Rebel IPA vs Lagunitas?

Great response Tony. I have a different view after hearing your side of the story. I still don't know if BB was purposely trying to steal tap space specifically from Lagunitas as opposed to American IPAs in general, but I do think your response certainly helped us understand where your anger was coming from. While I never really reach for Lagunitas IPA when I see it, I will certainly be grabbing Sucks and Little Sumpin Sumpin when they hit Kentucky (assuming those brands are part of the plans).

Cheers and best of luck in 2014.

 

Where I live in MA there are far too many SA tap handles. I would encourage Lag to step up their marketing game out here and try to replace some of those with Lag taps. And, they wouldn't even have to emulate SA Boston Lager to do it.

 

Wow...that was some very interesting reading, and I'm glad I took the time to visit this topic.

As I was reading I reminisced to just last night and my evening after arriving home from work and enjoying several New Years Eve brews.

In order, they were: SA IPL, SA IPL, Sucks, Sucks, The Hairy Eyeball (wanted to try something I'd never had, loved it), and again SA IPL (to clear my palate with a simple crisp flavor before eating dinner and retiring for the night).

Interesting that I'm reading this stuff now just after the selections I enjoyed last night.

I think, after browsing over this thread, I'll go this afternoon and pick some "hair of the dog" (Eyeball) to sip on this evening while watching football, and I'll probably prelude and conclude that with my 3 remaining IPL's.

 

I just don't see how you would feel threatened by Sam Adams. They can try all they want, I doubt they will have much success breaking into the IPA market, ESPECIALLY on the West Coast where they probably hold very little respect. They can try to take your tap handles in certain bars but I can guess how it will turn out. They will give away some kegs trying to get people to buy into their 'new, awesome IPA' and those kegs will eventually kick and your beers would go back on and that would be the end of it. Rebel is an ok beer but it's not on the same plane as people who have been doing it forever, and it also doesn't have the long-standing reputation, which is probably most important. Nobody is going to knock down the doors to keep Rebel on in place of Lag IPA. If you ask me, they should be targeting Harpoon IPA because that beer is shit.

At the end of the day they are getting more people into craft beer which is a win for everyone but BMC, right? They have had a hand in growing your business. I don't think you guys have very much overlap in your target market, so I don't see why you got so angry over it. Their plan will probably backfire and draw even more people into good (not their) IPAs.

 

If you work in the field, they ARE specifically targeting other breweries IPA's, and using $$$ to buy tap handles, draft lines, card swipes etc. Back over a month ago, when it first hit NY, I overheard a retailer asking the Sam rep what Rebel tasted like. His answer? "Kind of a mix between Lagunitas IPA, Harpoon IPA, Dogfish Head (didn't say 60 or 90), Goose Island IPA and Stone IPA". Um..... really, good sir from BBC? It tastes like all of those in one? Totally different beers, all mixed into one amazing IPA? Sounds to me like you just repeated all of the IPA lines you were told to target with Rebel IPA. Oh wait, that's right, you STILL had to illegally swipe your card for $1500 dollars for a line, despite your incredible description of your new beer...

 

After reading more (thanks to DogTown), I now see that BBC was in fact targeting Lagunitas IPA in areas. Shady business in my opinion and makes me think a bit less of BBC. The craft beer industry is growing in part to the social aspect of enjoying the beer and the fellowship amongst both drinkers and the industry as a whole. This type of practice goes against that side of the industry and that's sad to see.

 

Sadly, capitalism can be very, very shady sometimes.

 

Can you provide links to what you were reading? I did some searching and mostly found that Tony from Lagunitas has had a hard-on for Sam Adams for a few years, but nothing concrete like you found. Thanks for the links.

 

Rundownhouse... "Tony from Lagunitas has had a hard-on for Sam Adams for a few years"

Fascinating imagery, friend.

I referred sefus12 to the widely-read industry daily newsletter called Craft Business Daily which reported on it a couple of weeks ago. It is a subscription-only news letter but if you go to the web site (google it) a sample of the story appears there.

 

Pliny

 

I'd rather skip the two, and jump right into the Headys, Citras, Dreadnaughts, & Gandhi Bots.

What's a Pliney? ;-P

 

I would hate to see Lag be target by anyone, especially SA. I think competition makes it interesting, as long as it is fair.

Unfortunately, the only time I get any Lag is when I pick some up in Ohio on the way to Detroit or in Chicago. I was fortunate enough to have Sucks this year (sister got me a 6 pack in Chicago) and it was amazing. As have been all the others that I have had from there. In Lexington SA and SN are considered the craft beers among the "normal" beer drinkers. Would love to be able to get Lag around here, but until that happens, SA will still be a top seller

 

Does anyone else cringe at the new Sam Adams commercial? As far as I'm concerned they are making a mockery of craft, but they are a joke. Like a hipster alternative to BMC.

 

I just had a rebel ipa at buffalo wild wings who was promoting the beer with numerous signs. It's not that good

 

So, Craft Business Daily (a respected, by-paid-subscription-only, industry publication, not some free rumor/opinion "fan" site) website entry that "Dogtown" noted above is lying when they wrote:

Uh, that's exactly how BBC has operated from the beginning - specifically targeting, and mentioning by name, the largest selling imports and superpremiums in it's promotions in its early days.

 

When Lagunitas gets a keg of their beer at any bar/pub, are they not in essence having another tap handle removed for the inclusion of their tap handle?
Seems like any brewery, when wanting their beer to be sold in a bar, is asking to have their beer be put in place of another previously occupied spot.

Sam adams is hoping to do the same thing, but by mentioning the want to target Lagunitas, they are doing something wrong?

 

Even if Rebal is better than Heady I would never touch it. Can't stand Jim Koch or any of his beers.

 

Swap Lagunitas with Miller in this whole drama and see how different opinions are after that.