Do buyouts really impact the beer?

I would really have to argue that you must judge on a brewery by brewery basis. I love craft but in the right moment a coors, bud, stella, molson. are warranted. When your sitting on a terrasse with friends enjoying a beer ect... adjunct lagers do the job fine. As for them swallowing up small breweries, There are some breweries "goose island, unibroue ect..." who haven't changed much and enjoy international shelf space thanks to these buy outs. Others have changed the beer drasticly and that sucks. In reality though if we cant change it why complain.

 

Life it too short for me -- I have ready access to some of the best small breweries in the country -- I simply don't have the need or bodily capacity to drink small market beers converted to mass market beers.

In the case of Redhook -- bought out many years ago -- their line up is the epitome of stagnant. The big brewery owners have just stuck w the same circa 90's ESB and IPA recipes....while dozens of NE Brewers all around them have innovated the style and w/fabulous new and hoppy variations. IMO you're asking the wrong question -- it's not that mega breweries are changing the proven beers they are inheriting w/their acquisitions....it's more likely that over time they suck the innovation out of the operation and ultimately lead to bland/boring stagnated beers.

 

Yes, thanks for asking

 

Actually believe it or not but four peaks has always been this awful

 

You have to view it on a case by case basis - and some on a beer by beer basis. To ramp up, new lines have to be used and that has led to problems. Think Alpine and Green Flash or even NoDa's problem with HDnR without a change in ownership. Change anything in a brewing process and you've introduced a new variable. The more variables are changed, the more variation is introduced.

 

3 Sticks, I wonder how many posters know who you mean.

 

As far as I'm concerned, yes and no. Yes, it seems that any Bourbon County variant is now nearly impossible to find where I live,however before the buyout I had no problem buying this beer. No, as far as flavor goes, I think it just as great as always. Yes, before Green Flash became involved with Alpine, I could never find any Alpine products unless I bought them online. No, I enjoy Alpines beer just the same as before the change. This may an oversimplistic view as I'm not really aware of how any of these large groups operate.

 

I personally think there was a flavor change in Alpine once GF started brewing it. Maybe it has to do with quantity, a change of environment, I dont know. Dont get me wrong, I still love Alpine, I just think it lost a little something going to mass production.

 

Have any of the small breweries that got bought out been taking a lot of risks on new experimental brews or have they mostly continued to make the ones that are already popular?

And, have those already popular beers had the minor year to year variations you expect from a microbrewery or have they started tasting identical every year?

 

There was an explanation on another thread that confirmed that there was a learning curve, but once they acquired a centrifuge it made a big difference in the end product. At this point I don't think I'd hesitate to grab some if I see it.

 

A change in ownership or brewing facility may or may not impact the actual beer... and if so, a change can be for the better or for the worse depending on one's perspective or taste. An ownership change can also impact how the beer is sold. What do the beers in the pic from this supermarket end cap have in common? Hmmm. Note the Beck's box on the right and the Stella and Shock Top logos along with the "Craft Partnership" bedfellows.

 

And review score wise, and medals, they're among the best in Arizona too.

They have the most recognition though and most presence on taps and supermarket shelves over the years, which is probably the main reason(s) why they were bought.

 

For me, I certainly have and will continue to support the "sell out" beers that are available for several reasons. At the top of those (reason) lists are pricing, overall availability and what kind of company or event I'll be hosting or going to visit. I also try to support our own local and very good options. I certainly hope that those smaller breweries succeed and really try to drink local more than not. That said, I find myself very fortunate to live in area that has tons of great options that are readily available.

I find it interesting that so many people tear down the "sellouts" while looking to trade for BCS or where they can buy it. I also find it interesting that any "craft" brewery would be interested in selling to a competitor that openly mocks the entire industry. With adlines like "proudly macro" that air during the Superbowl, it is pretty apparent of ABIB's intent. That is the worrisome element to this whole thing for me. At the end of the day the whole thing is a double edged sword. Interesting to see how this all shakes out over the next few years.

 

Indeed, I also notice that the rack is add-on shelf space, probably set up and filled up by the distributor. (So it's increasing shelf space and not pushing something else off the shelf. :-))

 

I have seen several people mention that Redhook has been bought out or is owned by "big beer." I am very curious what you guys are talking about. They are owned by Craft Brew Alliance, of which only a minority share is owned by AB. The real partnership here is that the CBA breweries use AB for their distribution. This partnership is rumored to be in the process of dissolving. As far as I am aware, AB has nothing to do with what beer they make or how they brew it.

 

How much of the newly expanded distribution understands this or would be knowledgeable about how previous products may have been? What if they have ONLY known a product that has just appeared on the grocery shelf? Not to mention that some consumers simply don't care about who owns what, and are excited to have "new" beers to try.

 

It's going to take a lot for me not to buy anymore Ballast Point beer, even if I hate most beer Constellation puts out. If Sculpin and Victory at Sea continue to taste as ridiculously good as they do a few months to a year down the line, and possibly drop in price due to much larger buying power of ingredients from it's parent company, then I'll be happy.

 

Ok?
The question was "do they really change the beer and or the recipe?" my answer was yes; I made no mention of the consumer impact that comes from said change