[Stevie]

Duvel production is about 230,000 barrels, so they are still small relative to others. Also privately held if that means anything to you.

[a10t2]

Duvel production is about 230,000 barrels, so they are still small relative to others.

And relative to the breweries they're buying. With Boulevard and now Firestone, the actual Duvel brand is going to be maybe 10% of their production going forward.

[HoosierBrew]

I used to be an adamant "don't sell out to the big companies" guy. And I still respect the breweries who choose to resist that and do things their way. But it's easy for me to make that judgement when I'm not being offered a pile of money that could change my family's lives. My hope now in this era of acquisitions is that Duvel (or whoever) stays out of the way of the vision and quality of the brewery and lets them make the beers they choose. If FW's beers were to suffer as a result of the buyout, that would be a real shame.  But my feeling is that, if a gifted brewer like Matt stays on board, it means he has the freedom to do it his way.

[reverseapachemaster]

I toured Boulevard a couple weeks ago and the tour guide brought up the partnership with Duvel Mortgaat. He said nothing has changed about the brewing operations except Duvel Mortgaat has helped with distribution and they are helping to finance an expansion at the KCMO brewery. I am sure there is more to the relationship but outside of that brief discussion you would never know Boulevard had a parent company.

[Stevie]

I'm 2013, Firestone was ranked 16th in Craft with 140,000 barrels. Duvel USA (boulevard and ommergang) were 8th at 185,000. It reads like the output doesn't include the European brewery.

Overall, I think this will be no biggie for existing customers, and a good thing for new markets.

[flbrewer]

Overall, I think this will be no biggie for existing customers, and a good thing for new markets.

Speaking from someone in Florida who wants more west coast beers here, bring it. Also, someone please buy out Russian River.

[a10t2]

I'm 2013, Firestone was ranked 16th in Craft with 140,000 barrels. Duvel USA (boulevard and ommergang) were 8th at 185,000. It reads like the output doesn't include the European brewery.

What I meant by "going forward" was that the two combined have almost a million barrels of capacity, and at 20%/year they'll be doing that by the end of the decade.

[Stevie]

I'm 2013, Firestone was ranked 16th in Craft with 140,000 barrels. Duvel USA (boulevard and ommergang) were 8th at 185,000. It reads like the output doesn't include the European brewery.

What I meant by "going forward" was that the two combined have almost a million barrels of capacity, and at 20%/year they'll be doing that by the end of the decade.

Got ya. I didn't realize they had so much excess capacity at either brewery. I know Firestone had to dump mission street (trader joes brand) due to growth reasons.

[Stevie]

Speaking from someone in Florida who wants more west coast beers here, bring it. Also, someone please buy out Russian River.

I won't say that will never happen, but I would be insanely shocked if it ever does.

[HoosierBrew]

I won't say that will never happen, but I would be insanely shocked if it ever does.

I agree for now. But as he gets older and wants to spend more time with family, traveling, etc., I could see him agreeing to a buyout as a big 'ole nest egg. Who knows, maybe he'll stick to his guns, though.

[tommymorris]

I think it is wrong to say Duvel Moortgat bought FW. I think Duvel invested in FW to allow expansion.

This article says they combined US operations but says both sides would not call it a merger or acquisition.

I think FW gets an in flow of cash to expand their brewing operations and a new or improved distribution channel and sales force. It's not clear the FW founders are receiving any cash themselves. It seems more likely the new monies are going into the business.

http://fortune.com/2015/07/17/duvel-moortgat-firestone-walker-craft-beer-empire-deal/?xid=gn_editorspicks&google_editors_picks=true

Getting bigger does tend to make a brewery less local focused. I also wonder if bigger breweries can stay nimble. Overtime, can they still lead with new an innovative beers or do they migrate to business model that maintains old popular brands and copies innovative beers but doesn't really innovate themselves?

[phunhog]

I think it is wrong to say Duvel Moortgat bought FW. I think Duvel invested in FW to allow expansion.

This article says they combined US operations but says both sides would not call it a merger or acquisition.

I think FW gets an in flow of cash to expand their brewing operations and a new or improved distribution channel and sales force. It's not clear the FW founders are receiving any cash themselves. It seems more likely the new monies are going into the business.

http://fortune.com/2015/07/17/duvel-moortgat-firestone-walker-craft-beer-empire-deal/?xid=gn_editorspicks&google_editors_picks=true

Getting bigger does tend to make a brewery less local focused. I also wonder if bigger breweries can stay nimble. Overtime, can they still lead with new an innovative beers or do they migrate to business model that maintains old popular brands and copies innovative beers but doesn't really innovate themselves?

Good point! If that is the case then I would be a little less worried.  However I still wonder why FW "needs" to keep expanding.  Maybe this is a sign of the times since I am convinced we are going to be having a "craft beer war"  soon.  As an example I can walk into any supermarket here in CA and find IPA's by Stone, FW, Lagunitas, New Belgium, and Sierra Nevada. All great beers. You know which one I pick every time....the cheapest one!!  I know my friends who drink craft beer feel the same....the craft beer they drink is the beer that is on sale!

[Stevie]

I can't deny that. I'd say 50% of the beer I buy is either on sale, boulevard, Alaskan, or Sierra. The last two I can get for $6.99 a six pack, boulevard $7.49. The remaining portion is a mix of new, unusual, or treats.

[HoosierBrew]

+2.  I do the same. I get what's on sale that I can live with, and splurge on the pricier stuff when I feel it's worth it.

[thetooth]

I only buy really interesting stuff, or examples of a new style I'm brewing.  Otherwise, I'm too happy drinking my beer to bother buying six-packs of standard stuff like IPA's.