Comments on: What makes a brewery world class? http://appellationbeer.com/blog/what-makes-a-brewery-world-class/ Tue, 22 May 2012 16:56:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tim http://appellationbeer.com/blog/what-makes-a-brewery-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-270435 Tim Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:02:18 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=2735#comment-270435 I will say that BMC are world class brewers. The brewers have the best technical proficiency and consistency. Budweiser tastes the same no matter which brewery it comes from. Some craft brewers would say that is a bad thing, but I would need to question if they could achieve that consistency. Their beer is undeniably loved by many people and the companies are major parts of the international brewing industry. I say this not because I believe BMC are world class brewers, but I wanted to further demonstrate the impossibility of defining "world class" (and because I'm a contrarian). I think some of the definitions offered are too simple and rote for a philosophical question. I will say that BMC are world class brewers. The brewers have the best technical proficiency and consistency. Budweiser tastes the same no matter which brewery it comes from. Some craft brewers would say that is a bad thing, but I would need to question if they could achieve that consistency. Their beer is undeniably loved by many people and the companies are major parts of the international brewing industry.

I say this not because I believe BMC are world class brewers, but I wanted to further demonstrate the impossibility of defining “world class” (and because I’m a contrarian). I think some of the definitions offered are too simple and rote for a philosophical question.

]]> By: Sean Inman http://appellationbeer.com/blog/what-makes-a-brewery-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-270247 Sean Inman Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:38:06 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=2735#comment-270247 I have only two criteria to determine if something/anything is world class. One - It must have stood the test of time and not just four or five years. If you are brilliant for a while but then fade, well, you don't make the world class cut. Two - You must put out a product that is recognized as great by more than your mom and dad. It doesn't have to be available everywhere but it should have seeped into the beer geeks lexicon. So a world class brewery, to me, would be Deschutes. They have been around and proven their staying power. They have recognized special beers like Abyss and Dissident as well as a strong regular line-up of beers. This means that Swordboarder is only 1/2 right. The BMC has been around in its many corporate costumes but they have no beer that is recognized as great by true beer lovers. I have only two criteria to determine if something/anything is world class.
One – It must have stood the test of time and not just four or five years. If you are brilliant for a while but then fade, well, you don’t make the world class cut.
Two – You must put out a product that is recognized as great by more than your mom and dad. It doesn’t have to be available everywhere but it should have seeped into the beer geeks lexicon.
So a world class brewery, to me, would be Deschutes. They have been around and proven their staying power. They have recognized special beers like Abyss and Dissident as well as a strong regular line-up of beers.
This means that Swordboarder is only 1/2 right. The BMC has been around in its many corporate costumes but they have no beer that is recognized as great by true beer lovers.

]]> By: Swordboarder http://appellationbeer.com/blog/what-makes-a-brewery-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-270232 Swordboarder Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:56:06 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=2735#comment-270232 I believe they are world class breweries. I'm cutting hairs, but I don't believe that a world class brewery needs to be producing world class beers as it's standard. It does need to be capable of producing world class beers. All three of those breweries are. Sam Adams as a world class brewery is a laugh because it is (was?) contract brewed. I'm deliberately ignoring the what is "world class" debate. I believe they are world class breweries.

I’m cutting hairs, but I don’t believe that a world class brewery needs to be producing world class beers as it’s standard. It does need to be capable of producing world class beers. All three of those breweries are.

Sam Adams as a world class brewery is a laugh because it is (was?) contract brewed.

I’m deliberately ignoring the what is “world class” debate.

]]> By: Alan http://appellationbeer.com/blog/what-makes-a-brewery-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-270151 Alan Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:28:49 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=2735#comment-270151 That is the problem with "world class" - it doesn't mean "even better than good." It includes popular recognition with a sniff of snob and a daub of PR. It takes a whiff of desperation and the hope of lack of actual evaluation. It laughs in the face of quiet confidence. It is, itself, <a href="http://beerblog.genx40.com/archive/2009/december/whenyoucantsay" rel="nofollow">world classy</a>. That is the problem with “world class” – it doesn’t mean “even better than good.” It includes popular recognition with a sniff of snob and a daub of PR. It takes a whiff of desperation and the hope of lack of actual evaluation. It laughs in the face of quiet confidence. It is, itself, world classy.

]]> By: Stan Hieronymus http://appellationbeer.com/blog/what-makes-a-brewery-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-270141 Stan Hieronymus Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:51:36 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=2735#comment-270141 Alan - I think the original question was predicated on the idea that world class equals even better than good. Josh, I think you bring up some excellent points, most notably is that consumers ultimately decide and the importance of consistency. While diversity might earn bonus points I don't think it has to be a requirement. Alan – I think the original question was predicated on the idea that world class equals even better than good.

Josh, I think you bring up some excellent points, most notably is that consumers ultimately decide and the importance of consistency. While diversity might earn bonus points I don’t think it has to be a requirement.

]]> By: Alan http://appellationbeer.com/blog/what-makes-a-brewery-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-270137 Alan Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:36:43 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=2735#comment-270137 Coors, Miller, A-B are, in fact, perfect world class beers because they are in the class of beers you can get almost anywhere in the world. One still has to question if there is any relationship between the phrase "world class" and good. Coors, Miller, A-B are, in fact, perfect world class beers because they are in the class of beers you can get almost anywhere in the world.

One still has to question if there is any relationship between the phrase “world class” and good.

]]> By: Bill http://appellationbeer.com/blog/what-makes-a-brewery-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-270126 Bill Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:36:24 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=2735#comment-270126 That's easy. Coors, Miller, A-B do not make World Class beer and cannot be called World Class breweries. Sierra Nevada and Sam Adams are World Class beers, and the breweries are World Class. I'd say Orval is World Class even if it makes only one beer. That’s easy. Coors, Miller, A-B do not make World Class beer and cannot be called World Class breweries. Sierra Nevada and Sam Adams are World Class beers, and the breweries are World Class.

I’d say Orval is World Class even if it makes only one beer.

]]> By: Stan Hieronymus http://appellationbeer.com/blog/what-makes-a-brewery-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-270120 Stan Hieronymus Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:23:21 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=2735#comment-270120 Interesting notion, Swordboarder, and one that leads rather obviously to the next question: Are Coors, Anheuser-Busch and other large breweries - all popular tourist destinations - world class breweries? Interesting notion, Swordboarder, and one that leads rather obviously to the next question:

Are Coors, Anheuser-Busch and other large breweries – all popular tourist destinations – world class breweries?

]]> By: Swordboarder http://appellationbeer.com/blog/what-makes-a-brewery-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-270115 Swordboarder Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:47:05 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=2735#comment-270115 Pardon my simple explanation, but couldn't it be a brewery that people travel (perhaps from around the world) to visit? Pardon my simple explanation, but couldn’t it be a brewery that people travel (perhaps from around the world) to visit?

]]> By: Jason http://appellationbeer.com/blog/what-makes-a-brewery-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-270083 Jason Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:31:48 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/?p=2735#comment-270083 Funny you should mention Caldera. I like the idea that world class beer is brewed in my hometown. J (not associationed with the brewery, just a fan) Funny you should mention Caldera. I like the idea that world class beer is brewed in my hometown.

J (not associationed with the brewery, just a fan)

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