I don't know the story. Are microbreweries contracting out the actual brewing part?
I know Kona Brewing (not a microbrewery obviously) brews in Portland and has it shipped to the Islands
Not exactly contracting out, but still.
Someone made mention that contract brewing does exist. I know FW was brewing Russian River beer for awhile during their expansion. Someone mentioned Sleeping Giant. A local brewery uses them as they build out a new production brewery. Huge difference in quality though and I wont be buying them until they brew it themselves.
As far as Kona. They are 33% owned by AB INBEV, and are a part of the CBA (an umbrella of breweries that include Widmir and Redhook). I actually read that Kona is the only brewery that is making them any money, as Widmir and Redhook sales are down.
I also heard that someone wanted to sue Kona for basically false advertisement since it is brewed inland for US inland sales. I want to say its only brewed in Hawaii for on island sales. So it's really all about the allure of what you think you are drinking.
Mangudai954, I want to say that its 100% based on your state. My state allows for self distribution under a certain bbl. Which means, you pretty much have to go store to store and see if they want to sell your product. You can explain profit margins and price points etc... I've seen others use distribution companies. My area has 3 big ones. Ones basically a AB INBEV distributor with a couple of craft stragglers. And another is like your Coronas, with a bunch of other craft options. These companies are the ones who set up posters, signage, and negotiate prices and shelf space..
So in a lot of ways, one distributor could be selling competing brands.. There was a leak awhile back where AB INBEV was offering incentives to distributors who could sell upwards of 95% of AB INBEV owned products only. Ultimately the distributor is out to make money so it makes zero sense to neglect the craft segment. Unless the craft segment is wholly AB INBEV, then yeah, a distributor could push out all AB INBEV brands...
I saw this mixed 12 pack of 4 IPAs the other day. It was called IPA BOXED SET. It featured beers from 10 barrel, Goose Island, Blue Point, and Elysian. In theory, a restaurant or shop could sell only AB INBEV products if the consumers demanded it (or were forced to drink it with no choice). Its why so many get up in arms over buyouts.. They arent good for variety, as distributors get products shoved down their throats constantly.
On the side of the packaging was each brewery who in was the boxed set, along with the city of origin. I question the ethics of AB INBEV for putting Chicago IL on the side of the box for GI, as quite a bit of their beer is brewed in CO at one of the AB INBEV facilities...
I read that Elysian Space Dust is set to be brewed at a AB INBEV Fairfield CA production brewery. Lines are getting blurred like crazy
Before we know it, every brewery around will be owned by some firm trying to cash in on this craze. I don't blame them. But don't act like you arent owned by billionaires. Independent you are NOT
