First, the news a few months back that our local Harpoon Brewery would be releasing a Belgian-style witbier to compete with the butt-kicking competitor from MillerCoors, the Blue Moon Belgian White. That beer is now starting to hit store shelves in the Boston area. Now, from across the country comes word that the Alaskan Brewing Company of Juneau is releasing its first new beer in two years. And you guessed it, the beer’s name: Alaskan White Ale. I didn’t see a lot of Blue Moon, or any other macro beer frankly, while traveling in Alaska last fall so I can’t say that this release is due to the success of Blue Moon. But I imagine the Summer Ale is also facing stiff competition in the brewery’s continental markets, especially as we recently learned of how tough things are for the Widmer Brothers and the Craft Brewers Alliance.
4 Responses to “Another Craft Brewer Response to Blue Moon Belgian White?”
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“…especially as we recently learned of how tough things are for the Widmer Brothers and the Craft Brewers Alliance.”
What’s going on with Widmer/CBA?
Hey Nate-
I’ve wanted to write more about the CBA and its woes but haven’t found the time yet. Until then, check out its recent earnings statement and this article detailing its substantial problems.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stl.....ily25.html
I always thought Leine’s Sunset Wheat was meant to be their version of Blue Moon.
Potter’s crackers are awesome.
This comment was originally posted on Madison Beer Review
I think Sunset Wheat is sort of like a wit, but it’s brewed (or constructed?) in a totally different way. It’s a lager for one thing, brewed with the same base recipe as honey weiss, then pasteurized, and then a flavor syrup is added. Blue Moon, as far as i know, actually uses coriander and orange peel as opposed to a syrup. Leinie’s uses a similar method for Berry Weiss and Summer Shandy.
I personally hate the Leinie’s syrup beers, but I actually thought the classic amber was alright. Defining craft beer as artistry is a tough criteria, and highly subjective. Some very good brewers (especially brew pub brewers and home brewers) make beers that seem to be brewed by going right down the BJCP guidelines either because of a lack of creativity ("well, we want an amber lager of tap, so we’ll brew whatever an amber lager is supposed to be") or in an attempt to win contests (because adherence to guidelines is how such contests are judged). If such beers are well made, with high quality ingredients and attention to detail, are they not craft beers?
This comment was originally posted on Madison Beer Review