Rubicon Brewing Company Is Closing

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by Lone_Freighter, Aug 8, 2017.

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  1. Lone_Freighter

    Lone_Freighter Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2017 Vermont

    http://www.sacbee.com/food-drink/appetizers/article165961172.html
     
    #1 Lone_Freighter, Aug 8, 2017
  2. thuey

    thuey Pooh-Bah (1,705) Nov 13, 2015 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Wow
     
    #2 thuey, Aug 8, 2017
  3. Lone_Freighter

    Lone_Freighter Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2017 Vermont

    Thanks for whoever moved this here, I realize it seems more fitting to be in this forum. I'll do better next time.
     
    #3 Lone_Freighter, Aug 8, 2017
  4. thetastywort

    thetastywort Zealot (555) Jun 2, 2011 California
    Trader

    That sucks! I always enjoyed the place and think the location is amazing. The beers definitely needed more focus to meet today's growing beer community. I hope that someone moves in there are keeps Sac's beer scene going.
     
    #4 thetastywort, Aug 8, 2017
  5. atomicpunk5151

    atomicpunk5151 Maven (1,280) Jul 25, 2010 California
    Trader

    This is actually the 2nd old school craft brewery in Sacramento closing in the past month.

    American River Brewing also closed last month.

    They have a nice location, but they have fallen far behind the current beer tastes. Been quite a long time since I have been to the Rubicon Pub in Sac, to many other better places. I did just have a "Monkey Knife Fight" IPA a few weeks back at a local Sushi place, so they were still in a few restaurants.

    With 50+ breweries now in Sacramento/Placer/Yolo counties, the market is now far more competitive. If you don't make good beer and have a solid business plan, you will not survive now.
     
    #5 atomicpunk5151, Aug 8, 2017
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  6. dcgunman

    dcgunman Pooh-Bah (2,682) Jul 1, 2009 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Rubycon.
     
    #6 dcgunman, Aug 8, 2017
  7. atomicpunk5151

    atomicpunk5151 Maven (1,280) Jul 25, 2010 California
    Trader

    Lots of stories also going around today about how they expanded when they shouldn't have. Owner may have been in huge debt.

    They had a production brewery in West Sacramento that is now also closed.
     
    #7 atomicpunk5151, Aug 8, 2017
  8. Lone_Freighter

    Lone_Freighter Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2017 Vermont

    I know I don't live in their distro but honestly, I'm saddened because what I'm gathering is that they seemed like they were a pillar of the beer community in Sac. They seemed to have a ton of respect from their community. With what happened recently with Short's in Michigan, I'm not sure what would have been the better choice for this brewery (close the brewery vs. sellout?).

    Call me nostalgic, maybe old too, if you want, but after reading about how Vinnie Cilurzo of RR was inspired by Rubicon's hoppy beers, it makes me think about a local brewpub here in Vermont called Vermont Pub & Brewery. This is where the granddaddy of Heady Topper resides, or so they say "granddaddy." If I heard Vermont Pub & Brewery was closing tomorrow, I'd be greatly saddened but kicking myself for not spending more time there.
     
    #8 Lone_Freighter, Aug 8, 2017
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  9. VitisVinifera

    VitisVinifera Pundit (879) Feb 25, 2013 California

    I went there for my 21st birthday - I'm 44 now. They were one of the few breweries that survived the previous bubble - when most breweries were brewpubs. That has put them at a big financial disadvantage against the current model of local breweries. I'll buy a bottle and never open it.
     
    #9 VitisVinifera, Aug 9, 2017
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  10. IQBlue

    IQBlue Zealot (513) Oct 2, 2014 California

    KCRA news said 80 breweries last night in their report. I couldn't believe there's THAT many in the area.
     
    #10 IQBlue, Aug 9, 2017
  11. atomicpunk5151

    atomicpunk5151 Maven (1,280) Jul 25, 2010 California
    Trader

    They are counting the Sacramento AREA, not just the city limits. Also inflating it a bit. Still that is a bit over the 50 main ones or 60 (including some brew pubs) that are usually counted.

    If you count Sacramento, Yolo, Placer and Amador Counties......
    https://www.beersinsac.com/sacramento-brewery-directory/

    You can count around 63.....give or take.
     
    #11 atomicpunk5151, Aug 9, 2017
  12. davetharave

    davetharave Aspirant (299) Apr 6, 2008 California

    So sad, what a great brewery. Doesn't anybody want to buy them out ?
     
    #12 davetharave, Aug 9, 2017
  13. danscott

    danscott Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2006 California

    We'll see.....
     
    #13 danscott, Aug 16, 2017
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  14. thewaterispoison

    thewaterispoison Crusader (425) Jun 22, 2010 California

    :open_mouth:
     
    #14 thewaterispoison, Aug 16, 2017
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  15. rmdownward

    rmdownward Zealot (648) Feb 10, 2007 California

    Would always stop here after NCHF. Guess I need to find a new spot.
     
    #15 rmdownward, Aug 16, 2017
  16. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yes, I think this about nails it.

    When I first moved to Sacto back in 89, the Rubicon was at the top of it's game, and was the preeminent brewery in town (and had a recent GABF gold medal for their IPA to prove it). I used to try to visit during the week back then, as the place was usually packed on the weekends (in the evening at least), and it was often hard to get a seat.

    When I moved away from Sacto in 2001, the Rubicon was still a popular destination, but places like Sudswerk (for a while, there was a bastion across from the State Fair) and SBC had made inroads on their popularity. Also, increasingly, it wasn't necessary to go to a brewpub to find good beer (as one could find better and better craft beer options around town).

    I don't know... even back in 2001, it seemed as if the Rubicon was content to rest on its laurels, as they continued to stick with their core line-up. There were periodic seasonals that were pretty good (I remember a wheatwine they made in particular), but for the most part I'd go over there for their IPA, their amber and their hoppy pils.

    A couple years ago the wife and I were back in town for a few days, and of course I visited the Rubicon. What amazed me most, was how little the place had changed. I think they were doing a cask offering on Tuesdays, and there were some bottle options to go, but the selection really didn't seem to have changed all that much (I think they might have had a sour on tap, but it was nothing to write home about I thought). The vibe was pretty much the same, and the menu didn't seem to have changed all that much.

    It's sad to hear that they're closing, but yeah... it really seems as if they haven't kept up with the times, and so this really comes as no surprise I guess.
     
    #16 John_M, Aug 16, 2017
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  17. jasonmason

    jasonmason Zealot (742) Oct 6, 2004 California
    Society Trader

    As a Sacramentan, I've got to disagree. Rubicon wasn't on the weekly canned-release hype-train, but they did what they did quite well, and had a strong following for it. From what I read and hear, their issue was one of unfulfilled over-expansion.

    I sincerely hope someone comes in to purchase Rubicon's assets and is able to keep them going.
     
    #17 jasonmason, Aug 17, 2017
  18. atomicpunk5151

    atomicpunk5151 Maven (1,280) Jul 25, 2010 California
    Trader

    This was exactly the one of the problems as I mentioned above. They expanded to a large Production Brewery in West Sac when there was NOT the demand for their beer.

    I doubt anyone will want to by the brewery (Sac Pub & West Sac Brewery) as it is right now and take on all of their debt. Possibly after the bank sells off pieces, some investor may step in and try and get a deal.
     
    #18 atomicpunk5151, Aug 17, 2017
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  19. Curtis

    Curtis Devotee (382) Jun 18, 2012 Utah

    I've had many a pint there. Every time I come back to town, we make at a point to stop at least once for lunch and a couple of beers. Even introduced my kids to the waffle fry's and my wife (more of a whiskey girl) loves the monkey knife fight. Can't believe my last beer there was a road trip to California for a concert. Great experience, sad to hear it was my last.
     
    #19 Curtis, Dec 10, 2017
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