Widmer pub is closing

Weren't these beers pretty much only available at their pub?

 

I went there a couple of times. Always enjoyed it, but with so many other options, it was never a serial repeater for me. Best of luck to the employees!

 

I can't imagine how they thought they could sustain patronage while removing the restaurant component of their pub. I'm disappointed they aren't keeping a tasting room open just for the tour aspect and maybe to do innovation brewery flights.

 

So this basically removed the last local presence Widmer had in the city of Portland, which is really sad. I actually liked their Pilot Brewery as the beers were actually pretty good, but there's a good chance I never drink a Widmer Beer again just because they will never be in the places were I drink beer.

 

I certainly understand what you're getting at but to be clear, all Widmer beer you'll see on shelf or on tap is still going to be brewed at the same Portland brewery. Yes, there won't be a taproom location to visit but you're still going to see Widmer all over town and Oregon.

 

Did the small batch stuff leave the pub previously?

 

I barely saw Widmer outside of the taproom and the only things I have seen were collaborations with other breweries. In general beer bars just don't have CBA beers on tap and so this is going to turn them into InBev, but with a Northwest Flair.

 

Basically no with the exception of special events.

 

I was over there a couple weekends ago to try their version of Resilience, my first visit in over a year and probably closer to two.

I've had Widmer beers a few times at Providence Park. Their Hefe is a nice quencher on those afternoons which are too hot and humid for an IPA.

Apart from that, I don't seek their beers out. But I don't think of them as "InBev with an NW flair" just yet either.

 

I'd agree but beer bars weren't their bread and butter. Their core clientele aren't going to beer bars but the folks going to beer bars couldn't see past the aged, mainstream branding. It was an uphill battle from the start and clearly they couldn't change public perception amongst the most active local taproom customer base.

 

I would say they actually participate in the local beer community very little even when compared to Breweries like 10 Barrel. I was talking with some industry people people and it sounds like they are going to just to try canning off the pilot system and just not even bother with draft for the most part. What's crazy is that this plan runs counter to everything the market has shown to be successful the last couple years.

Widmer's struggles had nothing to do with branding and everything to do with poor business decisions resulting from the failure to keep up with market trends. Their one off beers available at the Pub were always the exception to that rule.

 

I guess I use the term branding to describe everything that they put out there to address the very market trends you mention (e.g. styles, advertising, promotional activity, etc.). We're arguing the same point. They couldn't react appropriate and ultimately paid for it with the pub.

 

Same here. The craft beer stand at Providence Park seems to be 90% IPAs usually and that's not what I want when standing outside in the sun for hours in the summer. The Hefe works great for this.

 

havent been to the pub in a while, but this is where i first got into craft beer. I remember trying all sorts of new styles that were pub-only releases. Black sour beers, mead, barleywines, etc. On warm sunny days, I enjoyed sitting outside.

with so much competition, no surprised they shut down. Honestly, they needed a bigger space for guests.

 

Have never been in the pub, but have had many of their beers. After finding out that Craft Brewing Alliance is 40% owned by AB/InBev, I stopped buying their beer. Only beer I ever see here in Vermont is their hefeweizen in bottles. However, come to think of it, I haven't seen any of their beers with the past year.

 

From what I heard on the news...the loss of a marketing presence was consquential if the closure of the pub has the potential to improve their bottom line and boost their asking price if AB InBev exercises their option to increase their ownership of CBA from 32% to 100%. I think the story on OPB radio said their arrangement with CBA allows them to purchase the whole enchilada this year or next if they choose to do so.

 

Doesnt make sense how does the closing of the pub improve market presence?
OK in just a manufacturing supervisor..but that sounds dumb as f&&k