Bell's had already become not unlike the larger breweries in some respects. I guess we'll see if that's accelerated/increased.
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe "If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher
I've long felt that Bell's was one of the highest-quality brewers in the US. Except that in recent years they have followed the trend to lighter, and hoppier IPA styles. Those of us who prefer dark, malty ales are seeing fewer and fewer available options as brewers pursue the "lighter" market. I rarely find anything more robust than the barely-drinkable Yuengling in restaurants and bars any more, and even Newcastle, long a reliable standard, is now brewed under license in the US by Lagunitas, and has lost pretty much all its character. Now that A-B has bought the Modelo brewery, and are manufacturing "shortages" of Negra in favor of the very pedestrian Especial, I can hardly find anything that I can stomach at even the Latino eateries, Dos Equis "Ambar" has also been castrated, and seems to be de-emphasized in distribution.
Why do brewers hate tasty beers?
Posts: 7170 | Location: NoVA | Registered: July 22, 2009
It’s not brewers that hate tasty beers, its beer drinkers!
Even though micros have exploded it’s still just a fraction of the beer market. Corn and rice adjunct light lagers served as cold as possible to numb the taste buds still dominate.
As much as I love IPAs and IIPAs, I too would like to see more variety. Sometimes I want a good Ofest or dubbel and there is none to be had. Reminds me I need to brew more!
“People have to really suffer before they can risk doing what they love.” –Chuck Palahnuik
Originally posted by architect: I've long felt that Bell's was one of the highest-quality brewers in the US. Except that in recent years they have followed the trend to lighter, and hoppier IPA styles. Those of us who prefer dark, malty ales are seeing fewer and fewer available options as brewers pursue the "lighter" market. I rarely find anything more robust than the barely-drinkable Yuengling in restaurants and bars any more, and even Newcastle, long a reliable standard, is now brewed under license in the US by Lagunitas, and has lost pretty much all its character. Now that A-B has bought the Modelo brewery, and are manufacturing "shortages" of Negra in favor of the very pedestrian Especial, I can hardly find anything that I can stomach at even the Latino eateries, Dos Equis "Ambar" has also been castrated, and seems to be de-emphasized in distribution.
Why do brewers hate tasty beers?
Va has odd ABC laws,
compounded by the local distributors being bought up by big beverage distributors,
so the bottom line often means more than variety,
in addition to Negra Modelo being short here in Central VA (RVA Area) I know it is hard to find in SW VA too,
Coors Banquet, has also seemed to disappear,
when I was in the gro biz, the 2 big local houses (AB and MillerCoors folks) would stop carrying a brand or size if the sales numbers did not make the grade
Bells has decent beer but the owner was a total bastard and I stopped giving him my money years ago. As for Negra Modelo, I have no problem finding it here in the Valley.
Posts: 13943 | Location: Shenandoah Valley, VA | Registered: October 16, 2008
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye". The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, pilot and author, lost on mission, July 1944, Med Theatre.
Posts: 6085 | Location: Central Texas | Registered: September 14, 2003
