I don't think anyone is necessarily saying that they should release recipe info, just pointing out that any argument that says it would hurt their business to do so is flawed because so many successful breweries do it with no adverse effect on sales. As you yourself said, it's not like there's many ways you could add nuts anyway. A few test batches and it can be figured out. So we're just wondering what they really think they are accomplishing by not helping a homebrewer out. If they really wanted to keep it top-secret, why even point out that it was cashews that they added? They could have just said "brown ale with secret ingredients". Either way, I'm done with this argument. Obviously nobody is going to convince anybody else to change their minds on this one. Some of us are arguing that a good reason needs to be made as to how it would benefit the brewery, some are arguing that a good reason needs to be made as to how it will hurt them. I can see both sides, but my main thing is that there's no reason to not share info, when sharing that info is not going to hurt you in any way. Unless someone can name me a case where a successful brewery shared recipe info and then all of a sudden people stopped buying their beer.
My Founders Brewing Co Story
- Thread starter caber2615
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I'm always blown away by the brewers who agree to do the in depth interview for the BN's CYBI show, which in turn, depending how forward the brewer is with their info, they end up providing an exact recipe, including water adjustments in mot cases to clone their beer. I sometimes wonder why they do it, which I can only assume is a love for homebrewing, but I often wonder if I were them, would I do the same?
Matt B. from Firestone Walker giving up most of their line up to include the complete breakdown of Union Jack? John Maier of Rogue giving out the Shakespeare stout recipe to a T? I'm amazed at how some brewers give back to the homebrew community, as is their right. It's also the right of other breweries not to give out anything.... It's just lame when they don't
Matt B. from Firestone Walker giving up most of their line up to include the complete breakdown of Union Jack? John Maier of Rogue giving out the Shakespeare stout recipe to a T? I'm amazed at how some brewers give back to the homebrew community, as is their right. It's also the right of other breweries not to give out anything.... It's just lame when they don't
How about the bottom line that their information is theirs to share or keep, that their choice is to keep it for their own reasons, and there's nothing you can do about it except flap your lips.
You're not getting what I'm saying. Let me say it AGAIN: Nobody, myself included, is saying that the information is not theirs to share or keep. Nobody is saying they are not within their rights by keeping secrets. Nobody is saying they have to tell us exactly how to brew their beer. We are simply saying that they really have nothing to fear in sharing. And no good argument has been made that shows otherwise. As I pointed out earlier, several of the BEST SELLING craft beers in the country all have homebrew recipes out there, many shared directly by the brewers
Now where exactly in there did I say that it was not a brewer's right to keep a secret, or that they owed us something?
I guess I was lying when I claimed I was done with this argument, but I just couldn't help it. Just when I think I'm done, you chime in with yet another pompous, snarky post.
I'm amazed at how some brewers give back to the homebrew community, as is their right. It's also the right of other breweries not to give out anything.... It's just lame when they don't
DING DING DING!!!!!! We have a winner! I think this says it best.
How about the bottom line that they should be respectful of fans and customers. That doesn't mean they have to give out secrets, but it also means that they don't have to be dicks about it. I think you lost sight of the original point that they were a bit rude about it. That being said, they eventually relented and gave out some basic info.
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It's not necessarily that someone is right and someone is wrong - we're just kind of arguing different points. You're arguing that it is their right to keep secrets if they want (which nobody is disagreeing with). I'm arguing that their business wouldn't be harmed by sharing. Really, we're both correct.
No malice intended here, and no hard feelings. Just a healthy debate between brewers. I apologize if things got a little more heated than necessary, but I certainly don't harbor any ill will towards any of those on the other side of this argument.
mlyday
Well-Known Member
I like breweries like deschutes brewery who give you alot of the info, like the malts and hops they use, but not the amounts. If fun to try and reverse engineer the recipe from what they give you.
I enjoy that as well. In fact, I have seen some craft breweries (although I can't seem to remember which ones right now) put right on the labels what types of malts and hops are in each beer.
Wow, this thread sort of exploded huh?
Put my two cents in. I think you probably over reacted a bit (you have admitted that) and in your shoes I probably would have at first too. That being said, sharing their information is their call, and canned responses, as much as they suck, are there for a reason usually.
I would say this, the cashew question wasn't a big deal and he DID tell you later, so thats cool, but the Yeast thing doesn't surprise me at all, as most places use house yeast strains and thats how they obtain and retain "house" flavors. (I would love to figure out what yeasts HalfAcre in Chicago uses).
Put my two cents in. I think you probably over reacted a bit (you have admitted that) and in your shoes I probably would have at first too. That being said, sharing their information is their call, and canned responses, as much as they suck, are there for a reason usually.
I would say this, the cashew question wasn't a big deal and he DID tell you later, so thats cool, but the Yeast thing doesn't surprise me at all, as most places use house yeast strains and thats how they obtain and retain "house" flavors. (I would love to figure out what yeasts HalfAcre in Chicago uses).
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