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Fans of Mac & Jack's forgive me.

If you like Mac & Jack's I'm sorry but I have to agree whole heartedly to the following comment to Geoff Kaiser's Blog.

Quote:

ok ok. so it IS a locally owned company, it IS actually dry hopped, it is, well, pretty good for an amber. but, gee wiz: aren't we all SICK AND TIRED of this beer by now? like you mention: they sell more of this crap in the region than ANY OTHER BEER!!!! enough already! in the NW micro brew community in the last twenty or so years, the dominate amber brand has cycled every five or six years. redhook killed it for a long time, then alaskan amber through the late 90's. when does mac and jacks get knocked of their holy firkin pedestal?!?!? unfortunately, like any other market dominating product, the monopoly of mac and jacks CHOKES OUT other, better products. fine ambers like boundary bay and port townsend barely maintain a share of the market the boys in redmond delightfully dominate. this must end! it's an ok beer but, for screamin' out loud my seattle beer brother (and sister): call for another beer every once in a while!

This is in response to this blog entry

Quote:

Brewery Tour at Mac and Jack's in Redmond
I'm guessing that just about anybody reading a blog about beer that lives in Seattle has had at least one pint of Mac and Jack's African Amber. But, how many of you have been to the brewery for a tour over in Redmond?

Did you know that Mac and Jack's sells more of their African Amber on draft in the Seattle area than ANY other beer/brewery? Yes, that includes all the macro beers such as Bud/Coors/Miller. Mac and Jack's is a very focused brewery; draft only, 4 beers in the lineup(maybe 3 soon if they drop the IPA as rumored) very little advertising, a basic website and limited distribution. They're obviously doing something right if they are beating the big guys in one of the most competitive beer markets in the country.

Mac and Jack's is located in Redmond, WA and is open every day of the week for filling your growler or picking up kegs. On Sundays at 3pm they do a weekly tour that my girlfriend and I attended this past weekend. There were about 25 people on the tour that was led by a very informative employee that gave great information about the basics of brewery operation and specifics of the Mac and Jack's beers in general. One thing I learned, is that every single keg of African Amber that leaves the brewery has a mesh sack of hops floating in it to dry-hop the beer. We sampled the Amber, Porter, Wheat and IPA that are the four staples of Mac and Jack's. Of those beers, the Amber accounts for something like 90% of their volume. Essentially, they could make just that beer and not skip a beat. And you know what? It's a great beer. I often pass it up for other offerings in bars, but having a fresh sample reminded me of just how good it really is. It's the highest rated Amber Ale on Ratebeer.com.

The tour is well worth an hour on a Sunday afternoon; just make sure to bring a growler or two and get them filled.

Again, sorry but I just can't bring myself to drink Mac & Jack's

I've heard enough about it, but have never tried it. Sounds like they are in it for the money.

From the opposite side of the country, I can honestly say I have never heard of them. I may live under a rock.

Is it one of those things that it is cool to hate becase everyone else seems to like it?

I dunno...sounds like it's a decently crafted brew that is stomping BMC products at the tap. Hard not to like that!

Have you done a tour of the place yet, Brewtopia?

Quote:

Originally Posted by McKBrew

I've heard enough about it, but have never tried it. Sounds like they are in it for the money.

When it comes right down to it... everyone is in it for the money to some degree. Obviously some more than others.

;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by McKBrew

I've heard enough about it, but have never tried it. Sounds like they are in it for the money.

I don't get why you think they are in it for the money, based on what I have read here. Only 4 beers, basic website, and limited distribution? Sounds like they are focused on doing one thing well and keeping it local.

If they were really in it for the money they'd take their brand and plaster it all over the solar system like Star Bucks and Microsoft.

The complaints in the first post don't actually say anything about the beer. Rather, he is complaining about the people who drink the beer. Seems like the poster is fed up with Seattle's particular brand of insular hipness and is taking it out on the beer. Hell, I'm fed up with Seattle and I live on the East Coast! ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beerthoven

;)

If they were really in it for the money they'd take their brand and plaster it all over the solar system like Anheuser Busch.

I fixed that for you Beerthoven. :ban:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohiobrewtus

I fixed that for you Beerthoven. :ban:

Hey thanks, man. :D AB did come to mind, but Star Bucks and Microsoft are Seattle based, so I thought I'd use them instead.

I've never had the beer, and I've never heard about the company before until now. They might really be bastards, I don't know.

Just bored and looking for a fight, I guess. Beats workin! :ban:

+1 Never heard of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beerthoven

;)

I don't get why you think they are in it for the money, based on what I have read here. Only 4 beers, basic website, and limited distribution? Sounds like they are focused on doing one thing well and keeping it local.

If they were really in it for the money they'd take their brand and plaster it all over the solar system like Star Bucks and Microsoft.

The complaints in the first post don't actually say anything about the beer. Rather, he is complaining about the people who drink the beer. Seems like the poster is fed up with Seattle's particular brand of insular hipness and is taking it out on the beer. Hell, I'm fed up with Seattle and I live on the East Coast! ;)

Sorry, the way the article reads to me is that they dominate the market share in the Seattle area with that particular beer, and that there are quite a few local beers that lose out on the opportunity to shine because of that particular beer being more readily available than other regional beers. If a brewery has the ability to have their beer on tap at more local places than anybody else that might have a chance to compete, and they are not just trying to control the market and make money, then what is their objective?

Again, I've never had the beer, so maybe it is really just that much better than everything else. :confused: