The lines between what denotes " craft beer " and what denotes " gravid beer " have progressively glaze over over time ; many of your favored " workmanship beers " have alreadybeen bolt up by the large brew companies in the world , whether you know it or not . That image shift has created something of an existential crisis for craftsmanship beer and the people who know it . For them , the doubtfulness is whether " selling out " essentially changes the culture .
Enter the True Craft , a venture that ’s looking to do god ’s study : to hold launch the person of trade brewing .
Greg Koch and Steve Wagner , co - father of Stone Brewing , announce the new brewery - saving venture last calendar week . They want craft brewery to invalidate self-aggrandising Beer like Frogger avoids speeding cars , and they ’ll do it by purchasing stakes of slyness breweries .
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By buying up to , but never more than , 25 % of breweries , dependable Craft will allow the purchased brewery to expand , improve facilities , and build on activities that ’ll keep that delicious golden liquidness lubricating our skillful conversations . No borrowing from evil bankers , throwing in with venture capitalists more interested about the bottom product line than barley , and no transaction with the big brewery that might bring compromises of their own . The concerns of not selling out and retaining your soul in craft brew today mirror the similar issues confronted by touchwood careen in the 90s .
" This give trade brewers another option to sell out to Big Beer , " Koch said at the annual E.G. Conference . " This gives them the financing and flexibility they postulate to thrive while keeping their soul and control . "
The mathematical group and unknown partners are funding True Craft with $ 100 million to part , and there ’s " a mess more in discussion , " Koch told theL.A. Times .
So far , though , no one bed who the partners are , where reliable Craft will be located , what the process is , or what breweries are eligible to enter , among unnumberable other dubiousness . Tom McCormick , executive managing director of the California Craft Brewers Association put a fine point on it to the L.A. Times , saying , " I do n’t translate it . "
No one on the exterior of True Craft seems to , but everyone is excited about the possibilities of keep on the craftsmanship brewery boom alive and focalise on character . " At least in theory , I love it , " Tom Kiely , director of sales and logistics at Thorn St. Brewery , separate the L.A. Times . " I recall it ’s a really important step to battle the new challenges confront craft beer . "
True Craft and Stone PR specialist Nickie Peña wrote to the L.A. Times about saving souls as well , saying that they ’re looking for brewery that " require to continue in it for the long draw , and retain their Soul and Control along the fashion ; a brand name with an fantabulous reputation and of like philosophical outlook ( e.g. , focus on character ) ; and have a pauperization for an alternative investor and wish to join force to vie more effectively . "
