Harpoon Brewery Acquires Clown Shoes

Just saw this in my email from "Friends of Harpoon".

I frequent the Windsor VT location (its an awesome venue especially in the summer). This seems like it will be interesting. More new brews to try. I usually shy away from Clown Shoes because of a few less than thrilling experiences. This will change that for sure. I know a lot of people love their brews.

 

I'm actually OK with this? Probably because like they say above Harpoon is still independent and employee owned. Not something I was expecting but it makes a lot of sense for both companies, Harpoon to start acting like a beer giant and smaller breweries to want that stability a large brewery provides but also having that large brewery not be AB or MillerCoors

 

This reads a lot like the Wicked Weed announcement.

 

Every release that I have read about a brewery selling themselves has the same theme of nothing will change. The Victory folks had a similar message when they sold out to ABV, that business will continue as usual. Needless to say but that wasn't the case for Victory. I suppose it would be prudent to take a 'wait and see' approach as regards Clown shoes?

Cheers!

 

'We are all homeowners here" Well, la de da!

 

I am always amazed with the statement "Nothing will Change" Then any educated person would say then why are you merging if absolutely nothing will change HA HA. Simply put things will change because that is the nature of a merger. Sorry the beer folk need to get a new line, how about "Not much will change"
Cheers

 

what do you think has changed now that Victory is part of ABV?

 

I'd like to know, as well, as I've not noticed anything awry with Victory products, from either a quality or an availability standpoint.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the line that you mention is in regards to a negative turn in quality and/or distribution, and not anything in regards to business structure.

 

Best of luck, Gregg. You know I love your big beers. Let's hope this is a positive for all around!

 

Does this mean Clown Shoes comes back to Vermont now?

Well, sending in the update for the Beer Advocate database.

It is what it is.

¯\_(?)_/¯

 

I guess 13,000 bbl/yr of capacity just freed up at Ipswich. More Rt 101 12pks pls.

 

They have eliminated a number of the specialty beers that they would normally serve at their brewpub (Downingtown) and tasting room (Parkesburg). For example, this year they decided to not produce their Zeltbier which is an excellent Pale Oktoberfest beer.

A business decision has been made to concentrate on Victory core beers (e.g., their packaged products). It seems is that they want to optimize profits and the production of specialty beers is contrary to this new business goal.

Cheers!

 

I was not saying it would be negative, what I was saying is that when a company buys another company there are changes, that is just a business fact. So when owners put out a press release and say both companies will be exactly as we were prior to the merger is just not true. I never understood why companies agree to sell then want to pretend they never sold and life will continue unchanged, that is just not real life. They need to embrace the merger and just be honest, and then people won't criticize as much.
Edit: Honestly I don't care if companies merge, that is their right and their money. I just sort of laugh how they all say the same thing, its almost like its a programmed industry reply.

 

It's the Age of Spin, man.

 

Very true, they are about image and don't want to damage profits or fan base. I totally get it and would do the same thing. I just think companies jump into things without knowing how to talk to their customers. I would just tell it as it is, its dam hard out there and we merged to keep our business alive....

 

They are trying to 'sell' the notion that things will remain the same so that their existing customer base will still exuberantly support them and continue to buy their beers with gusto. It would not surprise me that many (most?) of their customer base will believe the BS because they truly hope that nothing will change. As long as the business owners believe that their customer base will believe the stuff they spout they will continue in this manner.

Cheers to you for knowing otherwise!

 

I too wish more business owners would follow the edict of honesty is the best policy. I am personally not holding my breath here.

Cheers!

 

I totally agree with you, most will read that press item and never give it another though, sadly that is the nature of society today and business owners use that ignorance to their gain.

Cheers