Don’t kid youself that you care more about beer than anyone else.
There’s certainly a “Catch and Kill” aspect to Big Brew’s acquisition strategy. But it’s hardly the kiss of death. More like “Hey, they built some loyalty we can profit from.” They play the odds. And they’re more successful at it than you think.
It’s always amused me that people conclude that any given garagiste with a brew sculpture somehow immaculately conceived and executed a world class Beer X. Did they all apprentice with a 200-time gold medal winner? Obviously not. Degree in zymurgy? Almost never.
I have a friend who makes very good beer. He’s a roofer. He bought a clone beer recipe book, and has riffed some creatively. The closest he’s been to Belgium is Tennessee. Never worked in the beverage industry. No guru, no method, no teacher. But if you think he knows a lot about beer, you’re dreaming.
Revering obscure beers is only that.
