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The problem with beer consolidation is what "regulating quality" at scale entails. Consistent quality in gigantic batches often translates to lower quality beer

The problem with beer consolidation is what "regulating quality" at scale entails. Consistent quality in gigantic batches often translates to lower quality beer than pre-acquisition. Maybe it's just not possible to scale every recipe to nationwide distribution, but if that's the case it still means a small brewery's acquisition and subsequent scaling to national levels generally means the taste you were used to is gone for good. Case in point, Magic Hat. The beers are entirely different since acquisition by NAB, and terrible. There are nationally available independent breweries that make quality beer - Oskar Blues comes to mind. They scaled without selling, and I have no doubt NAB or ABI would have absolutely destroyed the recipes in their own scaling process.

tptacek 9y ago
But a case in the other direction is Three Floyds, which is independent but scaling and suffering major quality problems. You can lament your favorite beers attempting to scale production at all, and that's an understandable feeling to have, but it's ultimately no more reasonable a demand than that your favorite band continue playing your favorite tiny local club. The sibling commenter here said something I believe as well, which is that in the US market at least, every acquisition is just going to make room for a new independent.
- mustacheemperor 9y ago
  This is true, but separate from the real problem at hand. I can't lament the general natural patterns of new markets maturing, but I can lament ABI being the one to buy these breweries when they're trying to cover for the dramatic quality loss by buying review websites.
bjacokes 9y ago
Another acquisition model is what Goose Island did when they sold to ABI. As I understand it, they outsourced production of their less differentiated offerings like Honkers Ale and 312, but continue to run their brewpub and make their Bourbon County Stout and Belgian beers like Matilda and Sofie. You see this in some other industries, where a company will spin off or sell businesses that aren't its "secret sauce".
- kevinmchugh 9y ago
  The brewpub was not part of the sale - ABI couldn't legally own a brewpub. There remains a mostly-independent, somewhat expanded brewing operation in Chicago. They've experienced quite a bit of turnover since the buyout, with many of the experienced brewers going on to start their own breweries.
  - ml10 9y ago
    The brewpub was not part of the original sale, but the owner sold it to ABI in Feb of 2016: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/news/ct-goose-island-sells-original-brewpub-to-anheuserbusch-20160219-story.html http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/news/ct-goose...

tptacek 9y ago

But a case in the other direction is Three Floyds, which is independent but scaling and suffering major quality problems. You can lament your favorite beers attempting to scale production at all, and that's an understandable feeling to have, but it's ultimately no more reasonable a demand than that your favorite band continue playing your favorite tiny local club. The sibling commenter here said something I believe as well, which is that in the US market at least, every acquisition is just going to make room for a new independent.

mustacheemperor 9y ago
This is true, but separate from the real problem at hand. I can't lament the general natural patterns of new markets maturing, but I can lament ABI being the one to buy these breweries when they're trying to cover for the dramatic quality loss by buying review websites.

bjacokes 9y ago

Another acquisition model is what Goose Island did when they sold to ABI. As I understand it, they outsourced production of their less differentiated offerings like Honkers Ale and 312, but continue to run their brewpub and make their Bourbon County Stout and Belgian beers like Matilda and Sofie. You see this in some other industries, where a company will spin off or sell businesses that aren't its "secret sauce".

kevinmchugh 9y ago
The brewpub was not part of the sale - ABI couldn't legally own a brewpub. There remains a mostly-independent, somewhat expanded brewing operation in Chicago. They've experienced quite a bit of turnover since the buyout, with many of the experienced brewers going on to start their own breweries.
- ml10 9y ago
  The brewpub was not part of the original sale, but the owner sold it to ABI in Feb of 2016: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/news/ct-goose-island-sells-original-brewpub-to-anheuserbusch-20160219-story.html http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/news/ct-goose...