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davidw
Senior Member
Username: Davidw
Post Number: 1601
Registered: 03-2001
Posted From: 65.163.6.62
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 02:53 pm: | 
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http://www.chicagoist.com/index6.php |
Dan Listermann
Senior Member
Username: Listermann
Post Number: 3543
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 216.23.59.245
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 03:21 pm: |
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Interesting. Just this morning I was calling campgrounds near Kalamazoo.
Hey, there is an antique shop that my wife likes there - right?
Dan
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Mike Huss
Senior Member
Username: Mikhu
Post Number: 1290
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 24.123.94.154
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 03:32 pm: |
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Huh, the easiest route to WI from Kalamazoo is via Chicago. This dude that is mucking everything up in Chicago isn't part of the mob is he? Otherwise I could see shipments to WI being disrupted as well just like in the old days. Oh wait, that's right, there isn't any mob in Chicago anymore. 
Maybe I'll have to stop and pick up a sixer of Two Hearted on the way home tonight in support of Larry! |
Liquidbreaddiet
Intermediate Member
Username: Liquidbreaddiet
Post Number: 498
Registered: 06-2005
Posted From: 148.168.40.4
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 03:57 pm: |
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Just goes to show you how the brewery industry is not out to support the little guy. Too bad for chicago!!!!
i've been around the world and found that only stupid people are breeding!!!
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tim roth
Intermediate Member
Username: Hopdude
Post Number: 466
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 12.214.15.199
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 06:22 pm: |
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Definitely buy more Bell's beer! Larry is the man.
Didn't New Glarus pull out of Illinois a few years ago for similar reasons? cheers, tim
You know I'm on the level because, my bubble is in the middle.
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Bruce Williamson
Junior Member
Username: Bwilliamson
Post Number: 78
Registered: 03-2005
Posted From: 199.233.178.253
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 06:40 pm: |
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I was very disappointed to hear this. I put in a big order from Archers last week to get my fill. I’m not sure how I’m going to be able to get my hands on Bells anymore. Luckily Expedition Stout ages well. |
Little Dipper
Member
Username: Littledipper
Post Number: 126
Registered: 02-2004
Posted From: 206.114.61.199
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 07:07 pm: |
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I'll think of you all on my 5 minute commute down to Bell's pub this weekend. |
davidw
Senior Member
Username: Davidw
Post Number: 1603
Registered: 03-2001
Posted From: 65.163.6.62
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 07:14 pm: |
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Heh heh! Larry's version of a sea-worthy vessel with the man, himself, on the stern grilling brats!
 |
Chumley
Senior Member
Username: Chumley
Post Number: 4388
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 63.118.227.254
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 07:34 pm: |
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Beer distributors suck. There is an excellent lager brewery in Missoula, Bayern, that distributes only in Montana. Their Helena distributor is a complete buffoon. The local fine beer store owner, Topper, told me he finally quit dealing with this clown, and now drives to Missoula to pick up his order. A look at the grocery store cooler shelves here in town tells all - Topper has been selling Bayern's current seasonal, Oktoberfest, for about a month now. Meanwhile, all the stores in Helena are still selling the summer release, Hefeweizen, that came out in June. They are always at least months out of date, and you know that beer ain't fresh.
Forgive the rant, but beer distributors are a sore subject with me. |
Paul Erbe
Advanced Member
Username: Perbe
Post Number: 713
Registered: 05-2001
Posted From: 12.27.22.67
| | Posted on Friday, October 20, 2006 - 01:07 pm: |
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This is bad and sad news indeed. I will need to pick up Bell's everytime I am in the homeland(Wisconsin). Seems silly that all that bells will be driving through the state without stopping for a visit. |
Dan Listermann
Senior Member
Username: Listermann
Post Number: 3546
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 216.23.59.245
| | Posted on Friday, October 20, 2006 - 01:21 pm: |
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"Beer distributors suck."
While I am loathe to defend them, there are reasons that beer distributors frequently don't give much attention to microbrews. A friend collects breweriana - things related to breweries. He has an AB internal 1960's advertizing cartoon featuring Fred and Barney. The cartoon was not aimed at the general public but rather to the distributors of AB's products. ( Fred and Barney get drunk) The message is the familiar 80 - 20 rule in that about 20% of the beer drinkers consume 80% of the beer and you should not waste much time pursuing the 80% that drink only drink 20% of the beer when you can influence a smaller market that consumes the bulk of the product.
Microbrews should probably limit their distribution to distributors that specialize in special beers, not those who distribute Budmilloors and only toy with micros.
In Ohio, a microbrewery can self distribute which is a great way to get off the ground.
Dan
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Paul Erbe
Advanced Member
Username: Perbe
Post Number: 714
Registered: 05-2001
Posted From: 12.27.22.67
| | Posted on Friday, October 20, 2006 - 01:56 pm: |
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That type of distributor is disappearing in Illinois. The distributor listed in the Bell's is owned by the largest distributor in the country. Their brands include Beck’s, Boston Beer, Molson-Coors, Corona, Heineken, Guinness, Labatt’s, NewCastle, Sierra Nevada and Yuengling. Oh and Miller.
They are essentially a one stop shop for restaurants and bars. If you want to run 6 taps you can have MGD, Lite pick an import or 2 and a "craft beer" from their list and you have a complete offering. And your bottled beers list will have 30 labels with only one invoice and company to deal with.
It makes it very hard for the "specialty" distributor to get a tap handle.
(Message edited by perbe on October 20, 2006) |
Dan Listermann
Senior Member
Username: Listermann
Post Number: 3547
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 216.23.59.245
| | Posted on Friday, October 20, 2006 - 03:08 pm: |
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"They are essentially a one stop shop for restaurants and bars. If you want to run 6 taps you can have MGD, Lite pick an import or 2 and a "craft beer" from their list and you have a complete offering. And your bottled beers list will have 30 labels with only one invoice and company to deal with."
I can say that, from a retailer's point of view, you make a very good point. I really don't like to have to bother with a lot of suppliers if I can avoid it. As a supplier myself, I really appreciate my customers who do bother with a smaller supplier.
Dan
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Denny Conn
Senior Member
Username: Denny
Post Number: 5951
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 140.211.82.4
| | Posted on Friday, October 20, 2006 - 07:50 pm: |
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Chumley, Bayern isn't distributed solely in Montana. Several stores here have it and based on your raves I tried a sixer of the Bopils.
LIfe begins at 60...1.060, that is.
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Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 5927
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.224.220
| | Posted on Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 01:10 am: |
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There has been a long discussion about this on the Chicago Beer Society's e-mail list. As the others suggest, it's a function of the Illinois law that gives a lot of power to the distributors and little to the breweries, especially micros. The big brewers are reasonably happy with the current situation because of their long and cozy relationships with their distributors.
It's likely that Bell's will sit on the sidelines in Illinois for a year, at which time they can negotiate a new distribution deal. The law is also the reason New Glarus got out of Illinois, far more than their stated claim that they don't have enough brewing capacity. They are almost as close to Chicago as they are to Milwaukee, and would be happy to have the market, except that it would cost them as much or more than they could make.
Very little happens in Illinois that is not political, and believe me, money talks. Another sad story in a similar vein is why the Real Ale Festival has not been held since 2003 and may not ever happen again. |
Brews and Views Archive 2006 
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