Comments on: When is a Brewery No Longer Craft? http://truecask.com/2009/08/when-is-a-brewery-no-longer-craft/ Drink Real Beer Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:08:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rob Trent http://truecask.com/2009/08/when-is-a-brewery-no-longer-craft/comment-page-1/#comment-136 Rob Trent Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:05:58 +0000 http://truecask.com/?p=230#comment-136 Sadly, I feel that this transaction will have a negative impact on craft beer choices here in the BC Interior. Still a long ways behind the coast, many small town and rural liquor stores and bars have a very limited craft beer offering. With Molson's marketing money, these establishments can now be made to feel more complete by making their craft beer tap or their (limited) craft beer shelf in the cooler dedicated to GIB instead of the limited selections already offered. It's already disheartening to go to places like Williams Lake or Quesnel and have to choose between Molson, Coors Light and three Rickard's beers in every bar in town. I relate it to the opening of a Walmart in a small town. You ever see what happened to Maple Park Mall in Quesnel after Walmart opened? AB is attempting this in the US too with their Shock Top, Bud Light Wheat etc. A friend recently returned from a trip to Wyoming and Utah and expressed the same concerns after his usual small town watering holes were now void of the very few craft offering and replaced with some funky, well marketed "craft beer" from Anheiser Busch. That's my opinion from the highways of the BC Interior. I hope I'm wrong, because my trips up north are depressing enough already. Sadly, I feel that this transaction will have a negative impact on craft beer choices here in the BC Interior. Still a long ways behind the coast, many small town and rural liquor stores and bars have a very limited craft beer offering. With Molson’s marketing money, these establishments can now be made to feel more complete by making their craft beer tap or their (limited) craft beer shelf in the cooler dedicated to GIB instead of the limited selections already offered. It’s already disheartening to go to places like Williams Lake or Quesnel and have to choose between Molson, Coors Light and three Rickard’s beers in every bar in town. I relate it to the opening of a Walmart in a small town. You ever see what happened to Maple Park Mall in Quesnel after Walmart opened?

AB is attempting this in the US too with their Shock Top, Bud Light Wheat etc. A friend recently returned from a trip to Wyoming and Utah and expressed the same concerns after his usual small town watering holes were now void of the very few craft offering and replaced with some funky, well marketed “craft beer” from Anheiser Busch.

That’s my opinion from the highways of the BC Interior. I hope I’m wrong, because my trips up north are depressing enough already.

]]> By: Andy The Beerman http://truecask.com/2009/08/when-is-a-brewery-no-longer-craft/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Andy The Beerman Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:14:56 +0000 http://truecask.com/?p=230#comment-27 I know the Brewers Association in the US has very clear guidelines for what is Craft, Micro, etc. I don't know if Canada has any of the same designations. I will admit it can be tricky for a brewery as it grows to maintain the same craft 'feel'. Stone Brewing has done a very good job of walking that fence down in my old neighbourhood. It's a difficult task. Is Sierra Nevada still a craft beer? They have massive national and international distribution, as does Stone, Rogue, Pyramid, Dogfish Head and countless others. I guess the real issue is whether the quality of the beer is still where it should be. GIB may produce pedestrian brews (IMO), but has the quality of those beers changed with their growth? Are they still dedicated to brewing the best beer they can? As long as they aren't cutting corners and using adjuncts to increase profit margin, I would say they are still craft. I know the Brewers Association in the US has very clear guidelines for what is Craft, Micro, etc. I don’t know if Canada has any of the same designations.

I will admit it can be tricky for a brewery as it grows to maintain the same craft ‘feel’. Stone Brewing has done a very good job of walking that fence down in my old neighbourhood. It’s a difficult task. Is Sierra Nevada still a craft beer? They have massive national and international distribution, as does Stone, Rogue, Pyramid, Dogfish Head and countless others.

I guess the real issue is whether the quality of the beer is still where it should be. GIB may produce pedestrian brews (IMO), but has the quality of those beers changed with their growth? Are they still dedicated to brewing the best beer they can? As long as they aren’t cutting corners and using adjuncts to increase profit margin, I would say they are still craft.

]]> By: Phil http://truecask.com/2009/08/when-is-a-brewery-no-longer-craft/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Phil Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:27:21 +0000 http://truecask.com/?p=230#comment-23 I love the Granville island brews. Go for a tasting at the roundhouse each time in Vancity. I have not had a Sleeman in years. Sleeman is so big, they even distribute Tecate in Canada. Tahat is why Ilike a beer like Steamwhistle. They are building a great brewery by building loyalty for one beer. I love the Granville island brews. Go for a tasting at the roundhouse each time in Vancity. I have not had a Sleeman in years. Sleeman is so big, they even distribute Tecate in Canada.

Tahat is why Ilike a beer like Steamwhistle. They are building a great brewery by building loyalty for one beer.

]]> By: ilikemybeers http://truecask.com/2009/08/when-is-a-brewery-no-longer-craft/comment-page-1/#comment-10 ilikemybeers Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:27:03 +0000 http://truecask.com/?p=230#comment-10 Agree with your thoughts of GIB. Limited Release brews are up there. Even with Sleeman, I quite like their Porter as a session beer, when it's cold! Agree with your thoughts of GIB. Limited Release brews are up there. Even with Sleeman, I quite like their Porter as a session beer, when it’s cold!

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