| Author |
Message |
    
Michael Boyd
Intermediate Member
Username: Mlboyd
Post Number: 305
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 69.85.158.6
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 05:24 am: | 
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12039438/
This is good news for beer drinkers. I was fearful for the industry, glad to see things picking up. And, anecdotally, I seem to have noticed more craft beers the last year or so. If you visit the page, be sure to take the poll, the results were very interesting. |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 4945
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.239.69
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 12:32 pm: |
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Overall it is good news, but with just over a 3.5 percent share of the US national beer market (it varies considerably by region), craft beer is still only a small blip on the radar. The major brewers are worried, however, and there may be some investment in and acquisition of a few larger microbreweries. I hope there will be continue to be opportunities for very small artisanal producers.
(Message edited by BillPierce on March 28, 2006) |
Nathan Cace
New Member
Username: Rooster_cogburn
Post Number: 17
Registered: 02-2006
Posted From: 24.227.251.233
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 07:49 pm: |
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Bill:
From my experiance when a BMC buys a microbrewery they tend to ruin it. Case in point: Celis Brewery, formerly of Austin, Texas. Pierre Celis had a nice little thing going, brewing somewhat dumbed down Belguim beers in a quaint little brewery nestled in the Hill Country north of Austin. Along came Miller and their high priced buy out. Next thing I know almost the complete line of Celis beers are gone, but I still see Celis White and (I think) Raspberry Wheat being contract brewed somewhere in Michigan.
Following the Celis experience I pray that no other micros get bought out in such a way.
Nathan |
Chris Vejnovich
Intermediate Member
Username: Cjv85vmax
Post Number: 437
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 71.28.144.227
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 08:11 pm: |
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The AHA website has stats listed for craft breweries and brew pubs. Just off the top of my head if I remember right it looks like at this time nationwide brewpubs are not doing so well. You are better off getting into the craft brewery market with out the food. But I am sure that one could argue the numbers that the AHA has on their web site. |
Denny Conn
Senior Member
Username: Denny
Post Number: 5523
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 140.211.82.4
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 08:16 pm: |
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According to this story that was in our local paper today
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2006/03/29/b1.bz.beers.0329.p1.php?section=business
things are looking up.
(Message edited by denny on March 29, 2006)
LIfe begins at 60...1.060, that is.
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Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 4954
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.239.69
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 08:33 pm: |
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Miller and Cellis had a falling out and Miller closed the Austin brewery. The equipment and recipes were sold to Michigan Brewing, a microbrewery, so it's not contract brewed. Pierre Cellis briefly came to Michigan to oversee the installation and adjustment of the recipe to local conditions.
I think the results of major brewery investment in microbreweries are mixed. A-B owns a majority interest in Redhook and a minority in Widmer, Gambrinus owns BridgePort and SABMiller is the majority owner of Leinenkugel. I suspect there may be more alliances as some of the entrepreneur founders of successful micros begin to age and have a desire to cash out. There have been persistent rumors about a deal in the works between Goose Island and A-B. |
Chris Vejnovich
Intermediate Member
Username: Cjv85vmax
Post Number: 438
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 71.28.144.227
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 08:44 pm: |
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Bill, I know you were once working in the professional market, but where do you get all this inside info. Really, I had NO idea who Mr. Wizard was until BYO revealed his identity. I mean I do understand you have been writing articles for them for a while, but like Skot has eluded to in the past is Bill P. some sort of enigma? Ha Ha |
Keith M Williams
Member
Username: Grok
Post Number: 166
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 192.250.112.193
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 09:34 pm: |
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Chris: Everyone knows that Bill P. is an automated program written by Pat B.
This space for Rent!
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Tony Legge
Member
Username: Boo_boo
Post Number: 149
Registered: 05-2005
Posted From: 142.163.90.133
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 10:07 pm: |
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Things here are picking up. A local micro has just went public (shares on the market).
I guess they are expanding their market to the mainland. Way to go Quidi Vidi Brewery. |
ELK
Senior Member
Username: Elkski
Post Number: 1522
Registered: 01-2003
Posted From: 67.161.222.45
| | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 01:25 am: |
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bill p is mr wizard?\ |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 4956
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.239.69
| | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 02:04 am: |
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Not hardly, ELK. BYO's Wizard is Ashton Lewis, a fact I felt obligated to keep secret until he chose to identify himself. By the way, he's a knowledgeable and talented brewer. |
Graham Cox
Intermediate Member
Username: T2driver
Post Number: 463
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.32.248.92
| | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 03:27 am: |
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"There have been persistent rumors about a deal in the works between Goose Island and A-B."
ARRRAAUUGGGHHH!!!! Pardon me while I sear my taste buds off with sulfuric acid. |
Marlon Lang
Advanced Member
Username: Marlonlang
Post Number: 569
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 68.155.82.205
| | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 04:17 am: |
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I met Mr. Cellis in Houston at Dixie cup just after the deal with Miller had been made. (Absolutley one of the nicest men in the world!!!) We had several beers together at St. Arnolds. He introduced his fruit-flavored beer that weekend. Most of our discussion was about the fall of the Berlin wall and the reunification of Germany. There were no happy Belgians. We discussed the Miller deal and I was very apprehensive, but he was upbeat. He said that he had reached limits in distribution and that Miller's clout would ease that. I do not know the details of the disagreement that Bill refers to, but I suspect that ultimately it boiled down to suits figuring a cheaper way. I will always cherish the memory of the meeting and I hope that rumors regarding the return of Cellis will come true. |
Nathan Cace
New Member
Username: Rooster_cogburn
Post Number: 18
Registered: 02-2006
Posted From: 24.227.251.233
| | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 02:58 pm: |
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Marlon:
Once again I am working off of a vaguely remembered article I might have read years ago, but didn't Celis leave Hoegaarden and strike out for America because he got into an argument with Interbrew after Interbrew bought him out and wanted to use cheaper ingredients and manufacturing techniques?
If so, I doubly applaud this man for sticking up to both Miller and Interbrew over his dedication to producing a quality beer over the corporate desire for increased profits.
Bill:
Thank you for clarifying that issue for me. When I researched the fall of the Celis brewery the only information I could find stated that the equipment has been sold to the Michigan brewing company but Miller had retained the name and trademark. From that I worked out that since Michigan Brewing was brewing a few beers from the old Celis line they must have been doing so under a contract with Miller to use the name and trademark. Thank you for pointing out that Michigan had purchased the name, because that nugget of knowledge was missing from my information.
p.s. I loved the old days when Celis first opened and had their giant copper brewkettle lit from beneath by a spotlight while sitting behind a giant plate glass window on top of a hill outside of Austin. For the first few weeks people we calling APD and Travis County Sherriff's department reporting UFOs in the Hill Country. Celis was eventually pursuaded to stop lighting the brewkettle at night so as to not spook the locals.
Nathan |
John Ferens
Junior Member
Username: John_ferens
Post Number: 94
Registered: 05-2003
Posted From: 192.104.24.222
| | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 03:56 pm: |
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Re: Celis, I've been to Michigan Brewing several times and have purchased the various Celis varieties. While I've never tasted the "original," as Bill said, Pierre Celis helped MBC get the recipe and process to where it should be and the result is very nice. You can read more on the Timeline of Celis at their website: http://www.michiganbrewing.com/celis.htm
John. |
Tex Brewer
Junior Member
Username: Texbrewer
Post Number: 83
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 216.62.203.81
| | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 06:52 pm: |
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I am located in Austin, and I have met and spoken to Pierre and his daughter Christine Celis on many occasions. Wonderful people. Pierre is truly an artist when it comes to brewing--he goes way beyond the science.
OK, now the important part. I have it on excellent authority that the deal is done between Pierre and Real Ale Brewing in Blanco, TX, which is in the Hill Country about 50 miles west of Austin. (NAYY) http://www.realalebrewing.com/ He will be creating Belgian style beers under a different name (not Celis), which will be brewed at Real Ale. It will include his original Wit recipe, not the version dumbed down by Miller. He will also do fruit beers, using Texas Hill Country peaches and other fruits. Real Ale is finishing their new, greatly expanded brewery in a couple of months, and that's when they will get going. They have an excellent brewer, Tim Schwartz, who is a big Pierre fan. Hallelujah!
-Tex |
Brews and Views Archive 2006 
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