Michael Kiser of Good Beer Hunting

[vav1]

Any other questions tonight, feel free. I'll be in the studio evaluating some Widmer pilot batch recipes and I'll leave this window open.

The new batch of PDX Pils is bangin'.

Just FYI these usually go on sporadically for a few weeks before petering out, not like a Reddit one where it's one & done

 

[tikk]

Did being a paid shill for AB during the BCBS infection have any major backlash?

Do you feel risking your journalistic integrity was worth it?

What would you say to someone that won't visit your site for these reasons?

 

[goodbeerhunting]

Just FYI these usually go on sporadically for a few weeks before petering out, not like a Reddit one where it's one & done

So you're saying that all 3,969 replies on that magical DDB thread didn't happen in an hour?

 

[FTowne1]

So you're saying that all 3,969 replies on that magical DDB thread didn't happen in an hour?

 

[goodbeerhunting]

Did being a paid shill for AB during the BCBS infection have any major backlash?

Do you feel risking your journalistic integrity was worth it?

What would you say to someone that won't visit your site for these reasons?

Cool

So I got paid to consult with the Goose team once they got all the lab results in (or at least the most important ones at that time) about the BCS infection. The basic question was, "what's the best information we give our customers, and how do we share the info?" I think we'd all agree that a basic press release wouldn't have cut it.

After talking to Jared and getting a pretty quick education in microbiology, it became pretty clear to me that there was a lot of valuable information to be shared, not just with customers, but also with the industry. We just needed a simple way of putting it all together. And being brewers, they were keen on that. So I went to work with the team trying to translate Jared's knowledge into something digestible for a beer drinker. It was a communications challenge and I enjoyed the work with the team.

The I recommended that instead of a press release, that he just get on the mics with me and talk about it. That's a lot of responsibility for a brewer to handle in general, but to do it on a recording was a bit nerve-wracking for sure. In the end, I think it made a huge difference to a lot of people to hear it straight from him. And I know for a fact, because I got the emails, that a number of brewers that we all pay top dollar to for barrel-aged beers were having the same problem, but didn't know what to do about it. Listening to Jared's in-depth explanation gave them a place to start looking for a solution.

So for me, my journalistic integrity wasn't really up for trades here. I was super clear with everyone on that podcast about what I was hired to do, and why I decided to do it. In that scenario, I felt my responsibility was in helping one of the world's biggest barrel-aging programs share critical information with the industry at large, as well as get information to drinkers about one of the biggest disappointments in craft beer history.

If someone thinks I shouldn't have done that, that's for them to have an opinion, I guess. They weren't standing where I was standing. And they certainly don't know the positive impact that had on a ton of people. If there's a divide on my decision to do that episode, it's between people who already hate Goose or GBH for one reason or another, and the rest of the professional community and beer drinkers who were hugely appreciative of it.

Even if we just look at the numbers, it's our most listened-to podcast episode of all time.

 

[disapowzment]

Cool

So I got paid to consult with the Goose team once they got all the lab results in (or at least the most important ones at that time) about the BCS infection. The basic question was, "what's the best information we give our customers, and how do we share the info?" I think we'd all agree that a basic press release wouldn't have cut it.

After talking to Jared and getting a pretty quick education in microbiology, it became pretty clear to me that there was a lot of valuable information to be shared, not just with customers, but also with the industry. We just needed a simple way of putting it all together. And being brewers, they were keen on that. So I went to work with the team trying to translate Jared's knowledge into something digestible for a beer drinker. It was a communications challenge and I enjoyed the work with the team.

The I recommended that instead of a press release, that he just get on the mics with me and talk about it. That's a lot of responsibility for a brewer to handle in general, but to do it on a recording was a bit nerve-wracking for sure. In the end, I think it made a huge difference to a lot of people to hear it straight from him. And I know for a fact, because I got the emails, that a number of brewers that we all pay top dollar to for barrel-aged beers were having the same problem, but didn't know what to do about it. Listening to Jared's in-depth explanation gave them a place to start looking for a solution.

So for me, my journalistic integrity wasn't really up for trades here. I was super clear with everyone on that podcast about what I was hired to do, and why I decided to do it. In that scenario, I felt my responsibility was in helping one of the world's biggest barrel-aging programs share critical information with the industry at large, as well as get information to drinkers about one of the biggest disappointments in craft beer history.

If someone thinks I shouldn't have done that, that's for them to have an opinion, I guess. They weren't standing where I was standing. And they certainly don't know the positive impact that had on a ton of people. If there's a divide on my decision to do that episode, it's between people who already hate Goose or GBH for one reason or another, and the rest of the professional community and beer drinkers who were hugely appreciative of it.

Even if we just look at the numbers, it's our most listened-to podcast episode of all time.

You didn't really answer anything here. Just wrote a bunch of words that were vaguely on topic.

Personally I used to really like your content but over the last few years of twitter battles and the bcbs ordeal, I rarely visit your site anymore.

How do you feel you are perceived in the Chicago beer community? Or just the community in general?

 

[FTowne1]

Cool

So I got paid to consult with the Goose team once they got all the lab results in (or at least the most important ones at that time) about the BCS infection. The basic question was, "what's the best information we give our customers, and how do we share the info?" I think we'd all agree that a basic press release wouldn't have cut it.

After talking to Jared and getting a pretty quick education in microbiology, it became pretty clear to me that there was a lot of valuable information to be shared, not just with customers, but also with the industry. We just needed a simple way of putting it all together. And being brewers, they were keen on that. So I went to work with the team trying to translate Jared's knowledge into something digestible for a beer drinker. It was a communications challenge and I enjoyed the work with the team.

The I recommended that instead of a press release, that he just get on the mics with me and talk about it. That's a lot of responsibility for a brewer to handle in general, but to do it on a recording was a bit nerve-wracking for sure. In the end, I think it made a huge difference to a lot of people to hear it straight from him. And I know for a fact, because I got the emails, that a number of brewers that we all pay top dollar to for barrel-aged beers were having the same problem, but didn't know what to do about it. Listening to Jared's in-depth explanation gave them a place to start looking for a solution.

So for me, my journalistic integrity wasn't really up for trades here. I was super clear with everyone on that podcast about what I was hired to do, and why I decided to do it. In that scenario, I felt my responsibility was in helping one of the world's biggest barrel-aging programs share critical information with the industry at large, as well as get information to drinkers about one of the biggest disappointments in craft beer history.

If someone thinks I shouldn't have done that, that's for them to have an opinion, I guess. They weren't standing where I was standing. And they certainly don't know the positive impact that had on a ton of people. If there's a divide on my decision to do that episode, it's between people who already hate Goose or GBH for one reason or another, and the rest of the professional community and beer drinkers who were hugely appreciative of it.

Even if we just look at the numbers, it's our most listened-to podcast episode of all time.

INRAT

tosh

 

[goodbeerhunting]

You didn't really answer anything here. Just wrote a bunch of words that were vaguely on topic.

Personally I used to really like your content but over the last few years of twitter battles and the bcbs ordeal, I rarely visit your site anymore.

How do you feel you are perceived in the Chicago beer community? Or just the community in general?

Let me know what I missed.

Is the Chicago beer community one thing? No idea how to answer that without painting a lot of people with one brush. But as someone who lives and works here, plenty of clients, colleagues, and long-time friends, I'm having a great time.

 

[goodbeerhunting]

INRAT

tosh

Please elaborate.

 

[Mofferman1]

Cool.

Is it cool, bro? You should really be more transparent about this stuff. Like separate your paid "hype" pieces from your editorials. Or at least mention any possible percieved conflicts in the piece or podcast bro! Like do a a QnA on a beer forum and be forthright about it, dude!

Speaking of transparent, I stopped visiting your site b/c you never take your shirt off. What's up with that, bro?!?!

Corned beef.

 

[leftoverburrito]

If you were rating the following movies on a 1-10 scale, what would they be?

Captain America: Civil War

Suicide Squad

Hanzo kevanb

 

[Lansman]

Are you claiming that the best way GI could get an appropriate response out to the general public after the 2015 issues was through your podcast?

 

[goodbeerhunting]

Is it cool, bro? You should really be more transparent about this stuff. Like separate your paid "hype" pieces from your editorials. Or at least mention any possible percieved conflicts in the piece or podcast bro! Like do a a QnA on a beer forum and be forthright about it, dude!

Speaking of transparent, I stopped visiting your site b/c you never take your shirt off. What's up with that, bro?!?!

Corned beef.

I got you boo.

 

[goodbeerhunting]

Are you claiming that the best way GI could get an appropriate response out to the general public after the 2015 issues was through your podcast?

I'm saying that I think the best way for them to get it out was from Jared directly. That could have taken many forms.

 

[Lansman]

I'm saying that I think the best way for them to get it out was from Jared directly. That could have taken many forms.

Your unedited note above as of this moment does not read as such. It reads (or read depending on your making further edits) as if you proposed a solution and channel, and in return you were compensated accordingly. This is simply and unabashedly false.

 

[Mofferman1]

Damn, you get me.
I still don't like this bit where you share your opinions and perspective as if that's how you see things. But I'll prolly breakdown and check out a podcast later when this bottle of Brose is empty.

 

[goodbeerhunting]

Your unedited note above as of this moment does not read as such. It reads (or read depending on your making further edits) as if you proposed a solution and channel, and in return you were compensated accordingly. This is simply and unabashedly false.

The Goose team went on to execute their communications through many different channels (social media, press release, interviews, presentations, etc.) A special episode of our podcast was one of many ways they rolled out the message. But it was the first and most immediate way to do it. If we're saying immediacy is paramount, then perhaps it was the best. But there are pros and cons — there's no perfect way to handle things like this. Although, I'd say their social team practically achieved god-like status that week following. Holy ****.

 

[disapowzment]

Damn, you get me.
I still don't like this bit where you share your opinions and perspective as if that's how you see things. But I'll prolly breakdown and check out a podcast later when this bottle of Brose is empty.

I fully understand why you like him and what he's done for you guys. He came here to answer questions and he definitely hasn't been the most popular person throughout the non industry people in Chicago/land over the past year or so.

 

[FTowne1]

I fully understand why you like him and what he's done for you guys. He came here to answer questions and he definitely hasn't been the most popular person throughout the non industry people in Chicago/land over the past year or so.

 

[goodbeerhunting]

I fully understand why you like him and what he's done for you guys. He came here to answer questions and he definitely hasn't been the most popular person throughout the non industry people in Chicago/land over the past year or so.

Chicagoland is certainly where most of the flack we get comes from, largely because we share our opinions on Goose Island freely. That comes with some arrows. But Chicagoland is still our most popular geography for the site and it's where we host events like Uppers & Downers that routinely sell out. So I guess I question weather you might be speaking for more people than you should be when you say that. Bit of a bubble you're in there, perhaps.

 

[regularjohn]

Damn, you get me.
I still don't like this bit where you share your opinions and perspective as if that's how you see things. But I'll prolly breakdown and check out a podcast later when this bottle of Brose is empty.

 

[hamberder]

I got you boo.

I don't know you or your website but I can always appreciate a shirtless man. That said, why on God's green earth would you use a filter on what could've been a perfect photo?

 

[cneville1]

Chicagoland is certainly where most of the flack we get comes from, largely because we share our opinions on Goose Island freely. That comes with some arrows. But Chicagoland is still our most popular geography for the site and it's where we host events like Uppers & Downers that routinely sell out. So I guess I question weather you might be speaking for more people than you should be when you say that. Bit of a bubble you're in there, perhaps.

how can you justify running GBH as a business if you lost $70k last year? do you have another source of income? or are you separating GBH the blog from GBH the business?

 

[goodbeerhunting]

I don't know you or your website but I can always appreciate a shirtless man. That said, why on God's green earth would you use a filter on what could've been a perfect photo?

Lol, this was waaaaay back before Instagram. Hipstamatic, I think? Either way, I miss being skinny.

 

[goodbeerhunting]

how can you justify running GBH as a business if you lost $70k last year? do you have another source of income? or are you separating GBH the blog from GBH the business?

The website cost $70k to operate. The agency side of the business supports it. On that side of things, we're doing quite well!

 

[disapowzment]

So I guess I question weather you might be speaking for more people than you should be when you say that. Bit of a bubble you're in there, perhaps.

Chicagoland is certainly where most of the flack comes from

I think you answered your own question.

 

[goodbeerhunting]

I think you answered your own question.

And I thought North Carolina got crafty with the gerrymandering.

 

[FTowne1]

how can you justify running GBH as a business if you lost $70k last year? do you have another source of income? or are you separating GBH the blog from GBH the business?

 

[cneville1]

The website cost $70k to operate. The agency side of the business supports it. On that side of things, we're doing quite well!

given that many people don't separate your two enterprises (considering that they are operated from the same website), isn't it disingenuous to portray GBH as a "labor of love" when it's clearly a self-sustaining enterprise, paid for by advertising and agency work for breweries?

 

[tosh1]

Please elaborate.

Which part?

One part is explainable, the other is way past that point.