Wicked Weed Bought by Inbev and Lagunitas Owned by Heineken! | BGN Beer Reviews

[@Krelianx]

Personally, as long as the beer retains its quality, distribution becomes wider, and prices lower, as a customer I can't complain. If things go the Ballast Point route, then of course it's not good. But overall, I think it is good for the customer to have big scale distributers push quality products with competitive price points and availability, since it forces the craft beer scene to think of new things to keep the premium market interested, and they are forced to compete. Lagunitas has had a formidable year so far, imo. Waldos, High Westified, Dave Murray's, Born Again Yesterday... all were superb releases. Particularly that High Westified BA was the single best deal in beer I've seen, probably ever. Particularly when you have guys like Eclipse pushing 30 dollar bombers, it is healthy for those of us who love top quality beer but can't afford that kind of expense regularly. If they can keep that up, there's no reason to stop supporting them. Craft beer is going nowhere. Craft beer is all about reinvention, excitement, and novelty, not about securing a niche market forevermore. As long as it does that, it will be alive and well.

[@raynmooney]

A) These "bought out" breweries have absolute control over everything being produced. Brewer's at the upscale brewery will spend months trying to perfect the craft recipe and won't be released until the craft brewer says it's ok. B) A lot of these brewers are OKing the buyout because it allows them to start producing the beer they WANT to produce and not be shackled down by a flagship recipe they have to produce everyday to keep up with demand. C) This is also a huge paycheck to the company and the people involved, and knowing how little brewers make and how slim the margins are, it is well deserved. D) I think a lot of the complainers right now are overreacting a little bit. As if they "sold their soul" or are "the bad guys" now. Just because they are owned by a larger company that makes beer you don't like, doesn't make it evil. I understand these companies are competing for shelf space and doing whatever they can to keep boosting their sales, but that is just business in general. All businesses do this, it's competition. They are declining in sales every year and will have to start laying people off. Think they will just let their company fall apart? Please... expect competition, it's natural, whether you like it or not. E) craft isn't going away, as much as the "bad guys" are trying to kill it. Good beer will always be in production. Some of the names will change and companies will come and go, but you will always have options. Don't need to get too upset about it.

[@BeerGeekNation]

All good points sir

[@dhracer177]

I cannot not and will not support a brewery that is owned by the big 3 due to the flow of money. regardless if the beer stays the same, its a business issue for me. long live TRUE craft beer. on a side note, Beer Advocate revoked Wicked Weed's invitation to "beer meets wood" brewfest in Portland ME in sept. Its good to see the craft beer industry standing up for what is right.

[@VHT418]

Bye Felicia.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Yessir it is

[@cblack129]

What brewery are you part owner of?

[@christoohey]

Chris Black was going to ask the same thing. I think he said he's local to Harrisburg, so I'd be curious (being from Hershey) where I was going to plan my next brewery stop!

[@reubenneely557]

Chris Black I would like to know what brewery you are a part of as well.

[@jasegudat9590]

Chris Black want to know also. and when the brewery video coming.

[@akgroom]

I think it is Boneshire Brew Works. He has referenced it in a video in the past and he checks into their beers on Untappd often.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Boneshire Brew Works

[@jonathanbrewster7823]

Locality and taproom-only models will be the future of craft beer imo. Larger breweries and/or regional players will continue to be purchased and shelf space and tap handles taken up, thus squeezing out small, local brewers. A local brewery in every town that is too small to be looked at as a serious acquisition, that serves fresh quality beer over the counter in their tap room is a bright future for craft imo

[@markyjensen]

The brewers, enthusiasts and beer store and bar owners need to band together and rid our industry of AB Inbev products. We all need to do our part to fight back against them.

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Inbev has taken a break from purchases until this week, probably realized doing a bunch in a row makes people really mad haha

[@BeerGeekNation]

ahaha yeap

[@acb5015]

Have you talked about Victory bringing Southern Tier under its Artisanal Brewing Ventures hat? Word is Victory brewed some of the ST beers with its bigger brewing capacity.

[@BeerGeekNation]

That is different. Two craft breweries getting together I understand

[@tsubakichan]

Hmm, with the latest news today about ABI taking all allocation of South African hops I'd be interested in your commentary on that...

[@duketogo204]

then what happens is after months he has to put out his craft stuff @ discount because it's months past shelf life I'll get stuff like racer 5 which I love like 5$ a 6pk! So when I see that I stock up but sometimes the brew already has floaties and stuff

[@MacStiles]

Weeds?

[@BeerGeekNation]

Yeah yeah It was late after work gimme a break ;)

[@sector69102]

What ipa was in your glass?

[@blackmetalden]

It's a bummer when this happens, but on a better note what was the New England IPA you were drinking? It looked tasty. Also, what brewery do you part own?

[@BeerGeekNation]

Drinking a Trillium beer and part of Boneshire Brew Works

[@alltheworldsastage]

They bought out Karbach out of Houston a few months ago. :(

[@BeerGeekNation]

Havent heard of them

[@jiffylube9476]

What are you drinking? Looks like a New England Pale Ale

[@BeerGeekNation]

Yep Trillium

[@3rwparks3]

Are the Macros buying brewing suppliers too?

[@BeerGeekNation]

Yep. They bought Northern Brewer

[@3rwparks3]

Are home brewers boycotting Northern Brewing?

[@edplow5917]

yes they wont sell the 249 volt robobrew#3 only in AU and EU for $399.00

[@kellinbrown2227]

I'm definitely torn on the Wicked Weed front, living in California we over here have not been able to enjoy Wicked Weed. The Rare Barrel in Berkeley did a tap take over last year during San Francisco Beer Week, but my wife and I choose to attend the Trillium event. Now I will probably start seeing it pop up which sounds great, but like you were pointing out I will feel less inclined to support them especially now with all the smaller breweries killing it all over the state. good opportunity for them, missed opportunity for me. As far as Lagunitas I really only ever picked up there one of beers now a days anyway. I suppose I will still enjoy trying them as I come across them anyway but the drive to seek them out will probably be deminished, that and I don't see myself wanting to walk into there brewery when I'm in the area. Again too many smaller and really good breweries around, I'll support them.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Rare Barrel did a collab beer from them and they made a pretty solid point by posting a picture of the collab beer being spilt on the ground

[@dr.inkcraftybeerguy4896]

I was actively pushing to bring Wicked Weed into my area through a "non-Bud" distributor. As long as they are in the AB distribution chain here, I will never see it...just like Kona, Goose Island, Blue Point, etc., etc. I can't even get Spaten!

[@BeerGeekNation]

haha really?

[@andyschannel88]

The death star approaches!!!

[@tommyb6422]

Once a craft brewery sells out to InBev or any other macro, I stop buying their brews. I don't support sell outs. The macros won't stop until they have absolute control of our freedom of choice. We have to stand together against these bastards.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Thats the way to do it man.,

[@damkad313]

McGee wants to open a brewery in the Netherlands (Amsterdam). Could be a nice paycheck to help him do that.

[@BeerGeekNation]

haha yep

[@mikes8191]

I live IN North Carolina and can hardly find any in the many stores in my city. if this helps that than good. i dont care who owns in. if the product is good I'll drink it. There's thousands of breweries in the US. most of the won't survive. life isn't fair, people need to start living in the real word. also everyone complaining are hypocrites. i bet they all use amazon and shop at large chain retailers.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Cheers!

[@Cozmo2k4]

R.I.P. Wicked Weed

[@bradleyisgladley]

Adam Storm It

[@BeerGeekNation]

Agreed

[@bexarnakedbrewingcompanyma646]

What brewery do you own part of ?

[@BeerGeekNation]

Boneshire Brew Works

[@nickemos]

If, as you said, it's a good thing Heineken finished purchasing Lagunitas because more folks will have access to Lagunitas beer, can't you say the same thing about AB and Wicked Weed?

[@flippygat3]

The part where Heineken says they are going to be hands off and AB does not.

[@dr.inkcraftybeerguy4896]

That is very true. They have destroyed more brands than I care to count.

[@BeerGeekNation]

I didnt say that. I just stated what the points of the deal were. AB buying Wicked Weed is completely different

[@hippiepeter]

One thing you said was Wicked Weed's Product will not change but what happen when AB-INBEV wants to increase prophets?

[@BeerGeekNation]

Yeah we shall see

[@gorequillnachovidal]

brah, what kind of beer you drinking? Looks nom nom.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Trillium Citra Street

[@charvelgtrs]

Why do these companies continue to sell out? Is Lagunitas really struggling? Why did they need to be bought out?

[@BeerGeekNation]

Tony released a statement. Basically he is getting older and wants out

[@charvelgtrs]

So sad. Lagunitas was my go to beer when on the cheap, but no way can I give my money to them knowing AB benefits now.

[@MrALAGRANPUTA]

charvelgtrs not AB bro but Heineken. Yeah im kind of sad too Lagunitas is/was my favorite brewing company.

[@brettanomyces7077]

I live 5 minutes away from the Petaluma Lagunitas brewery, no long locally owned. Bummer! Plenty of better craft breweries in the area though.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Yep

[@jamesriley72281]

Craft beer and it's scene are honestly exhausting. I still love good beer and drink it daily, but have just focused on quality local brews. I hang at Half Acre a few times a week and I'm good. All the politics and opinions aren't something I even want to waste my time with. If someone 'sells out' good for them. If you don't like it there's plenty of other choices. A lot of the fun of craft has been sucked out over the past few years, and not just because of long lines etc, I've had some of the most fun waiting in beer lines. Just the community as a whole is pretty toxic and opinionated to a point where it's lost what's important, sharing a few pints of good brew with friends, and occasionally being able to share something special too. Armchair quarterbacking what someone else does with what they have created is pointless. Vote with your dollars, drink good pints, and chill out. *note This isn't directed at you Chris, your video was very level headed, I'm just speaking more of the 'beer community' as a whole.

[@BeerGeekNation]

I agree 100% that is kinda where I am at at this point

[@dannyzep92]

I like that Heineken said we're hands off. I still don't like it overall though especially as a fan of lagunitas. I think that more acquisitions will be inevitable the lure of money is too great.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Yeah its a double edged sword. Im like ok they said hands off but they aree still owned by Heineken!~!

[@MrGidyup]

Having never had Wicked Weed but yet know about them, I am a little upset by this. I just see a Big Kid on the Block throwing their weight around in an effort to force out the smaller and tiny breweries. They may say they aren't, but they are a big business who is only beholden to their shareholders NOT beer drinkers. Unfortunately, I only see this current acquisition period in the market only gaining steam for the time being.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Yessir you nailed it

[@CraftCruDude]

Everything's fine, their beers and recipes will be fine..... yet all I could think about is Alpine brewing being taken over by Green Flash, and the aftermath of that disaster... 🤦🏻‍♂️😫😔

[@mesoed]

While I certainly agree that AB InBev will continue to acquire shelf space with these acquisitions eventually pushing some smaller startups out... I really don't think they are out to "shut down" craft beer. Aquire breweries, make more money, and take up more shelf space through predatory actions in only the way that AB InBev can do yes. But not shut down. That said, it's been a long time since beer QUALITY has suffered from these acquisitions, so I hope that argument dies. In fact, very little seems to change in in the breweries themselves once the knee-jerk "I'm not going to work for them" departures play out. The breweries work as a subsidiary still largely under their own control.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Yeah I dont think they sat down and said we need to shut down craft beer but it is still a shot to the back for craft beer

[@PatFan622]

Nice take. I can't blame WW for taking the money and the move is probably not great for independent breweries in the long run. The thing that bothered me was their statement, trying to come off all genuine and this is good for craft beer. Just tell it like it is, for once, you did it because it was an amount of money that would set you and your family up for life, and allow you to handsomely reward all your employees and early investors. It's not that big of a deal, just be real.

[@BeerGeekNation]

yeah they kinda trolled everyone

[@ronsbeerreviewstools4361]

chris this is agood video on the topics of beer. But I know when Iam in my 80s or 90s I wont bedrinking craft beers,ill probably have diabetes or senior citizen digestive system -- so no sweet malty beers orhighABV, I know ill be drinking Bud light. , a beer close to water, but none the less a beer. Yes inmy rocking chair at 89 probably no teeth to eat my Fritos But a glass of Bud light. thinking of the old days. ha ha 😎

[@BeerGeekNation]

hahahaha

[@raiderrob672]

Would be cool to have a Federation of craft brewers to pool there money and resources. they could buy any of the breweries that want to sell and then all the members of the federation could use there distributors to distribute federation beer's.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Thats what the State guilds do. And NC just revoked Wicked Weed's right to vote on the board

[@abefrohman1759]

Every buyout is a nail in the coffin for craft beer. it's only a matter of time before they start changing recipes to cheaper ingredients and ruin the beer.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Yep

[@goombas3040]

You know what I find funny is all the outrage that they sold out, yet a big part of the craft beer culture is involved in a for profit buy, sell and trade. Talk about being hypocritical.

[@VHT418]

Lame hipsters gonna hip.

[@arkraaa]

I think the issue with a lot of people is that AB-Inbev lobby directly against the interest of small breweries in many states while they still continue to buy out small breweries. The more breweries they buy, the more power they have to control what beers many people see on tap and on shelves in stores, and the more power they have to price their opposition out of the game. Also, all the profits from the sales of AB-Inbev craft partnerships no longer go to the breweries local economy; rather a portion goes to a huge multinational corporation that doesn't place the care of the consumer over bottom-line profit. Support your local breweries.

[@BeerGeekNation]

I think people are worried about now the money going to inbev to shut down craft

[@RogueTrader31]

All those guys, especially brewers, that turn their backs on breweries that are sold to ABInbev or Heineken are just jealous and would do the same thing if they received an offer. I am tired of this bohemian craft beer revolution shit and all the idiots that criticize the majors. You know why the majors sell the stuff you don't like? Because there is a market for that. Moreover, any serious brewer knows that producing a consistent industrial lager deserves respect. Why? Because any defects would be easily picked up. You may not like a Bud Light, but that doesn't mean it is not a QUALITY product. Bottom line, if you create a craft beer business you wanna make a profit. Period. If you can make millions, well, that's better, even if it means selling your company to one of the big ones. Whoever thinks the contrary based on that bohemian revolutionary thing around craft beer is a plain idiot in my book. Cheers.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Hey manb like I said it would be a hard offer to refuse if Inbev walked in to our brewery

[@duketogo204]

I'm really good friends with the beer and wine manager @ heb down here. Bro he tells me fucking in bev And the macro fucks will buy up shelf space and have nothing up there just so independent craft brewerys can't put up anything he gets super pissed cause he'll have all this craft stuff sitting in the back

[@BeerGeekNation]

Yeah thats the plan they stick to

[@duketogo204]

sip that Damn beer haha shits making my mouth water! Yea big bank take lil bank I don't support big brewerys here in Texas karbach sold out to in bev!

[@BeerGeekNation]

yeah I didnt know about that one!!

[@duketogo204]

Yea karbach out of Houston there hopadillo ipa hit big down here in the Rio Grande valley! 1st ipa I've ever seen in corner stores and restaurants! not bad ipa but also nothing amazing just good canned ipa great for south padre island beach. But when they sold out man in Houston people were pissed they boycotted Karbach and shit but I guess there over it now

[@DanABA]

These are breweries whose beers I don't buy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anheuser-Busch_brands#Craft_Partnerships

[@BeerGeekNation]

hahah nice

[@BeerGeekNation]

I will have to start sharing that

[@duketogo204]

also now every Tom Dick and hank is cranking out brews and some of this shit is straight garbage! There's this brew I think is like Santa fe ipa or some shit man it's like 6$ a 6pk 7% and taste like swill piss so I see the mania in the craft scene also

[@viper29ca]

I think both purchases are different. While In Bev is looking to shut down craft beer, I don't see Heiniken doing that. If anything, they do this so that they can try and compete with market share with In Bev. This was kind of Tony's doing as he apparently had wanted to sell the other 50% for awhile now. He gets a payday, and a job with Heiniken. In Bev on the other hand. Beer Trolls. Closely related to internet trolls. Never had a wicked weed brew, now I don't have to bother to seek it out.

[@BeerGeekNation]

Yeah I never meant to imply they are the same, They just hapopened the same week coincdentally

[@XTheSonofTheSunX]

wicked weeb beers, wicket beeb neers, wicket pee'd tears, arrrrghhhhhhh! haha i agree with you 100%, it sucks, so, don't give them any ducats. support your local worthy breweries. cheers

[@BeerGeekNation]

Agree 100% man!!

[@AdamCraigOutdoors]

for me, as long as the beer stays good, who cares!! It's all about beer and what company is doing it doesn't matter.

[@lukealexander5109]

Adam Craig Outdoors I kinda agree, it makes good beer more accessible and there will always be other new brewery's if people have a problem

[@MattRichetelli]

Adam Craig Outdoors EXACTLY! This generation of hipster beer douches who turn their noses up to this is exactly why I've come to hate the craft community

[@JeremiahT]

It matters greatly. Inbev has made numerous verbal and written insults towards the craft beer community. Their reason for continually acquiring the market is in poor taste (pun intended). Me personally, I'm not against big business, but I do care about the driving force.

[@BeerGeekNation]

I agree but there is the point of your money now going to shut down craft beer

[@yuval25]

Adam Craig Outdoors That's what AB Inbev counts on, people who does'nt care, forgetting that if it was up to them there was no craft beer to begin with and if wasn't for independent creative people people would keep drink only AB Inbev swill, but now, when you have these options, who cares! until in decade or two there will be no more craft beer and no more craft breweries, just swill from AB Inbev, good luck with that!

[@CraftBeerTastic]

This is absurd! It's so anti-craft beer. Goes against all the passion and creativity that built the movement. A huge slap in the face to us American Patriots who helped build and promote these breweries. Classic case of people shitting on anyone to get that cash.

[@BeerGeekNation]

i AGREE 100% man

[@kanuckbrewero6118]

two beer I'll not be drinking

[@BeerGeekNation]

Cheers man!