Honest question, does it seem like some breweries skip Michigan?

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by loki993, Aug 30, 2012.

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  1. loki993

    loki993 Initiate (0) Apr 16, 2009 Michigan

    Im not trying to stir stuff up Im actually curious.

    I just ask this because I sometimes check the distribution map and it seems like a lot of times Ill see distro for a certain brewery all around Michigan but they just skip us. I dont write down everyone that I see so I cant remember a bunch but its something that's happened enough times that I notice it now. The most recent being today when looking at 2 Brothers, basically every state around Michigan, but not Michigan. Another one Hoppin Frog. Thats just 2 off the top of my head, but its something Ive seen. Im looking at the map here and there are more Ballast Point, Full Sail, The Bruery all west coasters. Full Sail and Ballast point have pretty wide distros, yet no Michigan.

    Whats the deal? Do they just figure we have a lot of good beer here already that its not worth distributing here because of the competition or is it just something that's not really the norm and I'm seeing an anomaly.
     
    #1 loki993, Aug 30, 2012
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  2. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    Of course they do, they'd rather go to Ohio State where the buckeyes are!
     
    #2 jivex5k, Aug 30, 2012
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  3. szmnnl99

    szmnnl99 Pooh-Bah (2,028) Apr 3, 2006 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    They probably get kickbacks from Ohio but not from Michigan (just like OSU). :stuck_out_tongue:
     
    #3 szmnnl99, Aug 30, 2012
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  4. crossovert

    crossovert Initiate (0) Mar 29, 2009 Illinois

    Prob the same thing that WI has, lots of good breweries and stuff that has a strong local following. It is hard to compete with Bell's and foudners especially just like other breweries don't want to compete with new glarus.
     
    #4 crossovert, Aug 30, 2012
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  5. JM03

    JM03 Initiate (0) Nov 12, 2010 Ohio

    It seems to happen with a lot of states/breweries. For example, Clown Shoes distributes to Louisiana and Arizona (from Massachusetts) - but not to neighboring states like Penn and Ohio. Not sure the reasoning, but its nothing that I worry to much about.
     
    #5 JM03, Aug 30, 2012
  6. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    Clowns shoes has an exclusive contract with Total Wine. Anywhere with a Total Wine gets it.
     
    #6 jivex5k, Aug 30, 2012
  7. JM03

    JM03 Initiate (0) Nov 12, 2010 Ohio

    Yeah, it was just one example off of the top of my head. There are others that are the same way.
     
    #7 JM03, Aug 30, 2012
  8. mcomben

    mcomben Initiate (0) Dec 2, 2008 Michigan

    My friends and I just had this discussion the other day. While I think the number of quality breweries in this state certainly plays a role in companies staying out I'd say our geographic isolation is also a contributing factor. With the great lakes surrounding the state you’d have to make a dedicated trip up in to the state via 94 and 96 to deliver beer to a Michigan distributor whereas Illinois, Indiana and Ohio can all be stops on a cross country delivery route with little rerouting effort.

    Not stating fact, just another theory…
     
    #8 mcomben, Aug 30, 2012
  9. JohnB87

    JohnB87 Zealot (673) Mar 14, 2011 Michigan

    I think that these two factors would be the main ones. Competition and the extra cost of fuel.
     
    #9 JohnB87, Aug 30, 2012
  10. drgarage

    drgarage Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2008 California

    Get Bell's and Founders out to California, and we'll start urging some of our guys to make more of an effort to send some back to you guys. I mean, Bell's is in Arizona but not Cali. ARIZONA!
     
    #10 drgarage, Aug 30, 2012
  11. steebo777

    steebo777 Initiate (0) Jun 30, 2009 Michigan

    That's because Larry Bell has ties to AZ (and I believe a house for winter).
     
    #11 steebo777, Aug 30, 2012
  12. MaxSpang

    MaxSpang Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2011 Ohio
    Trader

    Man, if only Michigan had some decent beer available...
     
    #12 MaxSpang, Aug 30, 2012
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  13. Itoclown

    Itoclown Zealot (634) Jun 19, 2008 Michigan
    Trader

    Slowly but surely they will come. Just takes time. I keep expecting to see Ballast Point, Oscar Blues or Firestone Walker to announce distro to MI.
     
    #13 Itoclown, Aug 30, 2012
  14. fishtremble

    fishtremble Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2010 Michigan

    Hell loki I'm more concerned with what it's going to take to get our own Michigan distributors to start showing some love for the SE side of their own state especially on the limited/seasonal Michigan beers.
     
    #14 fishtremble, Aug 30, 2012
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  15. Holiday1072

    Holiday1072 Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2008 Michigan

    Chicago Cubs Spring Training
     
    #15 Holiday1072, Aug 30, 2012
  16. biga7346

    biga7346 Zealot (686) Jun 19, 2010 Michigan
    Trader

    Yes. I allways think it's funny the juxtaposition between MI and OH as far as distro. Ohio gets awesome distro (Alesmith, Cantillon, 3F, Bruery, Fantome, Stillwater etc.) but they don't have shit for brewpubs and beer events. MI is nearly the opposite where all of our big hitters are our in-state releases and the numerus parties but our overall distro isn't all that great, and now with Shelon gone you can say goodbye to the little bit of Cantillon and Fantome we used to get.

    But MI has ceraintly made strides over the past year getting NB, Bear Republic, Epic and there's probably some more I'm fogetting. Honestly though, IMO I'll take our awesome brewpub culture rather than having a few more labels around.
     
    #16 biga7346, Aug 30, 2012
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  17. biga7346

    biga7346 Zealot (686) Jun 19, 2010 Michigan
    Trader

    If FW came to MI....holy hell, I'm almost shaking just with the thought of it.
     
    #17 biga7346, Aug 30, 2012
  18. loki993

    loki993 Initiate (0) Apr 16, 2009 Michigan

    the fact that Ohio hates us had crossed my mind....lol

    That would probably make the most sense to me also.

    What have you had trouble finding? I haven't had much trouble finding stuff. Now what does come down here, if its hyped, does tend to go fact but I think that simple because we have more people. Unless I'm missing stuff?


    Maybe forget about the other guys and lets concentrate on getting people like Greenbush, Odd Side, Right Brian etc to get some bottles out to us :slight_smile:
     
    #18 loki993, Aug 30, 2012
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  19. kryptic

    kryptic Initiate (0) Sep 3, 2007 Ohio

    Living in Toledo, I feel your pain. Seems a lot of the stuff distributed to Ohio, is actually distributed to every major city in Ohio, except Toledo. No love for the dirty glass...

    :slight_frown:
     
    #19 kryptic, Aug 30, 2012
  20. miketd

    miketd Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2006 Ohio

    Really? Haha, I don't give a shit about beer events(although we have a few decent things), but to say we don't have good brewpubs is a joke. I would be perfectly happy to stay down here, without the need to travel.
     
    #20 miketd, Aug 30, 2012
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