tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post8954584736820902194..comments2024-01-17T03:50:26.727-05:00Comments on Beer in Baltimore: But at least beer is recession-proof, right? Right??Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-53300661847732496552010-11-04T11:48:05.667-04:002010-11-04T11:48:05.667-04:00""Middle of the road"? Gee, we don&...""Middle of the road"? Gee, we don't know of any well-packaged, ostentatious breweries/brewpubs producing "middle of the road" beers, now, do we? [whistles off....]"<br /><br />LOL!!! Yeah, I guess we sure do. Assuming we're talking about the same place, I've been told the reason their Fells Point facility went under had nothing to do with financial problems. Still, I see your point, and if ever there was a Kluge-like brewery here in Maryland, it's those guys. You make an excellent point.JohnM.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08630863956282168060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-45697451121997565312010-11-04T11:47:15.285-04:002010-11-04T11:47:15.285-04:00TOW,
Okay, ONE brewpub in Oregon. Sadly, as indic...TOW,<br />Okay, ONE brewpub in Oregon. Sadly, as indicated by the comments, there could be more at play there than just capital costs--Roots Market and Ben & Jerry's aside, "progressive" business operators don't necessarily have the best track record for business longevity or acumen.<br /><br />I'd like to think the lessons of the first wave of the microbrew renaissance of the 1980s sank in: "Get twice as much money as you think you need, and fewer investors," as Jim Lutz of Wild Goose put it last year.Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-54621674980094780992010-11-04T11:38:35.791-04:002010-11-04T11:38:35.791-04:00I haven't toured Virginia wineries in over a d...I haven't toured Virginia wineries in over a decade; I used to hit them up while doing "reconnaissance" outings for chasing Norfolk Souther steam excursions, which stopped running in 1994.<br /><br />What I remember of the last few times I stopped in Virginia wineries (and a few Maryland ones as well) was this: The old-timers who have been around for ages--Boordy, Horton, Elk Run, etc.--were pretty much down-to-earth, unpretentious folks where the "tasting room" was a counter set up in front of the presses and bottling line. The newer start-ups were, as one might say, heavily into "production values," making sure that the place could double as a wedding hall and had tour bus parking.<br /><br />Some of this syndrome can be seen in the brewpub and micro industry as well, with some now-major players like Stone and Dogfish really too big and commercialized to be thought of as "micro" even in spirit. And certain brewpub chains--such as DuClaw, BJ's, Gordon Biersch, Sweetwater, and Rock Bottom--at times at least appear to be run by consultants and focus groups more than brewers or brewery owners. (Notwithstanding that some of the above places all offer at least some good beer and/or creativity, but...)<br /><br />"Middle of the road"? Gee, we don't know of any well-packaged, ostentatious breweries/brewpubs producing "middle of the road" beers, now, do we? [whistles off....]Alexander D. Mitchell IVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16063927891723178579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-13365192565677596552010-11-04T11:19:01.960-04:002010-11-04T11:19:01.960-04:00How about four as well: Most regional micros and ...How about four as well: Most regional micros and brewpubs aren't trying to sell coal and calling it gold. In other words, there actually seems to be some connection between the price you pay and the quality of the product you're buying.<br /><br />Ever been to Kluge Alex? I have. Whether you like their wines are not, it was pretty hard not wonder if they hadn't over extended themselves just a bit with their facility (a huge, lavish estate with a deli, expensive paintings, numerous employees, etc.). They also had one of the more expensive tasting fees of any winery I know of in Virginia. Not to bash them, but I always found the vibe at Kluge to be pretty snobby and obsequious, and given what they had on offer at the winery (I would call their wine distinctly middle of the road for a Virginia winery), it was a bit off putting. <br /><br />Alex, I know you aren't a big fan of Ratebeer or Beer Advocate, but a lot of people read and take stock in their beer ratings, and undeniably (I would argue) good scores in those publications stimulate sales. Conversely, in the wine world there are the "professional" publications of the Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, Wine Enthisiast, etc.<br /><br />Many local breweries have made beers that have scored quite well on RB and BA, and beers from Brewer's Art, Clipper City and Stillwater (to name a few) are obviously quite well regarded in those publications. Even outside of the Mid Atlantic, folks want to buy and enjoy their beers. Want to take a guess how well Kluge has scored with the Spectator and Robert Parker? Outside of Virginia, want to tell me how often you've seen Kluge wines available in a liquor store or restaurant? <br /><br />While I hear you, I guess what I'm saying at the end of the day, do local breweries really have all that much in common with Kluge? Or do they have more in common with wineries like Chateau St. Jean, Montelena and Ponzi (all of whom seem to be doing quite well during the current economic downturn). Just my two cents, but I would argue the latter.JohnM.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08630863956282168060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6760958785336796611.post-62824986031276192542010-11-04T11:08:24.475-04:002010-11-04T11:08:24.475-04:00You definitely aren't looking very hard...
ht...You definitely aren't looking very hard...<br /><br />http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/07/roots_organic_brewing_of_portl.html<br /><br />Brewing may not be as real estate or inventory intensive as the wine industry, but it still requires significant capital investment and careful cash flow management. Ask Brian Strumke if he thinks there's no risk to setting up a brewery.The Oriole Wayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16483309131692836436noreply@blogger.com