[hopfenundmalz]

http://thefullpint.com/beer-news/firestone-walker-brewing-has-been-acquired-by-duvel-moortgat/

[HoosierBrew]

Wow. Can't be too surprised these days, though. I assume Matt is staying on board.

[hopfenundmalz]

Wow. Can't be too surprised these days, though. I assume Matt is staying on board.

One would hope that he had some wording in the contract to keep him on.

[HoosierBrew]

Wow. Can't be too surprised these days, though. I assume Matt is staying on board.

One would hope that he had some wording in the contract to keep him on.

I can't believe there'd be any scenario where FW or Duvel would want to lose him. I guess you never know, though.

[cascadesrunner]

Man, they make great beers.

[Stevie]

So when are we going to start hating on Duvel?

[tommymorris]

Wow, that quite a nice group brands. Duvel has good tastes.

[narvin]

So when are we going to start hating on Duvel?

When Duvel (the beer) starts to suck?

[MDixon]

Actually when Duvel runs one of the breweries they purchase into the ground which will happen about the same time Duvel starts to suck.

[Iliff Ave]

Probably my favorite brewery. I did not know that Boulevard was bought by Duvel as well. I still like their beer so it doesn't sound like too much will change with FW...

[Stevie]

Probably my favorite brewery. I did not know that Boulevard was bought by Duvel as well. I still like their beer so it doesn't sound like too much will change with FW...

Same. I buy a lot of Boulevard's beers and I have not noticed any change since they were purchased. I'm sure Firestone is in good hands. With breweries in the west, middle, and east; distribution will become much simpler.

[HoosierBrew]

So when are we going to start hating on Duvel?

When Duvel (the beer) starts to suck?

That'd be my guess, too.

[phunhog]

I am a little bummed.  FW was for years my "local" brewery even though they were two hours up the coast. Their logo was "Fresh. Local. Firestone"  Their top selling beer,805, is named after our area code.  The owners lived local and one would think that the majority of the profits would stay somewhat local. 
I always thought craft beer drinkers put a big premium on drinking local and supporting their local brewery. Maybe I am wrong. 

[flbrewer]

This and all of the other acquisitions lately beg the question...do you like the beer or do you like the idea of the brewery being "craft" and independently owned?

I think for the most part, people get really worked up because they like the idea of the brewery being independent. I'll say it again, if I were one of these leading craft breweries and someone like Duvel wanted to buy me out I would take that deal all day long.

[Phil_M]

This and all of the other acquisitions lately beg the question...do you like the beer or do you like the idea of the brewery being "craft" and independently owned?

I think for the most part, people get really worked up because they like the idea of the brewery being independent. I'll say it again, if I were one of these leading craft breweries and someone like Duvel wanted to buy me out I would take that deal all day long.

+1
How companies treat their employees and customers matters no matter how large or small the brewery is. Blasting the "other side," whether craft of macro, isn't a good idea either.

Consider Pilsner Urquell. It's an excellent world-class macro beer, owned by SABMiller.