Big River Brewing to open in Louisville (????)

So, if Steve is right, I should not buy from a chain, but it is okay to sell to a chain? Just asking?

What you all are not taking into account is that once NABC's beer is sold to a distributor, that distributor can sell their beer to anyone they like, whether its a chain or an independent. And by law, NABC can not self distribute their beer across state lines into Kentucky to keep any type of control on where their beer is sold. At least in the two counties in Indiana where they self distribute, their beers have not popped up in any chain locations at all.

What you all are not taking into account is that once NABC's beer is sold to a distributor, that distributor can sell their beer to anyone they like, whether its a chain or an independent. And by law, NABC can not self distribute their beer across state lines into Kentucky to keep any type of control on where their beer is sold. At least in the two counties in Indiana where they self distribute, their beers have not popped up in any chain locations at all.

Don't bother Todd. This is just small boys baiting the bear through the bars. I walked in Bank St on Tuesday for lunch. I was greeted by a regular who I'd seen and spoken to many times but had never been introduced to. I said “ Hey, I promised myself I'd ask your name the next time I was in.” She grinned and said, “I'm Kate Lewis pleased to meet you.”

I thought about this for a second and said, “Hey, you're one of the owners right?” She smiled again and said, “Yeah, I've been involved pretty much from the beginning over on Grant Line nearly 25 years ago.” Wow, I thought. This is so corporate. You can't go into one of these places without having to talk to an owner these days.

Several weeks ago, I took my wife to Old Chicago's for some greasy crunchy crust pizza (sometimes ya gotta have it). I checked their extensive beer menu and there was indeed a new NABC offering. One I had never heard of - NABC Mild. I asked my server what it was. He hem hawed around and then admitted he didn't know. He offered to go ask the bar tender. I told him never mind and I went back to the bar myself. It was Community Dark and the tap handle was mis-labeled. I asked to speak to the owner about this oversight.

This is just small boys baiting the bear through the bars. .

No bear baiting here Shane...I had a point to make and I made it. If ya'll want to disagree and/or rationalize that's your business. I've moved on...

Maybe I was too blunt with my question, or could have worded it differently. I assumed a micro brew company probably had its own sales team, especially on the local level, if they created a business plan to produce enough product for distribution to other local area outlets. In the end, thanks Todd for explanation.

Whatever can be done to compel a chain to practice non-chain ideals strikes me as a bonus, but then again, I'm biased.

Whatever can be done to compel a chain to practice non-chain ideals strikes me as a bonus, but then again, I'm biased.

.....I get it now...We reeducate (!!! yes, that's the right word) reeducate the slovenly and the unwashed via the introduction of a Trojan horse. MEANWHILE...In some smokey backroom in New Albany... unbeknownst to them...their total demise is being plotted. Brilliant !!! Brilliant I say !! How very (dare I say it...OK, I will)...How very "Crafty" of you. Field Marshal Zhukov himself could not have come up with a better plan.

Whatever can be done to compel a chain to practice non-chain ideals strikes me as a bonus, but then again, I'm biased.

I'm not biased, and I would agree. I don't see any conflict with selling local products- be it beer, local produce, packaged foods- at/to a chain. Given the preponderence of chains in our area, that's both good business for the producer AND exposes folks who frequent chains to high quality, local products. How better to "convert" folks?....

Deb

PS. Posted mine before reading Steve's- note that mine was not intended to be sarcastic.
Deb