or what they think happened... Really?
You guys honeslty think Bartley just stepped in and said fuck you guys I am taking over..did you read the articles?

 

We will be featuring a series of smoked beers that were made in Collaboration between our Chef Peter Botcher & Kristen of PD. They will now be released under the Bent Brewstillery label. We smoked the malt, they brewed the beer.

 

Didn't you have a smoked saison with PD last year? That was a tasty beer, from what I remember.

 

The Growler has some background on the merger and current activities at Bent Brewstillery:

http://growlermag.com/bent-brewstillery-celebrates-one-year-in-business-with-release-of-cans/

For me, the merged "brewstillery" hasn't recaptured the magic that Pour Decisions was starting to develop. If Pour Decisions had been able to continue on its pre-Bent path, I think Minnesota craft beer enthusiasts would be talking about it a lot more often. Bent Brewstillery is an afterthought in the local scene. I don't know if it's because Haun was a key creative force and didn't continue with the merged company, if England is uncomfortably trying to shoehorn his brewing style into Blume's template, or what is going on.

It baffles me that Bent Brewstillery continues to push the weak Nordic Blonde as its flagship. It's like an inexperienced restaurant owner who hires a top chef but insists that the chef cook the owner-designed entrees while giving the chef influence only over the appetizers. Then again, for all I know Bent Brewstillery is making money hand over fist. The optimum flavor strategy isn't necessarily the optimum business strategy; even the great New Glarus generates much of its revenue via Spotted Cow.

Also, I'm surprised I feel this way, but I miss Pour Decisions' old, gray, wide open, bare bones taproom. The Bent Brewstillery taproom is "nicer," but it feels little different from 90% of the other taprooms in town.

By the way, for those who read The Growler article, a quick Google search reveals that there are other gins flavored with hops.

 

PD used to be one of my favorite local breweries. They consistently killed it with their Berlinner and Gose variants. I have tried hard to get behind the new merged company, but for a lot of the reasons listed by @islay - those and the fact that they have been putting out really mediocre product - I have lost all interest.

 

I put Bent into the same category as Excelsior: I think they make terrible beer but someone out there is apparently buying it. I miss Pour Decisions!