Sacred Profane Brewing Launching Summer 2022

And I am thankful for that since Heady Topper is not my favorite brand of Alchemist beers!

Cheers to brand choice!

 

I'm sure they'll need to branch out and eventually offer more variety or at least variations on that core beer, but if they want to start with one core offering as the foundation, then I'm fine with it. Especially if it's kickass lager.

You could argue that Narragansett did this (I know, old school cheap beer) also Allagash White was definitely their main focus back in the day. Flagships have gone the way of the dodo, but starting with one core product done exceptionally well is a great way to build a business. I'd imagine Brienne has her sights set on brewing a beer that could become the Pilsner Urquell of Maine/New England and I'd for sure welcome that. There's room on every tap list for a extremely well done, consistent, easy to find pilsner (and Miller Lite ain't it).

 

And I have no doubt that others would be OK with just one brand. But I do have doubts that this would be an economically viable business strategy, unless Brienne and Mike are already wealthy and can run this brewery like a hobby.

I suppose we will know more in a few years.

Cheers!

 

Do you think their plan is to package and distribute the beer? From the way I understood the article, it sounded like the method of serving the beer was an integral part of the whole strategy, so I assumed it would be a draft only brand. Which is why comparisons to the Alchemist don’t seem on point. I could see the plan working better if they can can or keg the beer and try to make it a popular summer beer a la Surfcasting, Luppolo, or River Trip.

 

It's a tankpub. I don't think they're looking to grow into something massive. I don't think this is going to be "run like a hobby" (what a condescending thing to say btw). Not everything has to be about growth, sustainable isn't always about blowing out sales. It can mean having something that is viable for years to come. Both Mike and Brienne are talented brewers and they're teaming up with a well regarded team for the food side of things. I'm sure it'll be a great place to hang, have some beers, and a meal.

I realize everyone approaches going to a brewery differently and this isn't going to be for everyone. What I will say is that this seems very much my kind of spot, so I will be going there when I head up to Maine.

Also, there are a lot of places in Maine that are the middle of nowhere. Biddeford is not one of those places.

 

So since it seems they are talking about a single brewpub location - I think a comparison could be McSorley's Old Ale House in NYC. I've never been there, but my understanding is that they famously only serve two house beers - "Light" and "Dark". And they've been open for more than 150 years. https://mcsorleysoldalehouse.nyc/

But I would agree that a plan to only have two beers on tap is certainly a bold decision with today's craft beer consumers.

 

I also found this to be condescending. I’m sure that’s what two professional (and very successful and highly regarded) brewers were going for: A place they can run like a hobby.

 

I wish breweries around me would stick to the beers they do best rather than constantly change what they offer. If Sacred Profane is modeling their brewery after Czech or German ones, then having just two beers is normal if not preferable.

 

That is something we can agree on.

 

Opening a brewery is a business and in the today's US craft beer environment just serving two brands of beer is very much not the norm.

If you have some contemporary examples of US craft breweries who are succeeding here please provide some input. I asked you about this above but for some reason you decided to not respond.

 

I wouldn’t dwell on the hobby comment, in the context of the statement he was running a scenario by us. Maybe it is more of a passion project(hobby isn’t a bad word by an means)

To his point everything costs money. You still have rent and equipment and and product to pay for. So it has to sell to keep the lights on otherwise eventually the well runs dry. Unless you have some serious cash to just use and not worry about. As was stated and would be more for fun then a serious business imo

 

The fallacy of the antecedent is the counter to the idea that just because something hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it won’t. In some cases (horses playing video games, for instance), it’s true. Horses won’t ever start playing Madden. In other cases, like a business with an unconventional or unprecedented business model, doesn’t suggest foolishness or predict failure.

I’m excited for Mike and Brienne. I will visit. I’m sure I’ll enjoy myself. For now, I’m going to securely sit on the, “I very much assume these two professionals have written a business plan that will bring them whatever their definition of success is to this project” side of the fence.

 

I have no doubt that a lot of thought went into this, and everyone involved is super high-level and talented. I imagine it will succeed on whatever level they are going for, and I certainly didn’t intend to insult anyone.

From my standpoint, I guess I’m just a little disappointed that something this thoughtful and likely to be well executed is aiming for such a small and specific niche, as it really limits the interest I would have personally. Oxbow, Allagash, Schilling, they all have a pretty identifiable niche, but I can bring any number of people in there and likely find them something they’ll enjoy. This would seem like a tougher sell for anyone (like my wife) who doesn’t care for pale lagers.

But again, they’re certainly talented people and I wish them well.

 

“…six-pack—all lagers, all decocted—”

Um, as far as I know, Corona isn’t decocted…but I love that she picked this beer. I actually really like Corona. And Modelo Especial.

Edit: Started reading. Maybe they use a cereal cooker? Or maybe they actually do decoct?

““There definitely is a theme,” she says. “I believe all of these beers involve a cereal cooker and/or a decoction mash. And they’re all incredibly balanced, which is what I look for in beers that I drink.”

Notch will do this if you ask. I can repost my picture of it later (if I remember).

It would be interesting to see if Alchemist could do that in today’s climate.

My girlfriend loves wine first and foremost, then cocktails, and last (but not least) enjoys sours.

Her and her friends went to Oxbow. They have all three (wine, sours, cocktails). Allagash has sours and White is akin to Blue Moon (only about roughly 1 million times better). So they’re approachable.

Even Notch and Schilling brew New England IPAs.

I think a good comparison (although they clearly brew more than two beers) may be Silvaticus. As far as I’ve seen they don’t brew any super popular styles, and have kept a low profile while still doing a bang up job regarding their business. And they’re not exactly in some high traffic area near Boston.

I think the food and atmosphere will be absolutely key here. I have no doubt the beer will be of the highest quality.

As someone who adores the beer culture in places like Germany and the Czech Republic, I LOVE this concept and wish them all the best. I’m supposed to go to Portland in June and kind of want to shift it to July so I can swing through here on the way up.

 

And I too enjoyed the beer scene in the Czech Republic when I visited but even there the pubs and breweries had a variety of beers to drink. For example during my visit to Staropramen brewery there were over 4 brands of beer to drink; my flight of four brands:



And the menu at Únětický Pivovar with four beer brands:



Na Zdravi

 

How many beers does Pilsner Urquell offer? Their website isn't very helpful. BA lists a few in their database, but I don't know if those were one-offs.

 

Not my picture (but I did order one of these), but there's a couple pictures of the "half and half" from the 2021 Notch thread in the two links below.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/notch-brewing-2021.653079/page-26

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/notch-brewing-2021.653079/page-27

 

The ‘official’ name of the brewery that produces Pilsner Urquell is Plzeňský Prazdroj:

“Plzeňský Prazdroj is the leading producer and exporter of Czech beer and produces beer in four breweries: Plzeňský Prazdroj and Gambrinus in Plzeň, Radegast in Nošovice and the Velké Popovice Brewery in central Bohemia.”

During the tour of the brewery I saw a number of brands but I do not have a list to provide to you.

Cheers!