Goose island

[ajlewis13]

Interesting interview on the session...not quite sure i agree with J's stance. I probably won't buy Goose Island ever again, it's not about quality...I just can't justify givning ab my money.

[Sparge Pervert]

Why's that then?

They make some awesome beers, why stop drinknig them if the quality and creativity continues?

[captain carrot]

If GI's brewery leaves Chicago they are dead to me.

[ajlewis13]

Call me a hater (especially when it comes to ab) but i prefer to give my money to the smaller guy...and i definitely dont want to feel like i'm contributing to any of the their douchebag bud lite commercials

[CRBrewHound]

I agree with some of the statements stated here. It really is a two sided sword with this stuff. The large beer companies have done a lot for the brewing industry. However, this is not intentional on there part, it is a byproduct of them getting what they want.

The thing that really scares me about AB+Miller-coors is that they control 90% of the market, which is not enough for them. They want to have 100% of the share, and now that good beer is here to stay and they can't stop it, then there solution to gain 100% of the share back is to buy all the larger craft breweries. They will then use these craft breweries to push out smaller craft brewers from the market place through pricing, advertising, shelf space, and availiability. Which still hurts beer in general as they want to kill off all competition. Now, can you blame them for this, no, not really. For I think we would all do the same thing if we could, if you had a chance to make a change that increased you income from 1 million to 5 million most of us would take that deal, even if it meant cutting our competition from the market place entirely and driving them to bankrupsy.

So, I will not purchase Goose Island again even when in a bar drinking. It is not because goose island is not good beer. It is because I love craft beer and want to see the market place evolve even more and more good brewery startups taking off. I vote with my dollars and my vote is to support the craft beer industry and craft beer and the varity I am starting to see on my store shelves. I do not want to go back to the dark ages where there are 6 brands of beer at my local retailer.

So, I guss I have said my piece on the topic, and think that everyone should evalutate what you beleive to be true of the big beer brands, and then do as I do vote with your dollars, I am not saying vote my way, I am saying use your dollar to vote for what you belive in. If you beleive that Goose Island will further the craft beer industry, then ensure that you continue to purchase their products when you can, if it is the other way like me, then don't, even if it means giving up a brand you really enjoy.

[ajlewis13]

It makes brands like Samuel Adams, Sierra Nevada, and New Belgium seem even more impressive for being able to reach their current level on their own

[barleydog]

I agree with some of what J said about the quality of the beer and I don't expect it to change. But I am most likely done with GI because of this. AB has done far too much already to push breweries out of the market. They are a marketing machine where the bottom line out weighs the product. I have incredible respect for the breweries who have grown and not sold to the corporate monster. At they end of the day I love craft and home brewed beer and I will continue to support the local guys who are fighting for that sliver of shelf space at the end of the isle after the 500 different ways AB, miller-Coors have found to package the same crap in different packages. Just my take on it.

[bikefoolery]

I'll rant for a moment. I remember seeing news article following about a year after the the AB-InBev merger that showed a layoff of 1400 workers from the St Louis headquarters. Mostly business folks, but still people that had prior to the merger.

Did the beer change? No.

Did my perception of the brand change? Yes.

What had been Red, White, and Blue was now Multi-National Corporate.

I was surprised at Justin's acceptance about how it was a good thing, given his support of slow food, local craft beer and things organic. Knowing your butcher/grower, and knowing who is going to profit from the money you spend. It was to the point that I wonder if it was a paid advertisement.

The sad fact about economies of scale and Enterprise Architecture Planning (the process of making giant behemoths efficient/more competitive) means that unless the Chicago brewery is the most efficient, production will eventually get moved. Responsibility to shareholders will demand it. Doesn't mean it will happen next year, but somewhere in the next 10 years. It's common for owners of the company that was acquired to be under contract for promotion and business continuity reasons for a year or 2 after the deal is signed.

Goose Island makes fantastic beers. I was back in Chicagoland for Xmas. 'A Mild Winter,' 'Honkers Ale,' and 'Matilda' were exceptional. I could only hope that one day they are the AB-InBev flagship.

The fool.