14 Breweries Split from the Colorado Brewers Guild

Falling rock is going to be more and more limited in local "craft" beers to serve. Wonder what Chris has to say now?

 

Many of the states big hitters leading the way.

 

What? I don't get what Falling Rock or what they can or can't serve have to do with this split.

 

I don't quite get the hubbub about this new bill that was signed by the governor. Seems though it could have a detrimental impact on small liquor stores, it's also anti-competition and protectionist to prevent it. Un-American in my eyes.

As for this split, there is some irony in that folks like Oskar Blues are behaving like they're the small guy here, only a few weeks removed from getting called out for their own business practices.

 

Does the Guild have an executive director and if so, is at individual from a brewery? Who is the leadership? I assume there is some sort of elected board consisting of members from the state's breweries, correct? Reading between the lines it seems like maybe Coors was an outsized influence on the Guild and its decisions, to which I can understand the frustration of many of the other Colorado breweries.

 

The link @Todd gave has the meat of the issue, but it is long. To sum up: the current laws protect Competition, not competitors. Big groceries aim to kill off Competition under the guise of "convenience" and "choice for the consumer", which are blatant lies.

 

Yeah, I get that. I've read about the issue before. Always been on the fence about it, as I do see how it will put the pinch on small businesses that can't compete on price lose the majority of their customers (clearly an issue), however, I am uncomfortable with protectionist practices and also think at day's end most consumers just want to have the best prices no matter from whom that originates.

I also, thinking about it, recognize that the liquor stores would have to focus entirely on craft beer and given the lost revenue and the beer-buying habits of many craft consumers (single bottles, purchasing the occasional rare beer rather than everyday go-tos) would have to raise prices on their beers in a way that may drive a way consumers. Clearly a bad deal.

Such a tough issue for me. Generally opposed to restrictions and regulations, protectionism and such, but thinking this through a bit more, there are some severe trickle-down effects here, so I'm just at a loss.

With regard to the Guild, it would be interesting to know the dues structure and if it is size-related or sales-related, as that again would give outsized influence to Coors, who obviously have much to gain with the change.

 

Its good to see these guys standing up for themselves. Looking back I never saw an ad on tv representing the other side of this issue, just the ad with st patricks brewing saying they want to sell their beer at king soopers... iirc they don't even package for distro.

 

Nobody is saying that Chris can't serve them. But as far as Oskar Blues is concerned, Chris said he WON'T serve them. The question is if that will apply to all members of this new guild as he seems loyal to the CBG.

 

If you think that was the reason behind Chris's message, you missed the point, and you're not the only one. He spelled it out, but most people seemed to just focus in on the one issue that they disliked the most. It's another illustration that the world is more than just black and white.

 

If I'm understanding your concern correctly, you'd prefer more of a laissez faire approach. This would be fine IF we, as an economic society, started from scratch. Unfortunately, the big corporations can actually do whatever they want. It's not just semantics anymore. And what they want to do is quash Competition and be the sole beneficiary of consumers' monies. To sustain a dynamic, rich and rewarding market some protection for Competition is needed.

 

Incorrect
They package many beers now and distribute, I think, only to Safeway and King Soopers (maybe Tipsy's). I wonder their reaction to the compromise. I kind of feel bad for them b/c they hitched their wagon to a lying, manipulative horse. In my conversation with them, they did not have all the information.

 

Yeah, I've seen them on the shelves at Tipsy's.

 

I was simply pointing out the fact that one of Chris' point of contention with Oscar Blues was because they left the guild and he no longer considered them craft. If he uses that same logic here, he will soon run out of beers he can serve.