Goose Island won me back

Well, I think the slippery slope argument is sort of the argument of those who cannot point to valid observations to make their points.

I am assuming either you didn't read the linked articles, or you somehow feel they are lies. I would welcome Bells to be distributed to my area. I don't care if you dislike the company that accomplishes that or whether you like the company that accomplishes that. Craft beer is doing just fine, either in spite of, or because of, all the "evil doings" of ABI. I don't care who brings me Expedition Stout, Bells, ABI, or someone else, if they can do it like they are doing it with BCBS, which is to say equal quality, equal price as before, with multiple times better distribution. Why you care, or anyone cares, who accomplishes this is beyond me.

 

...because I have more care about the ethics and heart put into the things I buy, even if its "just beer". That's why I highly respect the practices of Shaun Hill, Greg Koch and Lagunitas to name a few... I think that's the problem with a lot of America (a lot of people not caring about the ethics or process in the the things they buy or promote) but I'll leave this on the subject of beer. Btw, of course I read the article. It's working out for both parties right now, cool, but my comments were on if this became a trend and the selfishness of the consumer.

I do buy the Barrel Aged beers from GI, because they are quality and are still overlooked by the people who were part of the brewing process before bought over.

now onto enjoying the outdoors...

 

Well, I also want to get on to other things, but will make one more reply. ABI uses their clout to try to dominate the marketplace. Small breweries are four times as dangerous for the employees of those companies to work in as are large breweries, including some deadly accidents.

Which are the evil breweries again? I guess it all depends on which propaganda movie you have seen most recently. Cheers!

 

cavedave,

You're really not concerned by the the talent leaving? If the people making the beer don't believe in it anymore, why should I?

 

There will always be good local beers to drink wherever you go. I love when I go to New Hampshire and drink a beer from one of the many small local breweries. I also feel that when a company like Bell's or Russian River ( which I also would love to try but can't get in ct) wants to expand and grow they should be able to. If that means selling out to "the man" so be it as long as they get it right.

 

I w

I work for a AB Distributor and I can tell you this my company DOES NOT bribe anyone. I can't speak for other AB wholesales just the one I work for. If you really want to know why AB/INBEV has been looking into the craft market it is simple. If you took a photo of a 10 door cooler in a package/liquor store 10 years ago it would have been 6 domestic( AB, miller, coors) 1 door import, 2 doors micro (with half that Sam ) and a mikes hard/malt beverages. That same store now has 3 or 4 domestic 1 import and 4 or 5 craft. They want that business it it that simple. I just read somewhere that the craft market is 6% of the beer market but in 10-15 years in will be 12-15%. As Tom Haden told Vito Corleone there is a lot of money in that white stuff ( or craft beer) if we don't get involved one or all of the other five family's will. It won't hurt us today but it will in 10 years. I just think AB/INBEV is looking 10years down the road. Cheers!!!!!!

 

Definitely agreed with OP -- was on a tour at the Clybourn Brewery in June and you could tell that Inbev basically has nothing to do with what goes on there, they do their own thing and make great brews.

 

If this thread was invite-only, I guarantee you wouldn't be invited.

 

I loved Honkers ale before IMBev and I tried to be objective but Honkers has definately gone bad since IMBev and it is one of those that is no longer brewed in Chicago.

 

I hate AB-Inbev business practices, but I've been loyal to Goose and Goose's beers for a long time now, and they're still great beers. I, like the OP, was quite skeptical about the takeover at first, but I've been won back by the quality of the brews. I gotta pick my battles, as I can only fight so many. I gotta go w/ethically-produced meat over great brewery owned by a-holes at this point. Especially since my experience at the Clybourne brewpub two weekends ago was FANTASTIC.

 

I really hope they up the size for Bourbon County releases too.

 

Ms. Cleo told me BCBS production will continue to grow. MSRP will be stagnant. Coffee will be more readily available. They will brew a Ms. Cleo themed variant.

 

ISO: BA Call Me Now!

 

Okay one more reply.

I care about whether the beer is fine and can I get it reliably and affordably. That is how I judge a company. If a brewery breaks no laws, and distributes fine beer reliably and affordably to me, that is a company I am in favor of. If the talent leaves (or doesn't leave) and the quality goes down, I stop buying.

Do I wish that large breweries didn't use their clout to try to dominate the market? I guess I do. Do I wish small breweries took safety of their employees more seriously? I guess I do.

Are either of these concerns remotely near to important as concerns I have about thousands of other companies whose policies result directly in the deaths of millions of people, the destruction of nature, and the destruction of the American economy? I will leave that rhetorical.

 

Please read the link from earlier in the thread. It it a interview with one of the goose brewmasters.

 

I was able to get my hands on a Honkers sixpack that was brewed in Chicago and one that was brewed in NY about the time they started switching production over. Tried 2 bottles side-by-side and didn't taste a difference. I think they're matching the recipes pretty well.

 

What exodus is this? Please link some reference if you can. In the meantime, if you look over the history of Goose Island, it's had a pretty revolving door at the employee entrance for a long time.

Many brewmasters of other micros and pubs have cut their teeth at Goose Island and gone on to other (sometimes better, sometimes not so) ventures. One example is Jonathan Cutler at Piece Pizza and brew pub in Chicago. Take a look at his portfolio of awards.

 

Where are you getting this "information?"

From the O.P.

 

I guess I am here to play devils advocate. Is there something inherently wrong about the idea that there is a beer that you can't have? I honestly don't see anything wrong with the idea that AB does not need to bring me every beer I have ever heard about. It's ok with me if you have pliny and I don't. All the evils that folks complain about; trade scalping, hoarding, muling, expired beer that is sold to the unwary - all that happens because the value of the beer is in collecting it, in saying that you had it and not really in the beer or the people that make the beer. Osha protects all business great and small.

 

I've never boycotted Goose Island, but I do have reservations about ABInbev's involvement. In the short term, Inbev has done a good job with GI. Will they continue to do so going forward?