The TEXAS thread!

[boogercrack]

Can't say I'm surprised. Always figured that Karbach would sell out to InBev or MillerCoors at some point.

Always seemed to me that their entire business model from their startup investors was to grow rapidly, get bought, roll in the dough.

Congrats to them.

 

[Phischy1]

No ***** given, I work close to Karbach and rarely walk in. About as average as they come and I'd rather drive over the Brash.

 

[SirDickButts]

Congrats! Those guys know their business. Everyone has a price...and wow, it only took them 5 years. That said...the only beer I liked from them was Roll in the hay...

 

[maca1028]

Congrats! Those guys know their business. Everyone has a price...and wow, it only took them 5 years. That said...the only beer I liked from them was Roll in the hay...

LMAO at your avatar, Atlanta is such an awesome show...oh yea, beer.

 

[SirDickButts]

Suck for the Karbach employees who have the craft beer philosophy. Just heard they found out about this today.

 

[Lutter]

Congrats! Those guys know their business. Everyone has a price...and wow, it only took them 5 years. That said...the only beer I liked from them was Roll in the hay...

BBHV

BBH w/ Cherries

I also buy Hopadillo a lot. It's not the best, but it's always around just about anywhere. These guys already have amazing distro channels and it's literally hard to find product over 2 weeks old in Austin.

*shrug*

 

[ckowalski]

Yea, I like a lot of the beers Karbach puts out so I'm pretty bummed about this.

 

[IndianaJones]

But where dat cherry BBH at? I bet some AB rep was like "cherries? BA porters? No we seen this **** with Goose Island already"

 

[Hookemhops13]

Ya... I'm still gonna buy some of that Cherry BBH. Been looking forward to that.

 

[jbeezification1]

Suck for the Karbach employees who have the craft beer philosophy. Just heard they found out about this today.

Does it suck for them? I keep seeing this on Facebook too. Are they getting fired? What's the deal?

 

[Lutter]

Does it suck for them? I keep seeing this on Facebook too. Are they getting fired? What's the deal?

They're having trouble figuring out what boat to buy with their huge payout and how to properly use the amazing resources they have at their fingertips now.

... ... honestly how anyone gives a **** how someone else runs their business is beyond me. This "craft beer" mentality needs to die already. Who cares as long as there's good beer?

 

[wolfman1201]

Who cares as long as there's good beer?

Agree. That is the main issue IMO. I'm not crazy about Karbach beers anyway, but a few are good. Lets see how consistently well they can make beer at such a large scale. I feel a beer like Hopadillo will suffer when they upsize to 150k+ barrels.

 

[Lutter]

Agree. That is the main issue IMO. I'm not crazy about Karbach beers anyway, but a few are good. Lets see how consistently well they can make beer at such a large scale. I feel a beer like Hopadillo will suffer when they upsize to 150k+ barrels.

 

[Phischy1]

They're having trouble figuring out what boat to buy with their huge payout and how to properly use the amazing resources they have at their fingertips now.

... ... honestly how anyone gives a **** how someone else runs their business is beyond me. This "craft beer" mentality needs to die already. Who cares as long as there's good beer?

Because Inbev is using these buyouts to squeeze the "good beer" out of the market off shelves and out of bars.

 

[Lutter]

Because Inbev is using these buyouts to squeeze the "good beer" out of the market off shelves and out of bars.

I have never have experienced added pressure from our Bud distro (Brown) in Austin to carry more Goose Island, if that's a good example. In fact they're probably the easiest people to work with in town.

But **** me. There's enough beer places that self distro in Austin going on (and smaller distributors) that they really don't have leverage.

But **** me, I guess?

 

[jbeezification1]

I have never have experienced added pressure from our Bud distro (Brown) in Austin to carry more Goose Island, if that's a good example. In fact they're probably the easiest people to work with in town.

But **** me. There's enough beer places that self distro in Austin going on (and smaller distributors) that they really don't have leverage.

But **** me, I guess?

In?!?

But this whole **** is ridiculous. Make good beer and people should be happy, but then you realize this is 2016 and people will literally complain about anything. I'll still drink Weiss Versa and fresh Hop Delusion and BBH. I don't feel slightly betrayed or sad or any other negative adjective people keep using on social media to describe this.

 

[IndianaJones]

But **** me

One of those sentences that is really more becoming when typed than said aloud

 

[jbeezification1]

Because Inbev is using these buyouts to squeeze the "good beer" out of the market off shelves and out of bars.

If that's their intention then they suck at it. I rarely see Goose Island on shelves where I shop. Obviously it's at gas stations but so are Karbach and Saint Arnold.

 

[Phischy1]

I've heard different from my friends who own breweries. To each their own.

 

[thejukes]

I think more than shelf space, the issue with macro buyouts is that InBev et al. use their legal clout to push for legislation that is harmful to craft beer.

Not sure why they can't just be happy with their 95% market share.

 

[Lutter]

One of those sentences that is really more becoming when typed than said aloud

You gotta read it in Jonah Hill's voice in your head.

 

[SirDickButts]

I have never have experienced added pressure from our Bud distro (Brown) in Austin.....

not yet. ever heard of the phrase "death by a thousand paper cuts?"
one small cut at a time...you'll eventually bleed them dry.
that said, i respect the game and understand both sides of the argument.

 

[SirDickButts]

Does it suck for them? I keep seeing this on Facebook too. Are they getting fired? What's the deal?

i just saw this reply. thejukes nailed it in a nut shell.
it sucks for those workers who carry the "craft beer" philosophy because....
they now work for a brewery who takes part in lobbying oppressive red tape within the beer market.
the laws here suck, as we all know...and we are slowly gaining ground.
but when you have badass breweries coming in from outta state slanging bangers off local shelves..
the local breweries here need all the creative/legal freedom they can get to compete with the competition.
i would love to own a nanobrewpub w/ a 5bbl brewhouse in Houston.
but there's no way i could survive (get out the red) under these laws here.

 

[reverseapachemaster1]

I have never have experienced added pressure from our Bud distro (Brown) in Austin to carry more Goose Island, if that's a good example. In fact they're probably the easiest people to work with in town.

But **** me. There's enough beer places that self distro in Austin going on (and smaller distributors) that they really don't have leverage.

But **** me, I guess?

High level distribution deals are really where the squeeze takes place. I can't speak for Austin because, as you point out, there is a lot of local self-distributing competition that's easily accessible. That's less true in Dallas where we are still several years behind Austin in our craft beer market. Here if you go into a big box grocer and look at the beer aisle you'll see around half of the craft space is all ABI or MillerCoors brands. Blue moon variants, NYFRB variants and Goose Island have kicked several breweries off the shelf or reduced them to one or two brands. Big players no longer think seriously about snuffing out craft beer or trying to compete head to head. There are enough people building breweries for buyout that they can simply wait for opportunities and expand their portfolio over time.

I am not a complete opponent to the buyouts but I recognize there is an effect on the craft beer market.

 

[Lutter]

NYFRB variants

Did we ever determine if these guys were secretly bought/funded by the Four Loko (?) guys?

They're everywhere!

FWIW: The Abita Bootlegger Rootbeer is a lot better (and made with actual sugar, not whatever junk they're putting in it [that I suspect is HFCS])

 

[nathanmiller]

FWIW: The Abita Bootlegger Rootbeer is a lot better (and made with actual sugar, not whatever junk they're putting in it [that I suspect is HFCS])

I ticked a bunch of hard root beers at a share a few months ago, and although the Bootlegger was better than the NYFRB, the Coney Island one was even better than that. Find you a can, you won't be disappointed.

Also, reverseapachemaster hit the nail on the head. Austin is one thing, but most of the country's major markets look more like Dallas. A few bottle shops with good stuff where the beer nerds know to look, and TONS of retail establishment with 50+% macro. Even in a city like NYC where we have incredible distro, I see exactly this most of the time.

 

[shelf_turd_ferguson]

No ***** given, I work close to Karbach and rarely walk in. About as average as they come and I'd rather drive over the Brash.

I'd like to see you drive over the Brash, those guys are stupid dickbags.

I also buy Hopadillo a lot. It's not the best, but it's always around just about anywhere. These guys already have amazing distro channels and it's literally hard to find product over 2 weeks old in Austin.

*shrug*

Wat? When I look for Karbach cans, about 3x a year to split up for extras, they are usually 3-8 weeks old.

 

[Lutter]

Wat? When I look for Karbach cans, about 3x a year to split up for extras, they are usually 3-8 weeks old.

Really? HEB seems to be on point with the stuff.

 

[awinkro]

I've been hesitant to post a reply regarding "it doesn't matter who makes the beer, as long as it's good," and more specifically Lutter 's post on the "craft beer mentality needs to die." Granted, I don't know you Lutter, so if this is you being sarcastic, my apologies.

Craft beer mentality is one focused on building a community through beer. It's not about the beer, it's the fact that we come together because of beer. There's a clear passion, hence this website which was born due to the previous one becoming the opposite of which their name implies. It's a life style choice that doesn't just center around the beer you drink, but also which restaurants you eat at to where you buy your groceries and many other facets of your daily life.

As others have mentioned, a concern is being overlooked/squeezed out by distributors, but the one that consumers typically don't see is the raw material side. This in particular with the SABMiller/ABI merger in Europe. Now, more than a 1/3 of every beer sold in Europe will be SAB/ABI beer. Which means as they grow bigger and bigger, that's less grain, less hops for the small guys...especially if the small guys can't buy enough for contracts. And if they can't set up contracts, their spot buys are even higher. Thankfully, due to the craft beer boom in the US, we've literally changed the hop growing industry. More and more acreage is being dedicated to aroma hops, instead of high alpha which was directed by macro brewers. As industry trends are indicating, growth seems to be directed towards smaller, hyper-local breweries/brewpubs, e.g. Portland. Which is exciting, but at that size, competitive pricing makes it difficult for those guys to succeed. Which is why I believe it is important to know who is making your beer.

But like the 40 Year Old Virgin, I tend to put beer on a pedestal.

 

[Lutter]

I've been hesitant to post a reply regarding "it doesn't matter who makes the beer, as long as it's good," and more specifically Lutter 's post on the "craft beer mentality needs to die." Granted, I don't know you Lutter, so if this is you being sarcastic, my apologies.

Craft beer mentality is one focused on building a community through beer. It's not about the beer, it's the fact that we come together because of beer. There's a clear passion, hence this website which was born due to the previous one becoming the opposite of which their name implies. It's a life style choice that doesn't just center around the beer you drink, but also which restaurants you eat at to where you buy your groceries and many other facets of your daily life.

As others have mentioned, a concern is being overlooked/squeezed out by distributors, but the one that consumers typically don't see is the raw material side. This in particular with the SABMiller/ABI merger in Europe. Now, more than a 1/3 of every beer sold in Europe will be SAB/ABI beer. Which means as they grow bigger and bigger, that's less grain, less hops for the small guys...especially if the small guys can't buy enough for contracts. And if they can't set up contracts, their spot buys are even higher. Thankfully, due to the craft beer boom in the US, we've literally changed the hop growing industry. More and more acreage is being dedicated to aroma hops, instead of high alpha which was directed by macro brewers. As industry trends are indicating, growth seems to be directed towards smaller, hyper-local breweries/brewpubs, e.g. Portland. Which is exciting, but at that size, competitive pricing makes it difficult for those guys to succeed. Which is why I believe it is important to know who is making your beer.

But like the 40 Year Old Virgin, I tend to put beer on a pedestal.

I just like rustling jimmies.

Also: craft beer still must die.

I just ******* hate that term so much. It's like nails on a chalkboard.

Beer. It's just beer. Independent Breweries and Conglomerates making 1 product. Calling it "craft" makes it seem insignificant. Even hipster.

Also: are ABinbevSABMiller really using that many specialty hops and grain? Last I checked they just used a fuckton of saaz, two row, and rice. Unless they're pulling an OPEC and controlling raw ingredients they aren't suddenly overnight selling more beer or using more than they were a year ago. Everything is just consolidated. Mickey Mouse or Colonel Sanders is on all their checks instead of Marvin the Martian.

I mean, these breweries they've been buying aren't even sniffing their farts in terms of magnitude of ingredients. I don't see the correlation (at least at the moment).