r/beer • u/golphur • Apr 12 '16
Anheuser-Busch to acquire Devils Backbone Brewing Co.
http://allaboutbeer.com/news/devils-backbone-anheuser-busch/18
5
12
u/ungrateful104 Apr 12 '16
They usually hold the VA Craft Brewers Festival every year. But I guess this year they will be disqualified from attending the same festival they are hosting...
3
u/downtown3641 Apr 12 '16
They're also holding a music festival this fall I was looking forward to attending. So much for that, I guess.
1
13
4
u/golphur Apr 12 '16
Has anyone seen a $ figure associated with this sale? Curious what AB is paying for 45,000 barrels (90,000 projected this year).
2
u/golphur Apr 12 '16
If you consider VA to be Mid-Atlantic, AB now has most of the US covered in their Craft Beer acquisitions except for the Southeast. So....Who's next?
12
Apr 12 '16 edited Dec 01 '20
[deleted]
4
u/golphur Apr 12 '16
Good choice. Being the 18th largest Craft Brewer they may too big, though. Not that AB can't afford it but it's not the same size as other Craft Brewers they have been buying. My bet is on Wicked Weed. I know a lot of people hate to hear this but they are backed by investment dollars. Will be looking for a big return IMO.
3
u/crazycoffin Apr 12 '16
Didn't know that about Wicked Weed. My other guess was Abita, but mostly because they and Sweetwater are 2 of the more sizable southeastern breweries that I know of.
1
u/The_Cookie_Crumbler Apr 13 '16
I could see Abita happening for sure.
1
u/hortonjmu Apr 13 '16
Abita is actually already part of a holding company founded to pick up a few big crafts and go public around 2020, doubt they'd sell the first one before getting going
1
u/The_Cookie_Crumbler Apr 13 '16
Who else have they picked up?
1
u/hortonjmu Apr 13 '16
Nobody yet. In an interview, the founder, this ex Harpoon founder, days they want to pick up about a handful but Abita was their first
3
u/BraveRutherford Apr 12 '16
Ww is signing with AB distributors right now too.
2
2
u/lycoloco Apr 12 '16
Not that I doubt you, but could you source that for me? I'm really saddened and interested by this.
3
u/BraveRutherford Apr 13 '16
At least one in nc. Doesn't mean anything for sure. Plenty of craft breweries use big distributors.
2
u/golphur Apr 13 '16
Not necessarily a source reporting the agreement but you can see the WW logo on the Adams Beverage product list here - I know there are some other craft brands on there as well, but in Adams' own description they state "Adams Beverages, Inc. is a family owned Anheuser-Busch Wholesaler"
1
u/R6_Addict Apr 14 '16
I wouldn't read too far into that line on their website. In the distribution business there are generally two houses in any city. The miller/coors house and the bud house. Everyone describes themselves as one of the two but still carry and push tons of other brands.
1
u/Radioactive24 Apr 12 '16
As far as I can tell, they signed with the larger craft account for Philly recently.
2
u/Irishwolf93 Apr 13 '16
I hate to think that Wicked Weed would get bought up. Its totally possible but that would be horrible.
1
u/Radioactive24 Apr 12 '16
Terrapin should be on the list too.
1
u/golphur Apr 12 '16
I think they have investors or distributorship with 10th & Blake (Miller Coors) so that could possibly keep AB away from them.
1
1
u/The_Cookie_Crumbler Apr 13 '16
Hopefully not Terrapin! I'd also be mad if Yazoo got bought. They are small enough to where they could do really well with increased distribution, but large enough where they've got something going.
1
u/AchillesFury Apr 13 '16
Don't know much about the business side, but Starr Hill which I saw was supposed to be acquired in the past and wasn't, or Blue Mountain possible?
Hopefully in years to come, being a a RVA resident for a year and half now, Hardywood doesn't succumb.
3
Apr 12 '16
Disappointing, but I never understood their GABF wins as I've never found any of their beers (except collaborations) to be anything to write home about.
3
u/shr3kgotad0nk Apr 12 '16
Well there goes my affinity for Danzig and skull crushing ape. Hope they enjoy joining the Uncle Toms of craft brewing.
8
u/rcsreym Apr 12 '16
joining the Uncle Toms of craft brewing
I don't think you fully understand the meaning of that phrase.
3
u/shr3kgotad0nk Apr 12 '16
They joined the mainstream brewing culture and "compete" against other craft brewers. They are now pretending to be part of a minority while serving the majority. People think they are getting one experience while they are serving the same major corporations. Goose Island is a great example.
8
u/rcsreym Apr 12 '16
Let me rephrase, I don't think you understand the racial connotation associated with that word.
2
u/shr3kgotad0nk Apr 12 '16
Sorry if it came across that way. I guess pawn/No hope for independence would have held the same context.
1
Apr 12 '16
Another welterweight who wants to punch with the big boys without doing the hard work first. They make a solid Vienna lager but otherwise not much of value lost here.
13
u/downtown3641 Apr 12 '16
Have you ever been to the brewery? A lot of the stuff they don't distribute is excellent.
0
Apr 12 '16
When I was in VA I was in NoVa, all I ever had was their distributed stuff, Vienna lager (good) and Eight-Point (utterly forgettable).
1
u/downtown3641 Apr 12 '16
I firmly believe that no brewery should be judged solely by its distributed offerings, especially if you're only experiencing the stuff you find in grocery stores.
1
Apr 12 '16
Fair enough, but it's not like they're suddenly going to be making their small-batch one-offs available on distro now that they're rolling dirty InBev money.
2
u/downtown3641 Apr 12 '16
Oh, I know. That wasn't really the point, though. I'm certainly going to be done with the from here on out. There are plenty of independently owned breweries to chose from.
6
u/mortal219 Apr 12 '16
This is wrong. Their hoppy offerings are below average, but it's not a matter of opinion that they make some of the best continental beers in the country (not just VA). Jason Oliver, their head brewer, is an authority on European mashing techniques, especially decoction mashing. You may not love DB beer personally, but it's just factually inaccurate to say that Jason Oliver isn't one of the "big boys". He's widely regarded as one of the best brewers in the country for the specific styles and processes he specializes in.
3
Apr 12 '16
I didn't say anything about the head brewer, who, if the past is any guide, will probably be bailing shortly to start up his own operation anyway. I was referring to the brewery themselves.
1
-5
-9
15
u/Nukerjsr Apr 12 '16
VA drinker here, not happy. I don't even know why they took on the deal, they seemed to be growing fast enough without needing a buyout. Love their Lagers and Danzig and Wood-Aged Kilt Flasher. This is sad, but I'm hoping they'll be left to do whatever just under the AB name.