Open Source Beer?

Sounds like a marketing move to me.

 

Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. seems to have a diverse beer style selection.
I wish a brewery near me would offer the same opportunity for participation, a great way to find out what the locals are looking for.

 

Marketing, yes. Just because they asked for community input doesn't mean that's exactly the recipe they'll brew.

 

Hodge Podge Lodge IIPPAA Porter Hells!

 

I think the next big thing is barrel membership clubs. Prairie has done it, and I know Garagiste recently did one where they allow their membership society to choose adjuncts and barrel types for a custom single barrel offering. I personally love the idea, and the recipe idea that Widmer had seems to be a similar idea. Good way to stand out/be unique and connect with your consumer base

 

Sounds like a cool idea. @VikeMan has been "open sourcing" recipes among BA members for some time, so it isn't like it's a new or crazy idea. Also worth noting that Vinnie Cilurzo not only posted the recipe for Pliny The Elder, with directions, but answered requests for help from home brewers who tried it. On BA at that time there was a thread called "That New Style, Double IPA", IIRC, and the whole west coast IIPA movement followed soon after.

Okay, it is marketing, for sure, but what's wrong with that?

 

I think its a great idea. Even if the beer doesn't turn out spectacular, just the idea that consumer input and recommendations get the brewer and consumer more connected and shows the brewer appreciates their fan base. I don't see anything wrong with that at all. Kinda like rock bands that let the fans select the playlist for their concerts.

 

Giving your consumers creative control over your brewery is fucking stupid. Brew the beers that you want to brew. Consumers are stupid and, in general, are unaware of what goes into brewing beer. What's better is asking consumers what flavors that they are looking for in their beers and then making beers to suit those propensities. This is what focus groups are about and whether or not you like them, they are successful. You simply have to know how to use the information gleaned by them appropriately.

 

Sounds like it’s not all that stupid...

 

I'd hazard that we both know that the "which do you like better? 1 or 2?" of focus groups is not very similar to open sourcing.

 

Ordinarily I’d agree with you, but...Widmer? Maybe not such a bad idea for them to let some randos take the wheel for a couple miles?

OP, I think it could work if it’s a tit for tat thing. Where the people submit ideas and the brewers hold veto power. You can’t just hand over the reigns 100% to people who aren’t experts. You’ll either get - A: Well meaning suggestions that are fundamentally terrible, “Well, I really like caramel corn and chocolate, so let’s make a popcorn stout!” Or B: *hilarious* troll suggestions a la the Boaty McBoatface naming contest. All it takes is one person to suggest Bear Grylls Urine Lager and that WILL be the beer the crowd chooses.

Remember. The customer is al...most never right, but sometimes has some good ideas!

 

I can tell you've never been in or run a properly organized focus group.

 

Actually, I've been to a bunch put on by Coors when I lived out in Denver.

 

Then why do you trivialize what actually goes on in a well run focus group?

 

Didn't mean to trivialize anything. Did you want me to list everything that happens?

 

No, I want you to use your knowledge, background and experience to help others learn about and/or understand complex issues without over simplifying some of them to the point of triviality.

BTW, if you try reading the article linked to you'll see that Widmer isn't giving creative control of their brewery to anyone. They are seeking feedback and attempting to establish a feedback loop that works online and targeting much the same kinds of goals a testing out new recipes in a small brewery format with customers for their feedback. Effectively they are working to create an online focus group.