Is Wicked Weed Selling Out?

[miko dawg]

Saw this on the Panthers board

 

http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2017/05/03/wicked-weed-enters-partnership-anheuser-busch/101239230/

 

How will this trend affect the Craft Brew Industry?

[therealmjl]

To answer your question- yes, they are selling out. Just like Lagunitas, Ballast Point, Terrapin, and countless others to be named in the future.

I don't blame them one bit. They created a brand that got bigger than they ever could have imagined and I can't fault them for wanting to make it more accessible to the masses. Soon, it will be on the shelf at Wal Mart right next to Goose Island (being somewhat sarcastic).

The good news is, that for every Wicked Weed sellout, there are a dozen start up craft beer shops to purchase from and support. It doesn't change the craft beer scene for me.

[cookinwithgas]

making something reasonably successful with a really cool name, and selling it to a multinational conglomerate mostly for said really cool name, is the New American Dream.

[miko dawg]

23 minutes ago, cookinwithgas said:

making something reasonably successful with a really cool name, and selling it to a multinational conglomerate mostly for said really cool name, is the New American Dream.

Nothing wrong with the fruits of your labor paying off. 

[therealmjl]

Yeah I ain't mad at them...it just doesn't effect me. I choose craft for the purpose of buying local and going to shops that don't even can yet.

[Khyber53]

They can rake in their millions, quietly jump ship in a few years and go off to set up a new brewpub/taproom somewhere and do it all over again.

Cheers to them and the whole craft brewing movement. Each time the big boys swallow one of these up, it gets some good beer out there to folks who haven't tried it before. It also makes a few brewers instantly wealthy, which eggs on other new brewers to get out there and make good brews that make people happy.

Most of your local brewers aren't going to become the next Sam Adams or Blue Moon, but that's really not the point of it. They want to be a part of their community and maybe show off a bit regionally or at national competitions. It sure is spectacular when one rockets up there, though.

 

[Khyber53]

And this might be of interest if you're in the Triad, or swinging through for a visit:

 

http://yesweekly.com/triad-craft-beer-guide/

[blackcat]

Good for them.  I find the backlash from fellow craft brewers to be ridiculous, like if Bud offered them millions, they wouldn't cash out.  

[toldozer]

1 hour ago, blackcat said:

Good for them.  I find the backlash from fellow craft brewers to be ridiculous, like if Bud offered them millions, they wouldn't cash out.  

900 million is what my friend said. I would laugh all the way to the bank with both middle fingers up.

[Doc Holiday]

North carolina brewing laws also limit breweries to how much they can produce without having to sell out, Noda, red oak and OBM are sueing the state I believe over this

[blackcat]

7 hours ago, Doc Holiday said:

North carolina brewing laws also limit breweries to how much they can produce without having to sell out, Noda, red oak and OBM are sueing the state I believe over this

They are.  I believe if you produce more than 25,000 barrels/year, you have to go through a distributor, which there's no real good reason for other than the distributors don't want to lose out on business granted to them by the government.  It's a law that should be changed.  If I'm willing to distribute my own product, why shouldn't i?  right?

[blackcat]

10 hours ago, toldozer said:

900 million is what my friend said. I would laugh all the way to the bank with both middle fingers up.

Regardless of the amount, if they feel like selling to InBev, they should be able to without a bunch of hipsters giving them sh*t about it.  

[o803oVaDeR]

Sorry but I have to disagree. My problem is not with Wicked Weed, really. My problem is with AB InBev. They constantly make fun of craft beer, then buy them all up. They also pretty much own the distribution in most states. They have strangle holds on taps and beer stores all over. If you want Bud or Bud Light in your place of business you have to buy so much from them. They hold back the smaller breweries. It is nearly impossible to succeed in that business. A friend of mine is a Bar Manager here in Columbia. He has 14 taps. KB distribution who is in bed with AB InBev owns 9 of those taps. He has to have 9 of their beers on at all times. He also has to have 3 for the other Non-Craft Miller/Coors distributers. That leaves 1 tap for a true Craft Beer Brewery. It's pretty much this way in most restaurants and stores. By purchasing these Craft Breweries they are regaining the market that they were slowly losing. The quality will slowly decrease. It has happened to them all. Goose Island and Terrapin are prime examples. While both may still be descent breweries, they are a far cry from what they used to be. The Wicked Weed guys were already Billionaires, so they didn't do it for the money, but it's their business and their right to sell, so you can't really blame them I guess. I was never a fan anyway, so I don't have to worry about going back. 

[Crixtala]

11 hours ago, o803oVaDeR said:

I was never a fan anyway, so I don't have to worry about going back. 

so much this... so many locals up here are up in arms about this, but wicked weed (the main brewery) was always mediocre at best and was just a tourist trap.  nothing but charlotte and atlanta douchebro tourists day in and day out, already making it the bud light of asheville breweries anyway

now... what this means for the funkatorium is the real story. that was the only good part about wicked weed... they have some of the best sours on the market imo