Northern Brewer Replacement

[oskee]

When mail ordering, Austin Home Brew and More Beer have been my other shops along with NB. Have seen Austin Home Brew grow since my first order 15ish years ago and fear they will be the next to be sold.

 

[j9weber]

Www.defalcos.com
They're in Houston and ship promptly to anywhere in the world.

 

[BryanH70]

Ritebrew.com

 

[JT_Hoppington]

I'm really lucky that AIH in Allen Park, MI is also my LHBS. The customer service is without equal! :rockin:

 

[Righteoustoad]

Adventures in Homebrewing, MoreBeer, and Austin Homebrew. I'll likely try Ritebrew, Homebrew Supply, Great Fermentations, and my local growers in the future.

 

[fosaisu]

No I understand capitalism very well, thank you.

I do not, however, understand the absurdity that is presented here simply because the name on the title of ownership has changed.

Nothing else has changed here.

Maybe it will, time will tell. And maybe then I'll have a change of opinion. But, until then, it is still the same products, people, and services as were there pre-buyout.

But at the ownership level it's obviously NOT the same people now. Sounds like the size and corporate structure of the businesses you shop from is not important to you, so long as you still like the product and the guy manning the cash register. Which is fair enough. Other people derive real satisfaction from knowing they are supporting a "locally owned business," which probably signifies a number of things to them, including that the profits of the enterprise are more likely to be recirculated locally when they are ultimately spent, and that smaller businesses stand against a perceived trend toward conglomeration of financial power among a smaller number of large corporate entities, which for better or worse has massively changed the way our economy and our society functions.

Of course not caring about this stuff or viewing it in a positive or neutral light doesn't mean you're wrong or a bad person. But if you were someone that takes comfort in the idea that "small" and "locally owned" businesses are still around, why would it be "absurd" to consider that when spending your money? Would you tell a devout Christian who patronizes overtly Christian businesses when possible that he's an idiot for considering factors beyond price and quality of goods? I'm an atheist so I wouldn't spend my money on that basis (I might even swing the other way, as religion mixed with commerce tends to creep me out). But I get that it matters to some people and understand why they would spend their money in ways that will encourage the world to look the way they want it to.

 

[mmartinphd]

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?

I doubt the few folks who don't want to support AbInbev will cause that to happen. Some folks just don't like them and want alternatives. Seems like a perfectly good use of this board to me.

 

[Sir-Brews-Alot]

I never found Midwest or Northern Brewers prices to be all that great anyhow, I could almost always find better prices on other Homebrewing websites. In particular, their shipping prices suck balls. They do have a great selection however. I quit using Midwest Supplies anyhow back when my credit card info was hacked off their servers.

Currently I use ritebrew.com, their selection isn't the best on the interwebs, particularly lacking in the hops and yeast area, but for 90% of my orders I can find everything I need. I use farmhousebrewingsupply.com as my backup, for things I can't find on ritebrew. Both have great shipping prices, I rarely pay more than $10/order to ship unless it is something particularly large, and quite often my orders ship for less than $5.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Would you tell a devout Christian who patronizes overtly Christian businesses when possible that he's an idiot for considering factors beyond price and quality of goods?

If, say, the devout christian chooses to no longer patronize a store because new ownership is decidedly non-christian and NOTHING else has changed, yes, I call that absurd.

 

[WaltStarr]

No I understand capitalism very well, thank you.

I do not, however, understand the absurdity that is presented here simply because the name on the title of ownership has changed.

Nothing else has changed here.

Maybe it will, time will tell. And maybe then I'll have a change of opinion. But, until then, it is still the same products, people, and services as were there pre-buyout.

I contend it is NOT the same. Everything changed the moment ownership changed and they lost my business as a consequence of that major change.

If, say, the devout christian chooses to no longer patronize a store because new ownership is decidedly non-christian and NOTHING else has changed, yes, I call that absurd.

The only absurdity is dismissing anybody's reasons for the choices they make.

 

[cjones]

Homebrew stuff out of Boise Idaho might be another good resource

 

[bob1852]

I contend it is NOT the same. Everything changed the moment ownership changed and they lost my business as a consequence of that major change.

Has ownership changed? It's my understanding that the terms of the agreement were not released...

 

[VApatriot]

If, say, the devout christian chooses to no longer patronize a store because new ownership is decidedly non-christian and NOTHING else has changed, yes, I call that absurd.

Isn't it nice to live in a country where people can support any business that they choose to, even if others thinks that personal choice is absurd?

Dude, here's the thing, obviously everyone has their own opinion. Some of the members here have been sharing theirs regarding NB/Midwest's new ownership. From what I've read on this thread, no one is suggesting that you, or anyone else not buy stuff from NB/Midwest. When it comes right down to it, it's your choice, it's your money. Regardless of whether you earned it, or got it as a hand out from the government. No one, but no one, really cares where you spend your money. Why should you care where anyone else spends theirs?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Isn't it nice to live in a country where people can support any business that they choose to, even if others thinks that personal choice is absurd?

Dude, here's the thing, obviously everyone has their own opinion. Some of the members here have been sharing theirs regarding NB/Midwest's new ownership. From what I've read on this thread, no one is suggesting that you, or anyone else not buy stuff from NB/Midwest. When it comes right down to it, it's your choice, it's your money. Regardless of whether you earned it, or got it as a hand out from the government. No one, but no one, really cares where you spend your money. Why should you care where anyone else spends theirs?

Ahhh, I see it now. It is okay to have an opinion, just so long as it conforms with the majority. Merica! **** yeah.

I for one, will continue to view taking pride in potentially forcing thousands of Americans into unemployment, for THIS reason, as absurd.

 

[Le_Ace_Club]

I contend it is NOT the same. Everything changed the moment ownership changed and they lost my business as a consequence of that major change.

So you no longer purchase/enjoy Goose Island, Lagunitas, or Ballast Point beers?

All this talk seems like one big exercise in cutting off one's nose to spite one's face.

 

[WaltStarr]

So you no longer purchase/enjoy Goose Island, Lagunitas, or Ballast Point beers?

All this talk seems like one big exercise in cutting off one's nose to spite one's face.

Nope. I drank Goose Island products years ago, and spent much time in the restaurant/lounge at the brewery, but stopped as soon as they sold out.

Was never into Lagunitas or Ballast Point.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

So you no longer purchase/enjoy Goose Island, Lagunitas, or Ballast Point beers?

All this talk seems like one big exercise in cutting off one's nose to spite one's face.

Don't you see? It's one thing to buy chinese manufactured equipment and imported malts/hops so long as it's an American company selling it. Because, you know, all that money stays American.

 

[bob1852]

Nope. I drank Goose Island products years ago, and spent much time in the restaurant/lounge at the brewery, but stopped as soon as they sold out.

Was never into Lagunitas or Ballast Point.

Did you shop at Northern Brewer after they "sold out" the first time? Or did you wait until this time?

 

[Le_Ace_Club]

Don't you see? It's one thing to buy chinese manufactured equipment and imported malts/hops so long as it's an American company selling it. Because, you know, all that money stays American.

Ah, so the illusion of independence is required so as to maintain the ability to act superior to those who drink "swill"/are not homebrewers. Gotcha.

Funny thing, Goose Island, Lagunitas, and Ballast Point beers still taste good.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Funny thing, Goose Island, Lagunitas, and Ballast Point beers still taste good.

Aren't those breweries still run by the very people who founded them?

 

[Le_Ace_Club]

Aren't those breweries still run by the very people who founded them?

Yes, but their souls have been removed due to the buyouts.

 

[jim4529]

You're assuming those employees won't lose their jobs precisely BECAUSE they've been bought by a conglomerate. Besides, this takeover is not good for the industry, just a grab by a big, overseas corporation IMHO.

 

[ImNoExpert]

Ahhh, I see it now. It is okay to have an opinion, just so long as it conforms with the majority. Merica! **** yeah.

I for one, will continue to view taking pride in potentially forcing thousands of Americans into unemployment, for THIS reason, as absurd.

When a president loses an election his 100s of not 1000s of his staff and appointees lose their jobs as a result. Do you always vote for the incumbent?

 

[Le_Ace_Club]

You're assuming those employees won't lose their jobs precisely BECAUSE they've been bought by a conglomerate. Besides, this takeover is not good for the industry, just a grab by a big, overseas corporation IMHO.

And why isn't the takeover good for the industry?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

When a president loses an election his 100s of not 1000s of his staff and appointees lose their jobs as a result. Do you always vote for the incumbent?

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

Do you always compare Palm Trees to Porcupines?

 

[WaltStarr]

Did you shop at Northern Brewer after they "sold out" the first time? Or did you wait until this time?

Northern Brewer never "sold out" before now.

They did acquire Midwestern, though, but Farley has never sold the company out before.

 

[biochemedic]

You might be talking about Stubby's Texas Brewing Inc. Not sure. I shop there in person (so I've never ordered online) but they have just about everything you could want. Extremely knowledgeable as well.

https://www.txbrewing.com/

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.

 

[bob1852]

Northern Brewer never "sold out" before now.

They did acquire Midwestern, though, but Farley has never sold the company out before.

Is Farley still the President and CEO? Yes or No?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

And why isn't the takeover good for the industry?

I'll agree it has the potential to be bad. I just think it's better to wait on throwing out the baby until you know it's **** the bathwater.

 

[WaltStarr]

Is Farley still the President and CEO? Yes or No?

Doesn't matter one bit to me. ABInBev owns them, ergo, they get zero business from me ever again.