Franconia Beer Message Board
Ot: end of old English family breweries |
| Posted by Barry on 2017-07-03 01:53:43 |
| Maybe but I think that it is a bit deeper than that. The owner of the Bay Hop told me that he couldn't buy beers from the bigger breweries because they were too expensive. But why should that be, given that they have generally absorbed all the set up costs, have the advantage of larger scale production and already own established outlets in their tied houses. So it seems that they are either trying to restrict outlets by pricing or there are some third parties (wholesalers?) intervening. Then we shouldn't forget the 'Wetherspoons' factor. I haven't worked out yet how they distort the market. They obviously buy huge quantities of beer and, presumably, at very competitive prices. Mainly these seem to be from middle rank breweries, including some of the old family outfits. Such beers are sold very cheaply, which results in the closure of some local pubs who can't compete, and must squeeze the profits of the brewer. According to Protz, the underlying reason behind the Wells sale seem to be a lack of interest in brewing from the controlling family, who see bigger and easier profits in their pub chain than in 'simply' brewing beer. There are two familiar themes here: one, the inevitable diminution of interest in the core business over several generations and, two, the way that the food business has developed. Those who are interested in food, persay, run specialised restaurants; those who are interested in mmaking money from food run companies that produce quantities of food for supmarkets or fast food chains selling rubbish. The interesting question is how things are going to develop. I'm glad, John, that your local micros produce excellent beers. In the last few months, I've had some fairly good beers but I would say that the ratio is about one in ten of those tried. I'm trying to be objective, which is difficult because we all have different tastes. But I'm trying! Recently, the Hop has had a very nice mild called 'Mary Wild' from Tollgate. Lowish gravity, about 3.8%, but plenty of taste, malty but a nice hoppiness, not, perhaps, very traditional in a mild, but making it a little more interesting. And, of course, not a 'cascady' hoppiness but more old-fashioned. |
| Followups: |
 Ot: end of old English family breweries by Nick B. on 2017-07-03 07:09:28 |
| Ot: end of old English family breweries by Nick B. on 2017-07-03 07:32:43 |
| Ot: end of old English family breweries by JohnRatcliffe on 2017-07-03 10:22:56 |
| Ot: end of old English family breweries by JohnRatcliffe on 2017-07-03 10:27:58 |
| Ot: end of old English family breweries by Nick B. on 2017-07-04 00:24:42 |
| Ot: end of old English family breweries by barry on 2017-07-04 05:04:30 |
| Ot: end of old English family breweries by JohnRatcliffe on 2017-07-04 09:08:52 |
| Ot: end of old English family breweries by JohnRatcliffe on 2017-07-04 09:12:57 |
| Ot: end of old English family breweries by Barry on 2017-07-05 02:13:17 |
| Ot: end of old English family breweries by Nick B. on 2017-07-05 03:59:50 |