AB acquires Four Peaks, looks to New Belgium next

[Brettomomyces]

http://draftmag.com/ab-four-peaks-new-belgium-sale/

And they keep rolling in

 

[Spartan1979]

The article doesn't say anything about ABInbev looking at New Belgium.

New Belgium is employee owned. The ridiculous price paid for Ballast Point had to make them think.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

The article doesn't say anything about ABInbev looking at New Belgium.

New Belgium is employee owned. The ridiculous price paid for Ballast Point had to make them think.

This. But if it does choose to sell to Ab-Inbev ... Fan fvcking tastic!

Only thing these sales mean to me is that beers that were previously unavailable to me locally may very well be available soon.

 

[Brettomomyces]

The article doesn't say anything about ABInbev looking at New Belgium.

New Belgium is employee owned. The ridiculous price paid for Ballast Point had to make them think.

Edit: deleted, necesito mas cafe this morning

 

[Homercidal]

This. But if it does choose to sell to Ab-Inbev ... Fan fvcking tastic!

Only thing these sales mean to me is that beers that were previously unavailable to me locally may very well be available soon.

Meh. Decent beers, but what I've been able to get here were not extra special.

What concerns me most about this is that AB buying up craft makes it more challenging to purchase beers that don't contribute to the monster. A lot of people don't care, but the big breweries bully distributors and retailers to stock their own beer and the smaller breweries get pushed out.

I tend to try beers from further away, but regularly purchase more local beers than anything. Hopefully AB doesn't change the recipes, but focuses on getting more of those beers out to those who can't otherwise get them. Best case, anyway.

 

[cyanmonkey]

Meh. Decent beers, but what I've been able to get here were not extra special.

What concerns me most about this is that AB buying up craft makes it more challenging to purchase beers that don't contribute to the monster. A lot of people don't care, but the big breweries bully distributors and retailers to stock their own beer and the smaller breweries get pushed out.

I tend to try beers from further away, but regularly purchase more local beers than anything. Hopefully AB doesn't change the recipes, but focuses on getting more of those beers out to those who can't otherwise get them. Best case, anyway.

It's less about changing recipes and more about shelf space on supermarket shelves.

 

[TX_Brewing]

Yup, vote with your wallet, I try not to buy AB products and support the little guys instead. I am not a fan of how they are going after the craft breweries, but as a believer in capitalism, it is the way it goes.

 

[slym2none]

So, who wants to start a successful microbrew with me here in central NC, so we can sell it off for way more than it's worth?

 

[MaddBaggins]

The article doesn't say anything about ABInbev looking at New Belgium.

New Belgium is employee owned. The ridiculous price paid for Ballast Point had to make them think.

NB is shopping a buyer.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-newbelgium-m-a-exclusive-idUSKBN0U11ZM20151218

 

[Brettomomyces]

^^ yep, I jumped the gun associating it with AB, mostly cause I got it through a chain email and couldn't read well this morning. The company they are working with is Lazard and wasnt mentioned as having brokered deals with AB in the past either.

Focus on the beer.com got this quote from Kim:

“New Belgium Brewing’s Board of Directors has an obligation to have on-going dialogue with capital markets with the goal of making sure that we remain strong leaders in the craft brewing industry. There is no deal pending at this time.”

— Kim Jordan, Founder/BOD Chair/New Belgium Brewing

 

[BreezyBrew]

It's less about changing recipes and more about shelf space on supermarket shelves.

For now. Ask die hard Bass consumers what happened to their beer after they were bought by InBev.

I don't think it's pure coincidence that the head brewer of previously craft beer company left after the merger. It's happened at Goose Island, Lagunitas and others.

InBev has shareholders. Therefore they will always choose profit over quality of beer in the long run.

 

[bbohanon]

So, who wants to start a successful microbrew with me here in central NC, so we can sell it off for way more than it's worth?

I am in.

 

[grizzly2378]

I may be wrong, but I thought I saw somewhere that InBev wasn't in play for NB because it would never pass anti-trust muster. Interesting that NB is shopping itself, though, given their obvious pride in being employee-owned.

 

[cyanmonkey]

For now. Ask die hard Bass consumers what happened to their beer after they were bought by InBev.

I don't think it's pure coincidence that the head brewer of previously craft beer company left after the merger. It's happened at Goose Island, Lagunitas and others.

InBev has shareholders. Therefore they will always choose profit over quality of beer in the long run.

I'm not saying no recipes will be changed, I just think they want the distribution over growing the brand.

 

[Calder]

A little rice here, a little corn there, maybe a touch less hops ......... no-one will ever know!!!!!!

Cheaper beer at the higher prices, and the Yuppies will still buy it (because the name is well known and it's fashionable). ....... they just took a chunk out of the Craft Beer market leaving less room for the independents.


Yes, you can say it helps with making the beers have a wider distribution network, but in my mind it makes less room for the entrepreneurs, will put many of the small guys out of business, and is overall bad for the craft beer industry.

 

[slym2none]

@cyanmonkey
@Homercidal
@Newsman
@iijakii
@bbohanon

First, I am gonna need some money...

 

[iijakii]

Well I WAS saving up for a house downpayment but what the hell, in for 55k...

 

[slym2none]

2.945 million to go!

 

[specharka]

For now. Ask die hard Bass consumers what happened to their beer after they were bought by InBev.

I don't think it's pure coincidence that the head brewer of previously craft beer company left after the merger. It's happened at Goose Island, Lagunitas and others.

InBev has shareholders. Therefore they will always choose profit over quality of beer in the long run.

Not saying it doesn't happen (because it does; there used to be a lovely Pilsner called Rolling Rock out there), but the focus on craft beer brand acquisition now is largely driven by prestige and legacy. The difference being that the majority of people who buy boutique beers are relatively well informed, and will react to a perceived change in beer quality.

The really attractive aspect of premium craft beer brands to BMC is they can charge the same price for a product that cost substantially less to put on the shelf.

 

[Spartan1979]

I may be wrong, but I thought I saw somewhere that InBev wasn't in play for NB because it would never pass anti-trust muster. Interesting that NB is shopping itself, though, given their obvious pride in being employee-owned.

Finding the company could be worth north of 1 Billion would make one reconsider that.

Per the FAQ on their web page, they had 591 "coworkers" at December 31, 2014 so that's an average of $1,692,047 each.

 

[pdxal]

Meh. Decent beers, but what I've been able to get here were not extra special.

What concerns me most about this is that AB buying up craft makes it more challenging to purchase beers that don't contribute to the monster. A lot of people don't care, but the big breweries bully distributors and retailers to stock their own beer and the smaller breweries get pushed out.

I tend to try beers from further away, but regularly purchase more local beers than anything. Hopefully AB doesn't change the recipes, but focuses on getting more of those beers out to those who can't otherwise get them. Best case, anyway.

That hasn't been their pattern in the past. Generally the recipes do change.
That said, the 10 Barrel brewpub in Portland still makes some great beers and is a great place to grab something to eat after the AB InBev acquisition.

 

[Paps]

InBev has shareholders. Therefore they will always choose profit over quality of beer in the long run.

THIS!!!

Michelob Amber Bock/Michelob Dark were my `gateway beers (before Guinness)
but i will go out of my way to NOT buy them nowadays(any AB/Inbev)
and will allways choose the local brewery products first.

 

[Newsman]

@cyanmonkey
@Homercidal
@Newsman
@iijakii
@bbohanon

First, I am gonna need some money...

I can spare a couple bucks...where do I send the money? Note... I meant that literally... a couple bucks! :cross:

 

[broadbill]

I'm not saying no recipes will be changed, I just think they want the distribution over growing the brand.

If there is one thing InBev doesn't need is distribution. They are buying well-regarded craft brew brands to put into their distribution.

 

[TX_Brewing]

If there is one thing InBev doesn't need is distribution. They are buying well-regarded craft brew brands to put into their distribution.

What they are really after is shelf/tap space, after all without that you can't sell beer.

 

[cyanmonkey]

If there is one thing InBev doesn't need is distribution. They are buying well-regarded craft brew brands to put into their distribution.

By distribution I mean getting their beers in place so that smaller brewers can't get a share of the market.

 

[JGF]

Breckenridge was the next to be sold to AB/InBev:

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_29298392/breckenridge-brewery-sold-giant-anheuser-buschs-high-end

Here in Wisconsin, you don't see it that commonly...I assume that will be changing.

 

[smurfjuice]

@cyanmonkey
@Homercidal
@Newsman
@iijakii
@bbohanon

First, I am gonna need some money...

Take a check ... ...

 

[MaddBaggins]

Breckenridge was the next to be sold to AB/InBev:

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_29298392/breckenridge-brewery-sold-giant-anheuser-buschs-high-end

Here in Wisconsin, you don't see it that commonly...I assume that will be changing.

Jeebus!

 

[BigMack]

So, who wants to start a successful microbrew with me here in central NC, so we can sell it off for way more than it's worth?

I would say judging from all of the breweries opening around here you aren't the first person with the idea. Although competing with some of their offerings probably wouldn't be too hard