Founders Finally Coming to MD

Or Deschutes.

 

I hear it's more expensive to distribute here in MD. Welcome to maryland, soon to have taxes on the air you breathe.

 

Is there a Founders representative on this forum (someone akin to SNBill or Sixpoint) ?

 

They're working on it, but apparently it's really difficult to start distribution in MD because of all the taxes and regulations

 

This is what they've been stating for years. But it seems every few months another quality brewery starts distribution to MD. You can't tell me that smaller breweries like Perennial can find a way to get their beers here but Founders and Bells cannot because "it's to difficult". Bullshit.

 

It may not be "too difficult" it may have something to do with the fact that they don't want the headache

 

It all comes down to cost. Maryland is notorious for driving businesses out of state because of excess taxes

 

i get so angry thinking about this all... and then i grab a sculpin that i can now get here and the pain is subdued.

 

You're close -- they're coming to DC and NoVA beginning of Nov.

 

One thing that many people expressing disappointment (or blame) focused solely on one or more breweries in this MD situation might want to consider. Based on some things I've learned through this site over the last 4-5 years there is another possibility.

When a brewery wants to expand into a new area they need to establish a "marriage" type relationshp with a distributor who represents them/handles their product. In some states a "divorce" is simply not possible. Before expansion, certain rights and responsibilities for both parties are negotiated by both parties and written into a contract. Sometimes breweries don't like the conditions requested/demanded by a distributor. Sometimes distributors don't like the conditions requested/demanded by a brewery.

In such cases of lack of common ground for agreement a small brewery with very few other options may choose to go along with the conditions required in order to get their beer more widely distributed where as a well-established brewery may simply turn their attention to some other state/distributor.

So don't rule out the possibility that perhaps you folks don't get Founders or Bells, or whatever because your of your state laws and/or your distributors' business policies and practices.

 

I would agree with everything you said, but countless breweries have started distributing to Maryland since the first time I heard Founders was close. I think the common feeling is that "if brewery X can find a way to get into MD, why can't Founders?" It has to be something with the laws and/or distribution since we are behind nearly every state on the east coast, but it is definitely frustrating for the consumers.

 

Believe me I can appreciate how frustrating it can be for consumers (I haven't always lived in SE PA...). Simply wanted to point out that there may be some serious obstacles that can exist and prevent some breweries (but not others) from following through on being willing to enter a particular market. And sometimes those obstacles have nothing to do with the target area at all. E.g., Yuengling and certain states in the New England area:

http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/massma...-up-on-bringing-its-beer-back-to-new-england/

 

I'm glad this thread lives on.

 

This is why I drive to va and get beer, better distro and lower taxes.

 

I'm just gonna come out and say it:

I think Delaware deserves to get some Founders.

p.s. Founders hates crabs, the Chesapeake Bay and America (since MD is America in miniature).

 

Hahn, I would mind that! It would give me a reason to shop in state more, but I know State Line would get more big bottles than Delaware and save me some if MD ever gets Founders.

 

This thread had me really excited until I looked at the dates. Then disappointment set in.