How to tell a craft brewer his beer is seriously flawed

[tschmidlin]

@denny

@a10t2

@mpietropaoli

There are times when our crew taste the different ales and feel that there might be a problem with some of our brew and then a few customers come in and fall in love with it.

“We thought about building something with better fuel economy, but customers keep buying the cars anyway.” - GM ca. 1975

Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.
    H. L. Mencken

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

[slowbrew]

@tschmidlin

@denny

@a10t2

@mpietropaoli

There are times when our crew taste the different ales and feel that there might be a problem with some of our brew and then a few customers come in and fall in love with it.

“We thought about building something with better fuel economy, but customers keep buying the cars anyway.” - GM ca. 1975

Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.
    H. L. Mencken

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Said another way.  “A person is smart, people are stupid”.  8^)

[snowtiger87]

[quote]unconditioned well water
[/quote]

That could be a huge problem right there. Have they had an analysis done on it? Do they filter it? Put gypsum in the mash at least?

[hopfenundmalz]

The industry will have more situations like this very soon. A friend works part time for a supplier located in Ypsilanti MI. He goes to the CBC every year as one of the people at the booth in the trade show. He said it was huge this year in DC, and that they had high traffic at the booth, with many potential buyers looking to start a brewey. The thing that had him shaking his head was that half had never brewed beer and had no knowledge of the process.

[a10t2]

@hopfenundmalz

The thing that had him shaking his head was that half had never brewed beer and had no knowledge of the process.

As a brewer, that’s the best kind of owner to work for. Former brewers are second best. I will never work for another person who only knows a little about brewing.

[bluesman]

@hopfenundmalz

The industry will have more situations like this very soon. A friend works part time for a supplier located in Ypsilanti MI. He goes to the CBC every year as one of the people at the booth in the trade show. He said it was huge this year in DC, and that they had high traffic at the booth, with many potential buyers looking to start a brewey. The thing that had him shaking his head was that half had never brewed beer and had no knowledge of the process.

This only leads me to believe that there will be some breweries in it to make money as their first priority, which is good and bad. I think this is a business where quality comes first then the money will follow. Maybe I’m wrong, but I believe in quality over quantity.

[tschmidlin]

@a10t2

I will never work for another personwho only knows a little about brewing.

Hopefully I fixed that for you

With the explosion of nanos here it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out in a few years.

[jeffy]

@tschmidlin

@denny

@a10t2

@mpietropaoli

There are times when our crew taste the different ales and feel that there might be a problem with some of our brew and then a few customers come in and fall in love with it.

“We thought about building something with better fuel economy, but customers keep buying the cars anyway.” - GM ca. 1975

Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.
    H. L. Mencken

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

MEETINGS - None of us is as dumb as all of us.

Despair, Inc.

[denny]

@hopfenundmalz

The industry will have more situations like this very soon. A friend works part time for a supplier located in Ypsilanti MI. He goes to the CBC every year as one of the people at the booth in the trade show. He said it was huge this year in DC, and that they had high traffic at the booth, with many potential buyers looking to start a brewey. The thing that had him shaking his head was that half had never brewed beer and had no knowledge of the process.

Sounds like the 80s and early 90s.

[hopfenundmalz]

Yes it does!

[alcaponejunior]

I’ll offer a slightly different opinion.  If they’re really good guys, charitable, nice, community oriented, then it would be cool to see them succeed.

Which they won’t if someone doesn’t decide to be dead honest with them about their beer.  If there’s something as simple as stuff that most of us already know (yeast pitching rates, cleanliness, fermentation temperatures) then they are doomed to fail if someone doesn’t set them straight, now.  A failure of a brewery might let someone else get cheep equipment down the line but I don’t think it really helps the craft beer cause very much.

[mtnrockhopper (Jimmy K)]

I agree - and the opinions will be out there whether they pay attention or not. Any viable business these days needs to deal with that.  But they were sent a nicely written critique and the brushed it off. Actually, they sort of said that they may have detected some of the same things but their customers liked the beer. Not sure what you can do beyond that.

I also think there can be danger in listening to feedback. A few loud, supportive voices could convince you that “everybody” likes your beer when most customers are just quiet and vote with their money.

[tonyp]

@bluesman

This only leads me to believe that there will be some breweries in it to make money as their first priority, which is good and bad. I think this is a business where quality comes first then the money will follow. Maybe I’m wrong, but I believe in quality over quantity.

I’ve always loved this quote, I try to remember it whenever I have a business decision to make and will be using it as our motto if I ever open a brewery:

“Virtue does not come from wealth, but…wealth, and every other good thing which men have…comes from virtue.”
-Socrates

[ynotbrusum]

@tonyp

I’ve always loved this quote, I try to remember it whenever I have a business decision to make and will be using it as our motto if I ever open a brewery:

“Virtue does not come from wealth, but…wealth, and every other good thing which men have…comes from virtue.”
-Socrates

Good quote - do you believe it?  I want to!

[mpietropaoli]

@snowtiger87

[quote]unconditioned well water

That could be a huge problem right there. Have they had an analysis done on it? Do they filter it? Put gypsum in the mash at least?

[/quote]

Ummm…I’m guessing.  No.  No they don’t to any of the above.  Until they can find out what “US-05” means, I am not entirely sure they know they need water for brewing.

[thirsty_monk]

@tschmidlin

@a10t2

I will never work for another personwho only knows a little about brewing.

Hopefully I fixed that for you

Let me translate this to the brewing industry.
“I will only voulenteer for myself 40+ hours a week.”

[jeffkemper (ptownbrewer)]

I myself would appreciate all the input I could receive on how to make a beer better. I have been homebrewing for two years now, and have recently switched to all grain brewing. I believe I am producing some decent beers now, not quite great but getting there. My plan is someday (probably 10 years from now) is to open a brewery with a tasting room. Before I do I am planning to go to Oregon State University and study fermentation science. After that I hope to work for a brewery and gain as much knowledge as possible about the brewing industry. If I was making beer and asked for someones opinion from the brewing community, I would want to listen to all input possible. Too bad this brewery won’t listen, but someone should always give constructive criticism if asked their opinion.

[euge]

You will find a lot of good info and guidance here.

[system]

I’d like to offer a metaphor, if I may.
So you’re out frolfing and you run into that girl from biology class whom you find so attractive. You say,“hey! You’re in my biology class. I didn’t know you frolfed!” Next thing you know you hit it off. She laughs at your bad jokes and touches your arm. You find out that you have a lot in common. She smiles and tosses her hair. It’s as if you’re the only 2 people on the frolf course. Then her friend clears her throat. Uh oh! Time to play frolf. Time to get her digits. Suddenly you begin to sweat. You’re nervous.  Uncomfortable. You think, "I don’t want her to think I’m that guy who picks up women on a frolf course! " So you let her go with,“nice to meet you” and you go home and write a letter professing your love for her and slip it in her locker.  What happens next? Happily ever after? Or really uncomfortable biology class and she ends up marrying some controlling, abusive jerk who doesn’t even frolf?
As a future bjcp judge you can make the beer world a better and more delicious place. But you must dough-in while the water is hot.

[dak0415]

LMAO!