Anyone else in trouble in Michigan?

I've visited some of the recently-opened brewpubs, and if they don't improve their beer there will be some closings upcoming. I'm not going to mention names here because all new breweries deserve a chance to get it right before being stomped upon by bad press. Some new breweries are smart enough to get it right before they open their doors, but some don't. I do give feedback when I visit these breweries, so I hope they listen. It's probably a dream of almost every BA to own their own brewery so I'm willing to give them some time to live that dream.

 

There is one for sale due to the owner becoming tired of 16 hour days.

 

In Sparta?

 

I live in MN but work in Michigan, and the beer quality is awesome. If your beer is adequate at best, you are in trouble. Too much competition. Mt. Pleasant and Detroit Beer Co are breweries I've tried once (and only once), they fit the bill as making so-so beer and I often see their bottles languishing on shelves. Could not speak to their current success or whether they have healthy taprooms. In my opinion, of all the breweries in Michigan with any reach, Arbor is by far the worst, but they seem to be well positioned for survival, so they should be around a while and can hopefully develop better products.

 

Yes, it is on Craigs list.

 

I think Arbor/Corner has gotten some better QA/QC of late. The Corner brewery (production site) has had some expansion and remodeling which should help them, as maturation time is often too short for almost all of the small places in MI - they have to turn that tank over to keep the beer flowing. They will soon have the new bottling line running - it was the bottling line at Founders before. I enjoy Ypsi Gypsi and Buzzsaw these days, and the Strawberry Blonde is a favorite of the wife.

If you haven't tried their sour projects, you need to try those as those are first rate.

 

Thanks for the pointers! I will revisit them, always frustrating to see a percentage of shelf space occupied by a brewery in my "avoid at all costs" category.

 

I agree on their sour series -- by far the best stuff coming out of Arbor. I still haven't been impressed by any of their non-sour beers, though. None of it's bad, but it's all pretty mediocre in my opinion. Buzzsaw and a few others are okay, but when there are many better options on the shelf, there's nothing I plan to pick up again.

I think the strongest thing Arbor has going for them is strong local support. I don't think they're in danger, but they won't grow much without improving their beer.

 

MBC went under because of very poor management and extremely shady finances. I hope no other brewery has to suffer the same fate.

Also, I heard Saugatuck pushed the original owner and brewer out that got them back on track so I won't be drinking any of their stuff from now on.

I agree with a lot already said about Arbor/Corner and if you haven't already had a chance, try their Sodibo from this year (2012 vintage). It's excellent.

 

I think in the end like in most businesses the ones who nail the beer side and the business side will have it in the bag as distributed beers. Then I think there will be another cast of characters running nice local brewpubs who will succeed. The ones in trouble IMO are the ones who are distributing, but don't have a high quality level. They will die on the shelf and that will lead to them pulling back out of distribution and then going out of business IMO.

I'm not going to name names either..fun to speculate, but we each should form our own opinion.

 

This whole thread speculation that doesn't really seem to serve any real purpose

 

Then it is in good company with most BA threads.

 

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/10/michigan_beer_cellar_for_sale.html