[hopfenundmalz]

This has well thought out and expressed counter points to the selling out article making the rounds and even linked here on the AHA Forum.

Rebuttle
http://moderntimesbeer.com/blog/what-selling-out

Original
http://www.seriouseats.com/2016/08/craft-brewery-acquisition-pros-and-cons.html

[69franx]

rebuttle link not working for me, and when googling modern times to get to moderntimesbeer.com, I get a blank screen.
http://moderntimesbeer.com/site/age-verification
guess they are getting overloaded with people wanting to read their response
got it working now, about to read

[hopfenundmalz]

rebuttle link not working for me, and when googling modern times to get to moderntimesbeer.com, I get a blank screen.
http://moderntimesbeer.com/site/age-verification
guess they are getting overloaded with people wanting to read their response
got it working now, about to read

It didn't work for mr the first time either.

[69franx]

Glad I could get to it, great read and great response

[Stevie]

Golden Road is the brewing equivalent of a tech startup. They were created to be bought. The beers are fine.

[ynotbrusum]

Great read, but I don't buy the ease of distribution position.  The different rules of varying jurisdictions alone are enough to prevent some smaller operators from trying to expand to other geographic markets.  But at least one used it as a marketing edge - New Glarus "Only in Wisconsin".  And their beers are solid.

[majorvices]

"Side note: Calling ABI "the best lager makers around" is like calling Kraft the best cheese makers around; allowing that statement from Blue Point’s president to go unquestioned is bizarre."

Bwahahahahahaha!

[reverseapachemaster]

Great read, but I don't buy the ease of distribution position.  The different rules of varying jurisdictions alone are enough to prevent some smaller operators from trying to expand to other geographic markets.  But at least one used it as a marketing edge - New Glarus "Only in Wisconsin".  And their beers are solid.

The large brewers already have infrastructure in most or all states to bring new products into those markets so it is definitely easier for them to distribute beers into those states.

Texas is a good example of this. Here you have to pay a several thousand dollar fee for the privilege of gaining access to the market. (I am sure other states do this too.) If you're a small or mid-sized brewery trying to get into Texas then having to pay to play each year is going to be a deterrent to entering our market. You have to know you can move enough product in the state to clear the fees plus expenses. At wholesale prices that's a lot of beer sold before any profit is made. If you are an acquired brand then you can ride the fees of the parent company and use their more efficient production model to lower the bar of entry and start turning profits quicker. 

[ynotbrusum]

Great read, but I don't buy the ease of distribution position.  The different rules of varying jurisdictions alone are enough to prevent some smaller operators from trying to expand to other geographic markets.  But at least one used it as a marketing edge - New Glarus "Only in Wisconsin".  And their beers are solid.

The large brewers already have infrastructure in most or all states to bring new products into those markets so it is definitely easier for them to distribute beers into those states.

Texas is a good example of this. Here you have to pay a several thousand dollar fee for the privilege of gaining access to the market. (I am sure other states do this too.) If you're a small or mid-sized brewery trying to get into Texas then having to pay to play each year is going to be a deterrent to entering our market. You have to know you can move enough product in the state to clear the fees plus expenses. At wholesale prices that's a lot of beer sold before any profit is made. If you are an acquired brand then you can ride the fees of the parent company and use their more efficient production model to lower the bar of entry and start turning profits quicker.

Yes, that was my point - the rebuttal writer said that exporting craft beers was a snap - that is not true.  As to his other points, he would certainly know better than I - a mere homebrewer.

[Stevie]

Maybe it's a snap when you are one of the top/most popular breweries in Southern California and distributors are working to get your beer in their markets.

[BrewingRover]

Great read, but I don't buy the ease of distribution position.  The different rules of varying jurisdictions alone are enough to prevent some smaller operators from trying to expand to other geographic markets.  But at least one used it as a marketing edge - New Glarus "Only in Wisconsin".  And their beers are solid.

New Glarus used to distribute in Chicago, but got fed up with the distributor shenanigans and went Wisconsin only. Their Moon Man APA is excellent, I'll be stocking up next week when I'm in Madison.

[Joe Sr.]

Great read, but I don't buy the ease of distribution position.  The different rules of varying jurisdictions alone are enough to prevent some smaller operators from trying to expand to other geographic markets.  But at least one used it as a marketing edge - New Glarus "Only in Wisconsin".  And their beers are solid.

New Glarus used to distribute in Chicago, but got fed up with the distributor shenanigans and went Wisconsin only. Their Moon Man APA is excellent, I'll be stocking up next week when I'm in Madison.

I enjoy pretty much all of their beers.  An outstanding brewery and I wish I didn't have to venture through the cheese curtain to get some.

Bell's pulled out of Illinois for a while for similar reasons, IIRC.  The lure of the market must have brought them back though.

[HoosierBrew]

I enjoy pretty much all of their beers.  An outstanding brewery and I wish I didn't have to venture through the cheese curtain to get some.

Yeah, just a great brewery. I've liked everything I've tried from them.