Parent company is closing it down
https://investors.middleby.com/news-releases/news-release-details/middleby-discontinue-brewing-group
Given the footprint that both SS and Wild Goose have in the professional industry, I have to imagine someone will buy the IP for dirt cheap.
Still can’t believe Rogue’s IP sold for so cheap, but we know that was all for the Pacman yeast - I mean Rogue.com domain.
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Seven years from acquisition to shutdown…I’m disappointed (their gear is really good), but not horribly surprised. In the end, it’s a business.
Just ordered another one of their small (3.5 gallon) fermenters…they’re really nice pieces of equipment. As I transition into more small batches, it’s good to have the extra fermenter.
Their hardware is still available from MoreBeer! but not sure for how long. I’ve had my eye on their 20-gal mash tun and recirc assembly kit. We just did a review of their Unitank 2.0 + glycol chiller in Zym, solid builds on both, hopefully the brand gets picked up by another parent company and they keep their quality.
(OT) Speaking of which, Drew, any sourcing suggestions for Pacman? Wyeast never has 1754, and Imperial Joystick is now only for commercial. Any help, anyone?
Have you tried WY1450? It’s not Pacman, but the results are very similar.
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I’ll try it, Denny. I’ve been jonesing for a Dead Guy Ale ever since Rouge folded. Another sad loss we’ve had to endure, while we’re on the subject…
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BTW, if you need it, I have the Dead Guy recipe straight from John Maier. Hazelnut Brown also.
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I’d be honored to try both of those recipes Denny. Your generosity is much appreciated!
And with 1450’s name “Denny’s Favorite”, it has to be a superior yeast 
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Not a problem. I got them when I was a contributor to a book called “Craft Beer for the Homebrewer”. I’ll post them in the recipe section.
I have… a fair amount[1] of SS Brewtech gear, including some brew buckets, one of which needs a new lid and spring clips thanks to this morning’s discovery of BRY-97 violently escaping containment in a hoppy American Amber. I’m hoping the (R)LHBS I got them from comes good on their post about trying to pick up a cache of replacement parts.
With the proliferation of affordable all-in-one systems and the current state of the hobby, I have trouble believing there’s a lot of room for premium systems the likes of which SS Brewtech and Blichmann were and Spike and Bräu Supply still are selling. Even if someone picked up the IP, who’s buying new gear right now when there’s so much used stuff out there (and that goes for both the home brew and Pro/Semi-Pro gear)? I hope you’re right, but I don’t have a good feeling about this.
Not the phrase my wife would use. ↩︎
SS Brewtech was great when it first came out, but just like Nike, they thought they could make more money direct to consumer and dropped the wholesale market. So, LHBS were cut out of the equation.
Does anyone have any idea where I can buy four of the SsBrewtech domed lids with the 3” tri-clamp opening for the 7-gallon brew buckets? They are out of stock and I’m not optimistic they will be getting any more. MoreBeer is out of stock, too. I can’t find anyone in the U.S. who carries the lids. Ontario Beer Kegs has them but doesn’t ship to the U.S..
Thanks for any ideas/leads.
Cheers.
I sent a message into SSBrewtech yesterday regarding that and other parts they are showing OOS on and they said they are getting replenished at the end of the month (Oct) with more, albeit the last.