Comments on: Open Source Beer: Free? Better? A gimmick? http://appellationbeer.com/blog/open-source-beer-free-better-a-gimmick/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:54:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: SteveH http://appellationbeer.com/blog/open-source-beer-free-better-a-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-57729 SteveH Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:44:04 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/open-source-beer-free-better-a-gimmick/#comment-57729 Homebrew competitions have been using a similar form of this "share the wealth" for some time too -- Best of Shows being brewed by a local brew-pub sponsor at the pub quantities is always a fun prize for a winner. Especially if they get to help brew at the pub too. Homebrew competitions have been using a similar form of this “share the wealth” for some time too — Best of Shows being brewed by a local brew-pub sponsor at the pub quantities is always a fun prize for a winner. Especially if they get to help brew at the pub too.

]]> By: Stan Hieronymus http://appellationbeer.com/blog/open-source-beer-free-better-a-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-57720 Stan Hieronymus Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:34:22 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/open-source-beer-free-better-a-gimmick/#comment-57720 I didn't mention this, but in the course of the conversation Matt observed that they get a lot of expert input. Obviously, he had to do some sorthing but homebrewers love going to the source for information and then bragging about what they know. When commercial brewers used to make a only handful of styles over the course of a year they had more time for primary research. Homebrewers have become a way that commercial brewers might "speak" to each other. I didn’t mention this, but in the course of the conversation Matt observed that they get a lot of expert input.

Obviously, he had to do some sorthing but homebrewers love going to the source for information and then bragging about what they know.

When commercial brewers used to make a only handful of styles over the course of a year they had more time for primary research. Homebrewers have become a way that commercial brewers might “speak” to each other.

]]> By: Rick http://appellationbeer.com/blog/open-source-beer-free-better-a-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-57717 Rick Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:05:38 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/open-source-beer-free-better-a-gimmick/#comment-57717 You could almost make the same arguments for Long Shot, I would think. Both programs engaged the average homebrewer, made them feel as though they were part of the creative process (or even that they 'could' have been part of that process), thus creating a sense of curiosity for the new product when it is released. Yeah, its sorta gimmicky, but if the option was Open Source or a beer infused with random ingredients and a flashy new label, I'd say Open Source is a great option. You could almost make the same arguments for Long Shot, I would think. Both programs engaged the average homebrewer, made them feel as though they were part of the creative process (or even that they ‘could’ have been part of that process), thus creating a sense of curiosity for the new product when it is released. Yeah, its sorta gimmicky, but if the option was Open Source or a beer infused with random ingredients and a flashy new label, I’d say Open Source is a great option.

]]> By: Alan http://appellationbeer.com/blog/open-source-beer-free-better-a-gimmick/comment-page-1/#comment-57708 Alan Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:59:51 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/open-source-beer-free-better-a-gimmick/#comment-57708 I think Flying Dog is handling the Open Source gimmick with a good measure of seriousness and fun. No beer recipe is protected under law in the way that copyright protects the writings of an author of a novel or patent protects a chemists's drug. When this idea was first floated there was a lot of flap about how this was a break through of the new e-conomy, no one noticing that homebrewers and craft brewers had been cloning beers for decades without one lawyer's letter telling them to cease and desist. That is because, like the recipe for Coke, the formulations and brewers skills that go into beer are mainly and best protected by trade secret. So make it, tweek it, collaborate. Nothing new but the realization that this is the way things work. I think Flying Dog is handling the Open Source gimmick with a good measure of seriousness and fun. No beer recipe is protected under law in the way that copyright protects the writings of an author of a novel or patent protects a chemists’s drug. When this idea was first floated there was a lot of flap about how this was a break through of the new e-conomy, no one noticing that homebrewers and craft brewers had been cloning beers for decades without one lawyer’s letter telling them to cease and desist. That is because, like the recipe for Coke, the formulations and brewers skills that go into beer are mainly and best protected by trade secret. So make it, tweek it, collaborate. Nothing new but the realization that this is the way things work.

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