Goose Island and AB

[KUbrew]

Anybody know any more about this. I think they have had some sort of agreement for a while but not sure what it is. And that statement is pretty vague.

http://www.gooseisland.com/pages/special_announcement/133.php

 

[Mike_A]

Oh noes, I-AB now owns (a majority of?) Goose Island? I hope this doesn't change them...

 

[motobrewer]

AB had a minority stake in Goose Island for a few (4/5/6?) years now

woah, bigger news is that Greg Hall is stepping down. That's a shame, what's gonna happen to the belgian line? wonder where he'll go...

 

[jarod7736]

This reads like an all out sale, and Greg Hall leaving is huge. Time will tell of course, but i'm glad I got my BCS Rare while i could.

 

[motobrewer]

well...it is an all-out sale. AB will own 100%. I can't see how this is gonna end well, especially with Greg leaving.

 

[FromZwolle]

not cool! not at all.

 

[Acoma]

chicagotribune.com
Goose Island selling to Anheuser-Busch
By Josh Noel

8:50 AM CDT, March 28, 2011

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Big shake up on the local beer scene: Goose Island Beer Co., responsible for the delicious (Bourbon Country Brand Stout) and the hugely popular (312 wheat ale) is being bought out by Anheuser-Busch.

The makers of Budweiser will pay a total of $38.8 million for the brewery on Fulton Street that sends its beers across the globe. Though jarring in an industry that prides itself on independence and creativity, the move isn't completely unexpected. Anheuser-Busch has held a minority stake in the company since 2006, and been playing a role in distribution of the company's beer.

Brewmaster Greg Hall, whose father John Hall started the brewery in 1988, will be stepping down and replaced by (the appropriately named) head brewer Brett Porter. Porter was previous head brewer of well-respected Oregon brewery Deschutes Brewery before coming to Goose last year.

I'm told Greg will announce his future plans in the next few weeks.

Goose's two brew pubs in the city, on Clark Street and Clybourn Avenue, are not involved in the deal and will continue to be owned by John Hall and a group of partners.

I just got off the phone with John Hall, who is remaining as the company's chief executive officer. He said Goose's commitment to interesting and creative beer, like the recently released Pepe Nero (a black saison) or the upcoming Big John (a stout aged with cocoa nibs) will not change.

"They didn’t buy us to change what we’re doing," he said.

If AB was going to water down the product, "I wouldn’t have done it. I wouldn’t have worked 23 years to build what I have to (throw) it away in five minutes."

Hall also issued a letter to Goose fans this morning on the company's web site, touting the ability for "growth and innovation" as a result of the deal.

The Stew and the Tribune's business section will be updating the story throughout the day.

 

[GeoGirl]

Just reported that A-B is taking over Chicago's Goose Island - http://chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2011/03/anheuser-busch-inbev-to-take-over-goose-island.html

 

[HopHead24]

Not good!!!

 

[drsocc]

http://beernews.org/2011/03/anheuser-busch-to-buy-goose-island-for-38-8-million/


If this is in the wrong forum, could a mod please move it to the appropriate one/ delete if its a repost?


oh yeah,


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! WHY!?

 

[bgrayson726]

I was just about to post this. Very sad day in the craft beer world.

 

[Revvy]

According to John Hall's statement on Goose Island's website they've already been in partnership with them for 5 years...

Over the past five years our partnerships with Craft Brewers Alliance and Anheuser-Busch have enabled Goose Island to reach a growing number of beer drinkers. This has fueled our growth to the point that demand for our beers has outgrown the capacity of our brewery. Recently, we’ve even had to limit production of some classic and medal-winning styles. To keep up with growing demand from drinkers we’ve explored a variety of paths too secure new capital to support our growth.

Today’s agreement to consolidate ownership of Goose Island under Anheuser-Busch will provide us with the best resources available to continue along our path of growth and innovation.

I am more excited than ever about Goose Island’s future. With the support and financial backing of our new partner, we will continue to brew our authentic classic styles, develop new amazing beers, and serve our drinkers.

That might me why we can actually GET goose Island products in stores.

As long as GI gets to maintain control of their product, then all it's gonna really do is expand GI's distribution...So to me that's a good thing.

I just don't get bent out of shape about stuff like this, I just try to look at side of things. But then again I don't buy into the whole AHB is the "evil empire" nonsense.

Heck maybe that will mean their annual bourbon barrel stout will be made in a larger run.

 

[jaycount]

According to John Hall's statement on Goose Island's website they've already been in partnership with them for 5 years...



That might me why we can actually GET goose Island products in stores.

As long as GI gets to maintain control of their product, then all it's gonna really do is expand GI's distribution...So to me that's a good thing.

I just don't get bent out of shape about stuff like this, I just try to look at side of things. But then again I don't buy into the whole AHB is the "evil empire" nonsense.

Heck maybe that will mean their annual bourbon barrel stout will be made in a larger run.

WHATEVER YOU COMMIE MONOPOLIST

As long as the quality doesn't diminish, I say more power to em :rockin:

 

[Homercidal]

Crap. I really liked their IPA and several others.

And to think that AB won't change the recipe is absurd. Of course they will do whatever the hell they want once they get in there.

On the positive side, expect someone as talented as Greg Hall to announce his involvement with another, or even his own, brewery. It happens all the time.

 

[steakandale]

Shouldn't that say AB-In-Bev ?

 

[motobrewer]

there has been another thread about this

the biggest bombshell there is Greg Hall is stepping down as brewmaster.

Yeah, AB has owned 30-some-odd percent of them for the past 5 years. this might be different....i wonder how much "control" of the product John Hall will be able to maintain

we'll see i guess.

 

[Revvy]

Shouldn't that say AB-In-Bev ?

That's the only thing that I really found odd about the whole thing. None of the articles call it AB/Inbev. They may mention inbev at the end of the article, but not in the initial part, I wonder if they are downplaying it or not.

 

[jbrookeiv]

Terrible news. Another megacorp making ****ty beer just got bigger, which means every time a craft beer drinker buys Goose Island's beer, A/B will profit.

 

[EricScott]

But Bourbon County Stout was my favorite.

 

[EricScott]

there has been another thread about this

the biggest bombshell there is Greg Hall is stepping down as brewmaster.

Yeah, AB has owned 30-some-odd percent of them for the past 5 years. this might be different....i wonder how much "control" of the product John Hall will be able to maintain

we'll see i guess.

Yeah, this. The partnership, up until now, was a distribution partnership. Now GI is losing its Brewmaster. Quite a different arrangement.

 

[bgrayson726]

Terrible news. Another megacorp making ****ty beer just got bigger, which means every time a craft beer drinker buys Goose Island's beer, A/B will profit.

Yep.

What gets me worried about it is that Greg Hall is stepping down. I wonder how much it will change/if it will, in fact, change

 

[beesy]

Guess I'll hit up the brewpubs (Clybourn at least - not having them involved in the sale does little to preserve the beers they'll soon be serving IMHO) Dark Lord Weekend for a proper sendoff.

Positives - Deschutes brewer in the Midwest - yea!!

 

[jbrookeiv]

Yeah, this. The partnership, up until now, was a distribution partnership. Now GI is losing its Brewmaster. Quite a different arrangement.

Indeed. I'm guessing there will be some serious changes to their beer offerings. AB is doing anything in their power to break into the craft beer market. Makes me sick.

 

[Revvy]

But Bourbon County Stout was my favorite.

And more than likely now there's gonna be more of it available to us next year.....

 

[olllllo]

I'm sure Larry Bell engineered this to take heat off himself. Keep those torches lit boys.

 

[Revvy]

i'm sure larry bell engineered this to take heat off himself. Keep those torches lit boys.

+1.

 

[motobrewer]

Indeed. I'm guessing there will be some serious changes to their beer offerings. AB is doing anything in their power to break into the craft beer market. Makes me sick.

this is just way too "f the man!" for me. AB wants to break into the craft beer market?! really?? hm, if you owned AB, what the heck would you do? Lets see, macro beer sales declining, micro beer sales exponentially increasing......ah f it, lets keep doing what we're doing and get some lunch.....

of course AB wants to get into the craft beer market!! why wouldn't they??

i don't see how there would be serious changes to their offerings. I do see how their might be quality/consistency issues when they start brewing GI beer at different facilities.

oh, uh, i'm still planning on sending you those hops. eventually.....lol...

 

[bob1852]

AB is doing anything in their power to break into the craft beer market. Makes me sick.

From a business standpoint, I see nothing wrong with what InBev-AB is doing. They are starting to realize that the beer market is ever so slightly changing, and their are trying to cash in on it.

As I've said in all of these posts - as soon as Sam C., Jim K., Ken G., etc....starting operating at a $$$ loss in order to provide the voluntarily provide the world with their great craft beer, I have a hard time accepting that InBev is taking over the world so that they can push BMC down our throats even though more are craving IPAs....

Remember - all breweries are in it to make money.

 

[jbrookeiv]

this is just way too "f the man!" for me. AB wants to break into the craft beer market?! really?? hm, if you owned AB, what the heck would you do? Lets see, macro beer sales declining, micro beer sales exponentially increasing......ah f it, lets keep doing what we're doing and get some lunch.....

of course AB wants to get into the craft beer market!! why wouldn't they??

i don't see how there would be serious changes to their offerings. I do see how their might be quality/consistency issues when they start brewing GI beer at different facilities.

It seems as though they could come up with something original instead of gobbling up the little guys. That's what makes me sick. I'm not a fan of big businesses destroying the mom & pop businesses. I haven't drank/bought a Bud/Miller/Coors product in almost 2 years, not a fan of the way they run their business.

Also, I'm sure Bud will change whatever they can in the recipes to increase their profit margin and keep the final product similar. I'll pass...

 

[Revvy]

this is just way too "f the man!" for me. AB wants to break into the craft beer market?! really?? hm, if you owned AB, what the heck would you do? Lets see, macro beer sales declining, micro beer sales exponentially increasing......ah f it, lets keep doing what we're doing and get some lunch.....

of course AB wants to get into the craft beer market!! why wouldn't they??

i don't see how there would be serious changes to their offerings. I do see how their might be quality/consistency issues when they start brewing GI beer at different facilities.

+1 Except one of the articles stated they wouldn't be brewing at AB's facilities, and least not in St Louis. They're probably just going to expand GI's facilities.

I don't see how THIS is breaking the craft beer industry...

March 28, 2011
Dear Friends,

When I first started Goose Island Clybourn in 1988, drinkers were just beginnning to explore new beer styles and "craft beer" was a term that no one had even thought of. I couldn't imagine the explosive growth that craft beer has had in the last few years, or the amazing creativity of so many new brewers, and the discovery of the amazing possibilities of beer by a whole generation of drinkers.

I am very proud of Goose Island's contribution too this craft beer movement, of the many awards won by our brewers, our growing number of employees, our support of the communities and life of Chicago, and the friendship of so many beer lovers in Chicago and elsewhere.

Over the past five years our partnerships with Craft Brewers Alliance and Anheuser-Busch have enabled Goose Island to reach a growing number of beer drinkers. This has fueled our growth to the point that demand for our beers has outgrown the capacity of our brewery. Recently, we’ve even had to limit production of some classic and medal-winning styles. To keep up with growing demand from drinkers we’ve explored a variety of paths too secure new capital to support our growth.

Today’s agreement to consolidate ownership of Goose Island under Anheuser-Busch will provide us with the best resources available to continue along our path of growth and innovation.

I am more excited than ever about Goose Island’s future. With the support and financial backing of our new partner, we will continue to brew our authentic classic styles, develop new amazing beers, and serve our drinkers.


Cheers!
John Hall

Sounds pretty horrifying to me....