In a Facebook post shared with the “SD Beer Friends” group this morning, South Park Brewing’s Cosimo Sorrentino put out a call for conversation. “I propose an open forum event to discuss the transition of the beer industry locally and nationally,” he said, with dozens of industry members immediately expressing interest.
Sorrentino’s post comes at a pivotal point in craft beer’s current trajectory.
Local breweries Saint Archer and Ballast Point notoriously sold majority interests in their businesses, while recently Stone and AleSmith both wrote op-eds declaring their independence.
And just last week, AB InBev-owned 10 Barrel Brewing cleared the first legal hurdle towards opening a brewpub in the East Village.
“We’re a creature of our own success,” said Kevin Hopkins, President Emeritus of the San Diego Brewers Guild, speaking about San Diego’s status as one of America’s top beer cities. He attended the downtown planning group’s hearing where 10 Barrel’s Garrett Wales spoke with excitement about joining the local craft community.
Like Sorrentino, Hopkins is interested in starting a dialogue: “I didn’t go to the hearing with the goal of blocking the permit. I just want to make sure there is a public commentary.” In a call with West Coaster he cited issues he had with (un)truth in advertising, or the “bait and switch” since 10 Barrel isn’t technically craft, increased property values thanks to Big Beer facilities that will deny access to market for the pint-sized operations, and the “win from within” mentality on the distribution side.
“The landscape is undoubtedly changing. This isn’t just about today; it’s about three years from now, ten years from now. How do we want to be perceived?”
Sorrentino took up Wales’ open invite for beers at Monkey Paw, just a block away from 10 Barrel’s proposed site, after the hearing. “I had to tell him my feelings about him working for a company that uses profit to work against the guys that are trying to fulfill the same dream that he’s experiencing.”
Wales’ response centered on the amount of money he spends in the local economy, including the number of employees he pays. Wales went on to say that the amount of cash filtering through him on its way up to the big wigs and lobbyists is just one small avenue. “I was surprised to hear his side of it,” said Sorrentino, who also relayed a story about 10 Barrel’s craft beer neighbors receiving test kits to take advantage of the company’s new $200,000 laboratory.
Sorrentino decided to similarly quiz Saint Archer’s barrel program supervisor Greg Peters at Friday’s Hamilton’s Tavern event. “Greg rattled off a long list of names that he’s sold hops or yeast to, and I had no idea, because I hadn’t gone out to have a pint with these guys and get their side of the story.”
Second Chance’s Marty Mendiola and Abnormal’s Derek Gallanosa are two local brewers who have benefitted from Saint Archer’s purchasing power. “They sold me hops with absolutely no mark up,” said Gallanosa. “I always tell people how important they are to San Diego craft beer.”
Details for the date, time and location of Sorrentino’s forum are currently being worked out.
Ryan Naman says
*No Thanks*
It’s not the fact that they are nice to me you or them so everyone has to be nice. It’s something to know , something to consider. Just as had the chance to hear Fritz talk at the CCBA in Santa Rosa a few yeard ago that Coors was a HUGE help to him back in the early days of Anchor and without their help Anchor might not have made it.
It’s not all negative nor can it all be positive. But there are a lot of awesome SD beer people who are taken care of by the big guys that have been bought out.
Just Someone says
“no thanks”
We may be beer aficionados, but we don’t need to be snobs.
There is a culture of community. We don’t want to destroy that be being asses. I am somewhat wary of what will happen. If a large beer interest came in an just plopped in, that’s an issue. It seems that 10 barrel is not trying to plop in, they engaged a community member.
Saint Archer always a little bit of an outsider… but that’s the image. they had an issue with guns blazing with their LA rep, and their end game always was lifestyle… which means they get people into the taste, and then the adventure takes them to the other craft breweries (a flaw in their plan).
no thanks says
I see where Marty and Derek may be coming from, but the mentality of ‘they are cool to me, so everyone should be cool to them’ does not fly.
They are not important to craft beer, they are only important o those that need hops & yeast. Order more next time.