Some big news to share with you guys... https://t.co/nNG86KzWBF #jiminychristmas
— 10 Barrel Brewing (@10BarrelBrewing) November 5, 2014
Update. As this story develops, it's worth following Twitter to see the reactions. 10 Barrel is saying "trust us," but that mainly seems to be sowing more mistrust (though 10 Barrel has their supporters). Comments on the Facebook announcement make for similarly interesting reading.
Further update. The AB press release.
ST. LOUIS and BEND, Ore. (November 5, 2014) – Anheuser-Busch today announced it has agreed to purchase 10 Barrel Brewing Company, located in Bend, Ore. One of the country’s fastest-growing and most innovative breweries, 10 Barrel was one of only four U.S. breweries to win three medals and tied for most medals won at this year’s Great American Beer Festival, the largest beer competition in the world.
I feel as if I just lost a part of my soul.
ReplyDeleteI don't really get the outrage. Goose Island seems to be doing just fantastic and they've been owned for a few years. If it helps 10 Barrel grow, great for them.
ReplyDeleteAlso the comments in the facebook post kind of make me want to vomit. Talk about self centered and ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI never get this hand wringing, it's almost as though some people think the ways of the free market don't apply to the craft beer world.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people were saying there would be significant acquisitions this year. This definitely qualifies. Big beer is losing share and needs craft partners. I'm guessing 10 Barrel will continue to operate much as it has in Oregon. But some of the most popular 10 Barrel beers are going to wind up being brewed in remote factory breweries. That's what AB has done with Goose Island and I think those beers have suffered. If you're okay with that as part of growing the brand presence and making more money, this deal is great. If you think otherwise, you may not be quite so happy.
ReplyDeleteThat's fair Pete. I never particularly cared for the regular Goose Island lineup anyway so them getting brewed elsewhere didn't mean much to me. It's possible 10 Barrel is small enough that it won't happen to them for a while though.
ReplyDeleteIt's mostly emotional responses due to the nature of beer. You don't see this kind of uproar when Google or Apple buy out smaller and more innovative tech firms. In fact, people still line up to buy their products when they are released.
ReplyDeleteJust to be clear, I'm not saying it's a positive or negative, just trying to spin it in another light. Anybody who ever spent more than 10 minutes with the Cox brothers knew they had an affinity for light lagers and good relationships with that industry.
ReplyDeleteLots of other fish in the sea. By the way - and it's not sour grapes - I never cared for Goose Island's beers either. (If I did, I'd be just as happy to buy them under AB-InBev ownership as any other).
ReplyDeleteNot familiar with 10 Barrel's.
Gary
Good thoughts all around. I hope to have an analysis piece up at All About Beer later today.
ReplyDeleteWhen your a growing company (especially fast growing) sometimes the only way to manage that growth and control things is with a large influx of cash or access to the bigger boys toys. That's not always a bad thing
ReplyDelete"You don't see this kind of uproar when Google or Apple buy out smaller and more innovative tech firms."
ReplyDeleteAnd yet it was all you heard of Microsoft in the 90s. The feat Apple and Google pulled off was getting people to believe in their progressive libertarian nice-guys mythology.
It's all BS, of course. The end game of capitalism is a guy sitting on a throne with 8 billion servants.
now they can serve Bud at their brew pubs
ReplyDelete