In case you didn't know AC Golden is a part of Miller/Coors, operating in a 'small' 30 barrel brew house right down the hall from Coors in Golden, CO. AC Golden is most known for their Colorado Native brand. Troy informed us that this Apricot Beer will be bottled and sold at Mile High Liquor in Denver starting in March. It will be a limited batch and the people at the brewery are not sure how well the beer will sell because it will be priced at $22/bottle. Not only that, but the beer is sitting somewhere between 5-6% ABV so it's not a big beer at all. Troy wasn't sure if people who are used to paying higher prices for higher ABV beers, like for Avery special beers, would be willing to pay the same price for these. Well, let me assure you that the beer is of the highest quality and is an absolutely lovely 'sour' apricot beer. I do believe it's worth $22, easily.
For me the question isn't whether or not people will buy this because of the ABV, but rather because of a moral and/or philosophical question of whether or not they want to put their money in the pocket of MillerCoors, a joint venture with MolsonCoors, whose beer is not exactly known for being in favor with the craft beer crowd. Will people support AC Golden? The answer is clear to me, AC Golden is making damn fine beer and they are paying guys like Troy Casey to make these innovative beers. It's a clear yes for me.
Looks like it's also a clear yes for our Denver Off The Wagon buddies, who were somehow thinking the same thing as me at the same time. Collective consciousness!
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I will not support Coors.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of people may share your inclination Laura.
ReplyDeleteHowever for me, if they are making beer like this, AND they are paying the bills for guys like Troy Casey, I definitely will buy it.
I'll probably just shoplift it.
ReplyDeleteLaura,
ReplyDeleteYou need to meet Troy and his crew. These are people that really love what they are doing. I think that they consider themselves really lucky to be given the opportunity to do what they are doing. Regardless of the overall corporate structure (and believe me, I do not share many viewpoints with the Coors family or corporation) these guys are not evil and want to leave their mark on what is happening in craft beer.
I don't know. I hate that I have defended Coors so much lately and I will never kiss someone's ass if the beer sucks. I think that AC Golden's staff have swayed me and the beers firmly put me there.
-Chris Washenberger
denveroffthewagon.com
denverhomebrewclub.com
I think we may need to start thinking differently about some of the big beer makers. While I still won't buy any of the macro swill they produce, I will be more than happy to try something new that isn't a common yellow lager of theirs. Lots of interesting beers have recently starting coming out of the craft divisions of these big beer makers. Just look at the Blue Moon (Sandlot) brewery and the specialty beers they've been working on lately (including a bacon beer). I'd be more than happy to try some of these new unique beers. Sure, many of these will never go mainstream, but if they want the craft beer enthusiasts to start trying these beers then they will need to do more of what they appear to be doing now - inviting the bloggers and the craft beer fans to try out their creations. More power to them. I think they know now that they have to adapt to changing demand.
ReplyDeleteNothing against these particular individuals, but the Coors affliation is poison to me, basically due to the company's and family's anti-labor and conservative support.
ReplyDelete