The Goose Island Brewing web site is reporting that the Chicago-based brewer has been sold to Anheuser-Busch Inbev for a reported $38.8 million. The founder of Goose Island and its current Chief Executive Officer John Hall is promising that their “commitment to creativity won’t change.” Goose Island’s two brew pubs in Chicago were not part of the deal and will continue to be owned by Hall. Beernews.org is reporting that Goose Island will continue to be brewed in Chicago and that A-B Inbev plans to expand the facilities there.
A-B Inbev already had a minority interest in Goose Island through its involvement in the Craft Brewers Alliance (CBA) out of Portland, OR which has minority ownership of Goose Island since 2006. Other breweries in the Craft Brewers Alliance include Widmer Brothers Brewing, Redhook Ale Brewery and Kona Brewing Company. A-B Inbev has been instrumental in the distribution of the beers from the CBA.
Post Revisions:
- 7 May, 2012 @ 11:55 [Current Revision] by Carla
- 7 May, 2012 @ 11:54 by Carla
- 28 March, 2011 @ 14:35 by Carla
- 28 March, 2011 @ 13:05 by Tom
- 28 March, 2011 @ 12:59 by Carla
Comments 3
AHH!
Posted 28 Mar 2011 at 2:34 PM ¶“commitment to creativity won’t change.” HAHAHAHAHAHA
Posted 28 Mar 2011 at 7:32 PM ¶The more I think about this, the more I think it will be good for the craft-beer industry, even if it ends badly for fans of Goose Island.
Obviously there is a strong possibility that AB-InBev gets hands-on and Goose Island becomes an overhyped, lower-quality version of itself. Most of us here will just drink something else. No real harm done.
Meanwhile, the marketing efforts almost certainly will be aimed at Bud Light drinkers, trying to convince them that it’s OK to spend a couple more bucks on a quality beer. That isn’t bad for the craft beer industry. And inevitably, some of those Bud Light drinkers will look a little farther down the aisle and see some truly good beers. Goose Island (even a run-down version of it) becomes a gateway to better beer for folks who otherwise wouldn’t consider it.
As the market for good beer grows, more bars and restaurants and grocery stores become comfortable offering good beer. The craft breweries that remain committed to producing a quality product will earn a few more customers.
I’m sure there is a limit to how much growth the industry can sustain before it cannibalizes itself, but I don’t think we are close to that threshold yet – and I don’t think this news puts us significantly closer …
Posted 29 Mar 2011 at 12:23 PM ¶