Meantime bought out

[Earl Aelfheah]

Successful, independent SE London brewer Meantime, has taken over by SAB Miller: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/may/15/sab-miller-buys-meantime-to-enter-uk-craft-beer-market

[KidKruger]

Ooh - had one of their ibeers at Joanna's the other night, very nice it was too !

[Jeremy]

Always a shame to see a smaller company sucked into a larger one, but you can't blame them for cashing in on their success. It's been a pretty mainstream brand for a while now, I don't think this will make much difference to the customers.

[KidKruger]

They can use some of their well-earned cash to start-up another specialty brewer if they're that interested.

[Seabag]

Well done I say

Oh but, was this a social experiment or a business venture

Next ?

[MrBen]

It's always interesting dynamic when a company that's sold itself on it's independence sells out...but lots of other factors are at play both personal and commercial.

Bigger question is whether the craft beer trend will last at its current size or just dilute into the mainstream and fade over time. My bet is on the latter....much as I tried to like it I'm done with overly hopped beer and back on the Heineken and Red Stripe.

[miga]

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[Jeremy]

MrBen - I also think the craft beer fad will eventually fade and merge into the mainstream, but I think the hoppy IPA style is here to stay (although of course some/most of the breweries won't survive).

Couldn't really give a toss about the whole CAMRA thing, good beer is good beer... regardless of the brewing processes used.

[Jah Lush]

Jeremy Wrote:

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> Couldn't really give a toss about the whole CAMRA

> thing, good beer is good beer... regardless of the

> brewing processes used.

Such ignorance is staggering. If it wasn't for CAMRA you wouldn't be drinking any good beer. Before CAMRA most ales were flat and keg was piss, hence lager became so popular throughout the 80s and 90s. Perhaps it is because you're too young to remember that. Now, a decent pint is taken for granted by people like yourself.

[Jeremy]

Well yeah... when I started drinking, cask ale was usually boring bland bitter, and considered fit only for old men and northerners. Certainly it has come along in terms of quality and diversity. But these days good beer comes in all shapes and sizes.

[miga]

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[Earl Aelfheah]

People are generally drinking less and paying more for their beer. I think that this in no small part, plays into the rising demand for more complex, diverse and better quality beer. Although tastes and fashions change, I can't see the fundamentals altering.

[Jeremy]

miga Wrote:

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> ..as long as it's an IPA in a small bottle from

> the States, that smells like potpourri and tastes like an alcopop :-)

Nope! I drink all sorts of beer - including American IPA but also lager and some real ales (but personally prefer bottle to cask). Have a particular soft spot for belgin dubbels.

By "the whole CAMRA thing" I was really referring to the more militant factions who seem to think that good beer is synonymous with cask ale, and everything else is piss.

[Jah Lush]

rahrahrah Wrote:

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> People are generally drinking less and paying more

> for their beer.

Unless you go to a Wetherspoons where the exact opposite is true.

[miga]

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[Earl Aelfheah]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> rahrahrah Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > People are generally drinking less and paying

> more

> > for their beer.

>

> Unless you go to a Wetherspoons where the exact

> opposite is true.

I know they're beloved of many, but i can't stand Wetherspoons.

[Jah Lush]

I'm more of a recent convert due their range of very decent ales and very reasonable pricing. ?2.25 for a pint of Late Knights Morning Glory has me like a dog salivating at their doors at opening time.

[Earl Aelfheah]

That is impressively cheap I must admit.

[Jeremy]

Well... they are known for demanding huge discounts from the breweries, and as such many breweries won't deal with them. But on the other hand, presumably the breweries that do sell to them shift sufficient quantities to make it worth their while?

[Jah Lush]

Why would they bother otherwise?