Comments on: The Case Against Carrying Every Craft Beer In Your Local Store… http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/ Dedicated to the art, complexity, and business of beer... Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:23:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Andy http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/comment-page-1/#comment-550 Andy Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:42:44 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/#comment-550 Hi Dave- An excellent note that illustrates my greater point, namely that breweries, for reasons beyond my full appreciation, often prefer to send beer far from home rather than trying to sell it locally. And I can tell you that here in Boston, we get the full line of Lagunitas products and special releases and I can think of at least a half-dozen bars within a mile or two of where I live that have at least one on tap (and rotate them at that). Sure the beer seems to sell so good for Lagunitas, but with self-distribution an option in California, perhaps more money could be made closer to home. Cheers, Andy Hi Dave-

An excellent note that illustrates my greater point, namely that breweries, for reasons beyond my full appreciation, often prefer to send beer far from home rather than trying to sell it locally. And I can tell you that here in Boston, we get the full line of Lagunitas products and special releases and I can think of at least a half-dozen bars within a mile or two of where I live that have at least one on tap (and rotate them at that). Sure the beer seems to sell so good for Lagunitas, but with self-distribution an option in California, perhaps more money could be made closer to home.

Cheers,

Andy

]]> By: dave http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/comment-page-1/#comment-549 dave Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:31:25 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/#comment-549 Well, I'm near Fresno, CA, a fairly large city, less than 200 miles from Petaluma, and it sure pisses me off when i read about someone getting Hop Stoopid or some other Great Lagunitas release in boondocks North Carolina or some other 3000 mile away place, when we can barely get the regular stuff here. So yeah, concentrate on the more local, and least better saturation of the state or something! Lagunitas is hardly the only CA brewery that we have trouble getting that seems to love to send their stuff thousands of miles away... dave Well, I’m near Fresno, CA, a fairly large city, less than 200 miles from Petaluma, and it sure pisses me off when i read about someone getting Hop Stoopid or some other Great Lagunitas release in boondocks North Carolina or some other 3000 mile away place, when we can barely get the regular stuff here. So yeah, concentrate on the more local, and least better saturation of the state or something!
Lagunitas is hardly the only CA brewery that we have trouble getting that seems to love to send their stuff thousands of miles away…
dave

]]> By: Andy http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/comment-page-1/#comment-548 Andy Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:44:54 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/#comment-548 Hi Steve- I certainly get why craft beer drinkers in the less covered areas of the country would balk at what I'm suggesting and my point is actually not directed to these situations, at least not yet. If a market is generally open and uncluttered when it comes to brands, it might make sense to compete there. Less so when you look at the store shelves in Boston, Philly, NYC, DC, or even places such as Tampa. Best, Andy Hi Steve-

I certainly get why craft beer drinkers in the less covered areas of the country would balk at what I’m suggesting and my point is actually not directed to these situations, at least not yet. If a market is generally open and uncluttered when it comes to brands, it might make sense to compete there. Less so when you look at the store shelves in Boston, Philly, NYC, DC, or even places such as Tampa.

Best,

Andy

]]> By: Steve http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/comment-page-1/#comment-547 Steve Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:38:56 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/#comment-547 I second Derrick's opinion. If only left with local/regional choices, we would have 5, maybe 10 breweries available in central Iowa. That would mean a few things: 1)more shelf space to BMC and imports, 2)less diversity of styles and 3)less competition in quality. We don't have a thriving beer culture here; we rely on beer from far far away. I second Derrick’s opinion. If only left with local/regional choices, we would have 5, maybe 10 breweries available in central Iowa. That would mean a few things: 1)more shelf space to BMC and imports, 2)less diversity of styles and 3)less competition in quality. We don’t have a thriving beer culture here; we rely on beer from far far away.

]]> By: Derrick http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/comment-page-1/#comment-546 Derrick Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:45:30 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/#comment-546 Haven't seen Boulevard out here in California, with the one exception of finding their Nutcracker Winter Seasonal Ale at a 7-11 in Carlsbad of all places last March. (I also found Alesmith Pale Ale and IPA at this 7-11, just going in looking to get a diet Coke.) Would you believe I'm actually travelling to visit Boulevard's brewery in KC this October? Haven’t seen Boulevard out here in California, with the one exception of finding their Nutcracker Winter Seasonal Ale at a 7-11 in Carlsbad of all places last March. (I also found Alesmith Pale Ale and IPA at this 7-11, just going in looking to get a diet Coke.) Would you believe I’m actually travelling to visit Boulevard’s brewery in KC this October?

]]> By: Andy http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/comment-page-1/#comment-540 Andy Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:33:13 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/#comment-540 Hi Jeff- Hadn't heard that and can't seem to confirm it through the company's website or a quick google search. Got a link? Hi Jeff-

Hadn’t heard that and can’t seem to confirm it through the company’s website or a quick google search. Got a link?

]]> By: Jeff http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/comment-page-1/#comment-539 Jeff Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:22:28 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/#comment-539 Except Boulevard now ships to California... Except Boulevard now ships to California…

]]> By: Jeff http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/comment-page-1/#comment-538 Jeff Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:20:48 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/#comment-538 Except....Boulevard ships now to California. Breweries need to stay in business. They are like any other business; they sell to more than one market. I'm glad to see new breweries here in Missouri - local and from elsewhere - and I'd like to see more. I've never had a stale beer. The beer can't even stay on the shelf long enough to go bad. Avery? Gone. Founders? Gone. Bear Republic? Gone. People buy their beer as soon as it comes in. And I'd love for Upstream to come down here too. It's a good conversation here...but I really don't see any issues with many of these folks looking to sell their beers in other markets. Except….Boulevard ships now to California. Breweries need to stay in business. They are like any other business; they sell to more than one market. I’m glad to see new breweries here in Missouri – local and from elsewhere – and I’d like to see more. I’ve never had a stale beer. The beer can’t even stay on the shelf long enough to go bad. Avery? Gone. Founders? Gone. Bear Republic? Gone. People buy their beer as soon as it comes in.
And I’d love for Upstream to come down here too.
It’s a good conversation here…but I really don’t see any issues with many of these folks looking to sell their beers in other markets.

]]> By: Andy http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/comment-page-1/#comment-537 Andy Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:43:10 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/#comment-537 Our friend in Nebraska is going to enjoy the great sour beers produced by Upstream in Omaha or drink as much New Belgium or Boulevard as they like (two breweries long dedicated to regionalism, especially the latter)... Our friend in Nebraska is going to enjoy the great sour beers produced by Upstream in Omaha or drink as much New Belgium or Boulevard as they like (two breweries long dedicated to regionalism, especially the latter)…

]]> By: Derrick http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/comment-page-1/#comment-536 Derrick Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:23:04 +0000 http://www.beerscribe.com/2009/07/13/the-case-against-carrying-every-craft-beer-in-your-local-store/#comment-536 Points taken on the hazard of over expansion, and the risks breweries take when they lose control of their product. >And if that doesn't work for you, try travel. Hmmm....I could go down to my local Beverages and More and risk a few bucks on something from a distant brewery, and every now and then, get a stale one. Or I could spend thousands of dollars flying all over the country to get fresh beer at local breweries. How many consumers to do you realistically expect to prefer the latter? Easy to say support your local breweries in places like Boston, or out here in California, where there are plenty of breweries to choose from. What's the guy in Nebraska going to do? Points taken on the hazard of over expansion, and the risks breweries take when they lose control of their product.

>And if that doesn’t work for you, try travel.

Hmmm….I could go down to my local Beverages and More and risk a few bucks on something from a distant brewery, and every now and then, get a stale one. Or I could spend thousands of dollars flying all over the country to get fresh beer at local breweries. How many consumers to do you realistically expect to prefer the latter?

Easy to say support your local breweries in places like Boston, or out here in California, where there are plenty of breweries to choose from. What’s the guy in Nebraska going to do?

]]>