Northern Brewer Replacement

[madscientist451]

T I think this takeover is going to be bad for homebrewing. How bad depends on how homebrewers react.

The malt producers, hop growers and yeast companies aren't interested in having AB InBev control them or the home brew market. There's no reason why they would buy into anything like that. Northern Brewer will try to grow their business by increasing market share and/or increasing the overall market. There's just too much competition in the homebrew marketplace right now for one company to control anything. AB InBev relies on outside malt producers to supply 75% of their malt. They can buy malt cheaper than anyone else and k they will just use that buying power to increase their margins in the homebrew market, If they even stay in it.
I can't see how any of that will be good or bad for home brewers. Things will likely get more competitive, but I don't see how that is a bad thing.

 

[hightpt]

My favorite in New England is maltoseexpress.com
I get the shipment two days after placing my order, they pack the yeast in ice and they always answer any email questions within a couple of hours.

 

[xandersaml]

So, the solution to the AbInbev buyout of NB & MWB is to use someone else and potentially put 100's to "maybe" a 1000+ employees out of work?

If that is how one chooses to vote with one's wallet. Freedom of choice. I kinda' like that idea.

 

[Throttle79]

Looks like I'll be making the 75 mile drive to Oklahoma City to the LHBS there. The only other option i have is the online retailers and the expensive shipping cost. Home Brew Supply was good while they had grains included in there flat rate shipping. But now its cheaper for me to drive....

 

[treacheroustexan]

Looks like I'll be making the 75 mile drive to Oklahoma City to the LHBS there. The only other option i have is the online retailers and the expensive shipping cost. Home Brew Supply was good while they had grains included in there flat rate shipping. But now its cheaper for me to drive....

Buy in bulk from Morebeer. Free shipping.

 

[mrveeno]

Why would you not shop there if they continue at present prices and deals?

 

[xandersaml]

I'd not be surprised either. Never said making a purchase was a charity. But choosing to go elsewhere solely on the basis of who's name is on the title does nothing but punish those who are still employed by a domestic enterprise.

It'd make more sense to embargo any new ventures the previous ownership attempts to create.

What if the new owners were crazy terrorists, hell-bent on your destruction? Would it be wise to buy from them so employees mightn't lose their jobs?

Previous ownership probably couldn't care less at this point. If they made out well, so be it. Good for them. If people wish not to support an AB/INBev venture, so be it. Spend your money where you wish.

 

[szap]

I use both ritebrew and home brew supply. My first place to check is ritebrew. I buy about all my grains from ritebrew and really like their quick grain page where I can enter a grain bill for a recipe down to the ounce. I dont use NB or Midwest because I can usually beat their price at both my prefered sites and I rarely do recipe kits. I do a lot of wine kits and find midwest prices high. A couple of weeks ago, Home brew supply had a 15% off sale (or maybe it was 20%). I bought an eclipse wine kit with shipping for $60 kess than other places price without shipping. I also like home brew supply's daily specials.

 

[JimRausch]

I've only ordered from Homebrewsupply.com twice, but have been happy with both orders. And their shipping time from Texas to Maine was quicker than NB's Minnesota to Maine. I probably will throw more business their way.

 

[xandersaml]

Do you even know who owns any of these shops on the Internets or your local? The whole NB thing is out there because it was announced, but the ownership status of any other shop/purveyor is completely unknown, including those most people will switch to. So what are you avoiding and where are you going?

Am I the only one who finds this odd?

I know my LHBS owner. Just because you may not know any doesn't mean others don't.
I find your assumption odd. Go where you wanna go, brew what you wanna brew... Shop where you wanna shop :fro:

 

[MaryB]

I don't get this panic... Northern Brewer is going to keep on as is according to the owner with no interference from Inbev. This was mostly a capital infusion from what I got out of it so they can expand. I would love to see a NB satellite store out in SW MN! They could partner with a liquor store and share the space and both would win! I still buy and try new beers, and when I am pushed for time like I have been all October I dropped back to drinking Fat Tire until I can get back to brewing in a week. This week is get 6,000 pounds of corn in storage for the corn/pellet stove!

 

[Paps]

There's a forest behind those trees you know.

 

[biochemedic]

I love this shop because you can order specialty grains by the ounce, and organized grain bills into recipes. They ship very fast, and I seem to get stuff very quickly, considering that it's coming to me in PA from TX.

Oh, and I would also like to mention that I do love Farmhouse Brewing, as many others have mentioned. I do wish that they had actually moved to Pittsburgh, but I wish them all the best regardless!

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

There's a forest behind those trees you know.

Isnt he with AHS? Did he mastermind all this to be disruptive?

 

[bob1852]

Isnt he with AHS? Did he mastermind all this to be disruptive?

He sold AHS a few years ago.

 

[Kuckoo]

So, I haven't read all 225 posts, but want to offer my .02. It's obviously an individual choice on whether or no to support NB. Personally, I choose not to. I have already I unsubscribed from the mailing list. My personal beliefs are that this move puts other smaller online retailers and LHBS's at a disadvantage. I've always spread my purchases between NB, Morebeer, LHBS, & others. For me it's a personal preference. I live near a brewery acquired by AB-InBev and quit supporting them as well. There are plenty of other good options out there and I will choose to share my business with small business owners.

 

[etcmoore]

As long as NB continues to provide excellent service and product selection, I'm sticking with them. If ABinbev wants to start supporting home brewers that's fine with me as long as they don't try to control the conversation, so to speak.

 

[biochemedic]

I forgot to mention Williams Brewing...I really like them too...

 

[ericbw]

I think the discussion comes down to whether you want to support "big" business or "small"
business. AB Inbev isn't "supporting" home brewing, they are just investing in a company.

As I have said before, buy what you can locally. Get the rest from good sources online and out of your area. I'm also in favor of growing and preserving your own stuff as much as you can. If not growing it, then get it from local producers or trade for it. You get better stuff and support the local economy, and sometimes it's cheaper.

Whenever it's possible. If it matters to you.

 

[twitchster]

I'd have to cast my vote for Rebel Brewer. They're my LHBS and I go there for almost all my needs. The only negative I can say about them is they have a tendency to run out of my preferred yeast. I have another place locally that I can that from though no big deal.

 

[Skydog60]

To me this is more than boycotting Midwest or Northern Brewer this is about the infiltration of a corporate conglomerate getting their fingers into our community. AB InBev buys Northern Brewer today what's next White Labs a grain supplier, hop farms? Sure you're not brewing a rice piss Bud clone but you will be brewing AB InBev and that's what sucks.

InBev doesn't give a crap about the homebrewer they laugh at us and mock us in their commercials and now there in are community and we will never get them out.

 

[ericbw]

Go plant your field with barley, malt it, brew with it. Problem solved.

 

[WaltStarr]

I wish we would get back on topic. There is another thread for discussing the acquisition of NB/MW by AB InBev. This thread is about alternatives to NB/MW.

 

[applescrap]

Sitting in front of a check with that many zeros, any of the other sites mentioned on this thread would sell to. It's easy to say you wouldn't. But you see all those zeros with your name next to it.... it would be pretty hard to resist

 

[devils4ever]

I used to buy a lot of stuff (almost exclusively) from NB since I didn't have any decent LHBS around.

Now, I have www.love2brew.com that I buy almost everything from. They are about 20 minutes from work and have fresh ingredients, great selection, and excellent prices. They seems to do a lot of mail order business every time I visit for supplies. Ron and Mark are both very knowledgeable and helped me put together my custom brew stand last year.

So, I won't miss NB at all.

 

[Murphys_Law]

To me this is more than boycotting Midwest or Northern Brewer this is about the infiltration of a corporate conglomerate getting their fingers into our community. AB InBev buys Northern Brewer today what's next White Labs a grain supplier, hop farms? Sure you're not brewing a rice piss Bud clone but you will be brewing AB InBev and that's what sucks.

InBev doesn't give a crap about the homebrewer they laugh at us and mock us in their commercials and now there in are community and we will never get them out.

I seriously don't get how people make this personal and think the sky is Falling. InBev is in business to make money and own their space. Doesn't matter if it is selling Bud Light at Buffalo Wild Wings or Blichmann burners through NB.

I doubt their grand strategy is to mock home brewers and take away our kettles, or brainwash us into brewing with more rice. Buy from them because they are a good supplier, or don't because you're fundamentally averse to "big business" but I'd wait this out before condemning anyone.

And for the record - my local rocks and gets nearly 100% of my business.

 

[Paps]

but I'd wait this out before condemning anyone. )

The company that mocks home brewers at every superbowl DOES NOT DESERVE the benefit of the doubt.
Some people see AB/INBEV as a problem to home brewing/craft brewing and they are right. Others apparently wouldn't mind being only able to buy "Budweiser brand Barley" to make their homebrew.

 

[ImNoExpert]

Hmm. Depends. Did the incumbent pay taxes while drinking Bud Light?

Do you always compare Palm Trees to Porcupines?

True, not a good comparison, but my point is that if I think the overwhelming majority of consumers aren't concerned with keeping a business' employees employed when making purchasing decisions. If it was more a priority for consumers, then there would be no incentive for the business to do anything other than keep it's employees employed. It sounds nice, but most of the world doesn't work that way.

I'm certainly not surprised to read some of the comments about not using NB anymore now that they'd been bought out by a company that controls a third of the world's beer. I don't completely agree, but I'm not surprised. This is the same group of folks who won't drink Goose Island or Lagunitas anymore.

Clearly anyone can choose to or choose not to patronize a business for whatever reason they want, it just seems like an odd argument to make that a business' employees are the first consideration.

 

[rhys333]

If you're in the northern US, you can try the online retailers in Canada. With the exchange rate you will get additional savings ($50 CAD = $37 USD). A couple I use are Ontario Beer Kegs and Prairie Brew Supply. OBK has everything under the sun and sells hops in original mylar. Prairie has excellent service, is centrally located and sells quality hops at low cost. He repackages in vacuum seal bags, but keeps a limited selection and has high turn over. Great product/service at PBS and I highly recommend.

PBS: http://prairiebrewsupply.ca/

OBK: http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

True, not a good comparison, but my point is that if I think the overwhelming majority of consumers aren't concerned with keeping a business' employees employed when making purchasing decisions. If it was more a priority for consumers, then there would be no incentive for the business to do anything other than keep it's employees employed. It sounds nice, but most of the world doesn't work that way.

I'm certainly not surprised to read some of the comments about not using NB anymore now that they'd been bought out by a company that controls a third of the world's beer. I don't completely agree, but I'm not surprised. This is the same group of folks who won't drink Goose Island or Lagunitas anymore.

Clearly anyone can choose to or choose not to patronize a business for whatever reason they want, it just seems like an odd argument to make that a business' employees are the first consideration.

Actually, the point is that it is way too soon to make ANY kind of judgement given the lack of the terms of the deal. Everything is pure speculation at this point and yet, the tone of this discussion is about abandonment with an underlying wish that, solely because AbInbev is involved, it folds.

Imagine the irony if this is EXACTLY why they made the deal in the first place.