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The whiskey consolidation isn't really comparable. Most of the holding companies are just that, and have gone out of their way to not disturb the quality distil
by xorcist 9y ago
The whiskey consolidation isn't really comparable. Most of the holding companies are just that, and have gone out of their way to not disturb the quality distilleries keep. They can even be keen to spend on improving it. Whiskey is a luxury market in that regard.
That has not been the case with brewery consolidation, which has mostly aimed to cheapen production. The reactions from enthusiasts reflects that.
- hinkley 9y agoDisnt one of the Japanese holding companies restart a closed distillery on Islay?
- BrentOzar 9y agoDiageo (British) is reopening Port Ellen and Brora.
- golergka 9y agoBut it's a direct reaction to the market. Whisky (and whiskey, but IMO, to a lesser extent) is a luxury market because people are willing to pay for the quality. I'm confident that if people would be equally willing for craft beer quality, these companies would behave similarly, too.
- kevinmchugh 9y agothere's a booming market for sour beers, which typically sell for $20-30/750ml, and terroir is a major factor. ABInBev has resisted going after those breweries because they're very difficult to scale and risk is very high. Goose Island's sour program was essentially defunct for several years at one point. Wine is the more apt comparison, since sour beer and wine operate on similar time scales.