Goose Island Brews

We get all their stuff in Mass.

 

CT just started getting draft in march. Not sure when bottles will hit.

 

Sure, AB/CBA are just giving them away trying to make some $$ on 'craft' beer. Typical AB distribution. They can keep their shit...

 

More GI for me!

 

I don't follow...

 

Since AB bought a piece of GI, they are now brewing at Red Hook in Portsmouth and increasing distribution to all New England states. AB is notorious for discounting their craft portfolio to aggressively secure new distribution and draft lines.

 

Yeah, we are seeing them in PA as well. They actually bought all of GI and are no longer part of CBA. They did move production of Honkers and IPA to Portsmouth (announced before they sold the business) and brew 312 in NY, but I've not seen/heard evidence they are giving it away other then heresay on the forums. It'd be nice to hear from bars or distributors to see if that's true. It just seems like people are jumping to conclusions based on reputation.

 

Sorry but I assumed most folks understand AB distribution and the Craft Brew Alliance [CBA] these days. Their distribution has always used 'illegal' tactics to sell beer - in giving away kegs or having a buy 5 get one free program. With the CBA beers [Redhook, Kona, Widmer] and now GI, they are using the same tactics with those beers. The biggest issue I have with their tactics is in the small bars, like my and your local bar. These owners are quite often not beer savvy and rely on customers or their distributors. So when AB dist offers them a free keg of Winterhook, they put that on and take of the Smutty Old Brown Dog or Winter. That is my issue along with ABs history of trying to squash craft beer. Now they want a piece. Sorry but there is plenty of good beer around. I don't need any of their beer.

 

The Red Hook deal predated the AB buyout (though not the CBA stake).

 

Yea, for a while now I've bought my Goose Island products in Mass. Just this winter/spring they made it north of the border into NH and Maine though. First saw Honkers on tap at a bar while skiing at Sunday River, then just saw it in NH for the first time a week or two ago. Always thought it was funny that for a few years now, GI has been brewed in Portsmouth but not sold in NH.

 

I think we've all heard these rumors. I was wondering if there was any actual information regarding this going on now, especially since the statement definitively stated they were giving it away. I didn't think GI even had to give their beer away since it's typically in high demand.

 

My beer store has had GI stuff on draft for growler fills. So far I've only seen their 312 (wheat beer?). I haven't seen any bottles yet, but I'll certainly be on the lookout. Bourbon County hitting the area would be pretty special.

(I'm in central Vermont)

 

Are all their beers in high demand? When was the last time Beer Geeks ***** the shelves of Honkers? Do you think AB is really concentrating on their limited beers or trying to get GI in every state and push their core beers? This is not speculation, AB dist buys tap lines. That is how all the big guys do it.

 

It sounds like it's a little of both. Demand for their regular lineup isn't crazy, but it's pretty good. Around here GI's regular beers have been on tap at a number of respectable craft places, and I don't really think they had to give the beer away to get on the list. If anything, it's probably more like "if you buy enough kegs of honkers, we'll send some you BCBS when it's out" which is par for the course. As far as their limited beers, they have dramatically expanded them so it doesn't seem like that's going away.

I admit it's entirely possible that AB has engaged in the activity that you are accusing them of doing with Goose Island, but like I said, I've only ever heard of it from people on the forums who say things and basically chalk it up to "they've always done that" but I've never seen a post or heard it from anyone who is in the industry. They do some sketchy stuff for sure like their "message" to distributors to stay loyal and their lobbying to change local laws, but that's not illegal, just muscle flexing. I've asked this question before and usually beer geeks get their feathers ruffled or think that I'm just some libertarian defending big business (I'm not), but I'm genuinely interested in evidence of it.

 

I'm with you. For obvious reasons, illegal deals aren't going to have a lot of documentation for us consumers to find, but the ratio of accusations to demonstrable behavior is way out of whack. This is doubly the case when it's hard to figure out to whom to attribute these shady dealings, the wholesaler or the brewer.

 

You raise two good points. You're right, it would be hard to prove, but even something like an actual bar owner coming on here and telling his/her story about their experiences would be better than the usual "everyone knows that AB buys taps." Your 2nd point about not being able to pin down who's doing it is also key. I've definitely heard more specific stories about shady wholesaler behavior (of all brands) than I have of anything AB has done.

 

So you want facts and evidence? Not going to get it but assuming some folks don't know most of this first hand is a bit naive. In this case, the brewery and owner are as the same as you are going to get. I have never said that other wholesalers are guilt free but who do you think they learned from and compete with. To not believe that AB distribution leads the charge in buying lines and giving free beer is silly...

 

You read my previous posts where I specifically stated that my concerns are pointed toward the smaller bars. As for which beer bars put GI on, that is up to them. You won't see Widmer, Kona, Redhook or GI in mine.