Anheuser-Busch InBev Acquires Northern Brewer & Midwest Supplies

[psymonkey]

Even if the have the buying power to purchase things cheaper, that savings will be passed on to their shareholders in the form of a higher margin. I don't see them dropping prices for homebrewers.

 

[clint w]

Screw inbev. Screw Monsanto too.

 

[kkramer56]

Me too!

 

[Ricka182]

Well, just another reason to keep buying local only. I would grow my own everything before I buy anything from either of those places again.

 

[mdransfi]

I sent a comment to NB via their website's comment page saying, "You've been acquired by a company that mocks craft brewing. What's up with that?" and got a canned reply from a Craig B:
"Our partnership with ZX Ventures is about growing Northern Brewer and providing brewers with unparalleled opportunities. This deal will make us stronger and able to pursue our passion with even greater focus, better tools, and ingredients.
Any changes you notice will be in place to deliver a better beer experience
We will continue to support you and your fermentations, and help our industry innovate.
Our culture will remain as it is today: we are dedicated to our mission and to our customers as we always have been.
We know that not everyone will be happy with this deal, but it is great for our business and the growth of homebrewing!
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Cheers!
Craig B"
As much as I want to be righteously indignant, my lhbs (20 minute drive) is owned and staffed by folks who seem either condescending or couldn't care less about discussing homebrewing. Their main business is "brew on premises" and the supply side is treated like an afterthought. The next-nearest place is 45 minutes away, and although supplies are their main business, they're not very knowledgeable, yet are condescending. Before I took a year off of brewing, the NB folks would answer questions and if I came back with "yeah, but what about x?", they'd consider it and explain further without being ******-y about it. I don't think that will change, at least in the short-term. The longer view might be less positive.
I'll likely go back to lhbs but will ask my questions to forums like this or the reddit homebrew sub.

 

[Yeastieboy]

Wouldn't that be crazy if they acquired HBT? I bet this entire forum would go 100% silent overnight. That would be awesome... for like a day, until I immediately started missing it!

 

[gusmaojoao]

they are flooding brazils market with goose island ipa and hoonkers, setting the price really low even for local brewerys

 

[Puddlethumper]

Yes. Couldn't have said it better.

 

[redwolf5514]

Bourbon county massive recalls, the beer in large isn't made in Chicago anymore (and quite frankly doesn't taste the same)

 

[Schlenkerla]

All the more reason to support the little guy, buy local, buy grain, and grow your own hops. F'em. I won't be worried until they try create a monopoly on water.

 

[David schaal]

All you guys say that the solution is to buy from your local Homebrew store.
Great! I live in Minneapolis, Northern Brewer IS my local store.

 

[DCM5150]

"Some worry this acquisition along with their deep capital could allow them to pivot into the wholesale market in an attempt to gain massive control of the homebrew industry in a vertical growth move."
I think I got Buzzword Bingo in one sentence

 

[rinedesign]

I second that. Goose Island isn't the same beer any more. I call BS on this comment, too!

 

[brett]

Word.

 

[TulsaTax]

Ethan, a clinical analysis. Perhaps In Bev is merely conceding the hobby production is here to stay. Perhaps the negative emotion is the realization that the 30 year home brewing movement is no longer hipster, but main stream. Had my first home brew 30 years ago and it was terrible. Ten years latter had my second home brew and knew right then and there change is coming....the swill will no longer be. Did extract for 10 years because I could not stomach all that work, DIY stuff, and equipment for all grain. Building a 100 square foot brewery in my basement based on the Braumeister because now all grain is easy because it is now mainstream.

 

[sanguine]

Any brand that InBEV acquires they ruin. They change the hops, the barley, and every other ingredient and destroy the quality. They even destroyed the quality of Budweiser (hard to do) when they purchased them..

 

[matthew prestine]

Never bought anything from NB. I get all my stuff from ritebrew.com which is local to me, best guy and prices ever.

 

[Brandon]

That explains why Goose Island is suddenly available as a kit on NB.

 

[flyingweasel]

This is crazy! What's a world without high gravity craft beer? This is what's happening, us home brewers won't be outdone by the big guys!

 

[kencarman]

I think your assessment that they have no reason to mess with a good thing may be temporarily right, but in long term wrong. The object, I believe, to to have as much control over all things beer so, when dire situations like a depression, or just shifts in the industry, will give them the ability to throttle the industry down to the tight control they once had: even over what we can buy, style-wise.

 

[raybird]

They also brew Bass Ale at Baldwinsville. Or at least they did at first. What a shock to taste that a couple of years ago when I had no idea that I wasn't buying the Burton-on-Trent original. Smelled like rotting vegetables! Gotta say, though, that it's much better when they brew it in Merrimack, New Hampshire. Just not the same...

 

[Scott]

No, it will change ! We will begin to see a deterioration of services, website and feeling while price creep will increase.... always happens when competitors take market share... Anheuser isn't interested in Homebrewing other than seeing it go away !

 

[Scott]

Crushing the Competition is always the name of the game - looking forward 5 years (?) the only recipes/kits will be Budweiser and the emphasis will be on Wine !
Being sarcastic of course - but it is the beginning of the end - really, how long do you think the Northern and Midwest holdovers will have any control or input in the business - they'll be reduced to meaningless paper shuffling and menial labor while Big Daddy strips er down.

 

[Scott]

"If you can’t shame them join them I suppose."
If you can’t shame them 'crush' them I suppose.
I think that's what you meant to say, so i said it for ya - yer welcome !

 

[Scott]

Just watched Stuart Varney (Fox Business News) 10:15 am 10- 26-17,
Anhueser Inbev announced major cost cutting do to failing market share and debt !
Anhueser not even American Company anymore - it's a huge multi national kabal - Brazil, Netherlands, Belgium + ....hence the massive debt and aggressive behavior..

 

[Scott]

Yeah, depending on how old you are you would have seen this play out hundreds of times (mergers/acquisitions)..... I don't really care because I can make anything, with anything, using buckets to barrels - it's in the blood bro !
Jimmy cracked corn and I don't care (sing along boys) Jimmy cracked corn and I don't care .......

 

[Hghlndr76]

While it's truly disturbing that NB and Midwest are now part of "Big Beer", I will continue to shop at NB due to the fact that I'm not a big fan of buying EVERYTHING online. NB is the only brick and mortar store in my town, and I'm one of those people that prefers to actually look at and touch a product before buying. They also have a large selection of 1 gal kits not available from other HB sites. I also like that I can actually talk to someone that knows brewing, and can give on the spot advice.