Craft beer as a luxury item

MONDAY BEER LINKS, MUSING 05.05.14

Taking my talents to the Right Bank. Roger Baylor is moving the blog he writes at Louisville Beer back to his own Blogspot blog. As he explains, “I don’t plan on behaving or writing any differently, although there is a strong suspicion that on my own home court, it will be easier to write just one true sentence.” He suggests this might be liberating, and given that he already says some of the darndest things about beer that is enticing.

Consequently, it’s time to go to the mattresses, find the next wave, and return to making the case for what I believe: Economic localization in beer, exploring more deeply what words like “craft” really should mean when it comes to beer, the instructive history of beer, and better beer education (as opposed to the current demand to be entertained).

[Via The Potable Curmudgeon]

The BMW of beer: Brewery crafts luxury approach. Brewery Ommegang CEO Simon Thorpe talks candidly about the business side of beer, specifically positioning Ommegang as a luxury beer. The brewery spends 40 percent more than average for packaging, for instance. But it’s not like they are trying to polish a turd (for the record, not a phrase he uses).

There must be truth and craftsmanship and honesty in the way that something is made. That’s critical to the way that people view luxury. You can’t market something into being authentic.

Yes, we all know authentic is an over-used marketing term, but that doesn’t make what he says any less true.

[Via CNBC]

Jared Rouben gives Chicago a first taste of Moody Tongue brewery. I’m sure you are going to seeing Moody Tongue beers described as innovative, so this is good to read.

We’re not doing experimental stuff here. Having the new things no one’s done doesn’t make the best beers. The best beers bring your ingredients together and find balance.

[Via Red Eye Chicago]

Will a barrel shortage hurt small distilleries and breweries? For some, it already has. The competition is on for both white oak used to make new barrels and for used barrels. Bourbon makers need new barrels, thus the oak. Whisky makers are competing with brewers for used barrels. [Via Insider Louisville]

‘Let Germany brew your beer’? Sorry, Bob, but we got this. This is the first column that Sam Calagione will be writing for Medium. In this one he takes exception to the Chrysler commercial that first appeared during the Super Bowl, the one in which Bob Dylan said, “So let Germany brew your beer. Let Switzerland make your watch. Let Asia assemble your phone. We will build your car.” I look forward to future installments, but I hope he won’t continue to dis Peter, Paul & Mary. [Via Medium]

Maker/drinker — Taylor Seidler, creative director at Beer Advocate magazine. The “inside baseball” link of the week. [Via Good Beer Hunting]

Bottles from 19th century German beer garden found at Bowery hotel site. A lot of history here. [Via DNAinfo New York]

2 thoughts on “Craft beer as a luxury item”

  1. This from the makers of the embarrassing “Game of Thrones” beers? The firm’s quality to price ratio has been veering in the wrong direction for a few years so this may be more of a cover for a relaunch. The CNY markets is getting quite packed which may mean their local share has been frittered away with marketing… umm… what would EP Taylor say? Waste.

  2. As a good friend of mine once put it, “The more I learn, the more I fall in love with the art of craft beer.” These are words that I think many of use can agree with, especially those who frequent the city of Asheville. I very much feel like we are in the middle of a great craft beer renaissance, and I consider myself to be quite fortunate.That being said, I’m interested to see what Baylor’s better beer education might bring.

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