IRIXNetwork

**vishnu** · 07-09-2022, 12:25 AM

I concur with Sargent Barnes sentiment about the craft brewery phenomenon in North America, those places keep popping up like toadstools. When the decision was made in 2014 to move all of our contract manufacturing to our facility in Louisville, for the sole reason that the labor rate in that facility was less, they tore down the southern 3/4ths of our plant, which, by the way, was the largest building in the state until they built the Mall of America, anyway, that left our original boiler room severed from what was left of our plant, and the landlords decided to turn it into a micro brewery, bar and restaurant, the Forgotten Star, so named because during WWII our organization won six E for Excellence stars from the Navy, which were painted on our boiler room smokestacks...

Photo Gallery · 07-09-2022, 05:21 PM

The problem with most craft beer's is their lack of consistency (when it comes to quality), coupled to a relatively high price! (You might as well go and buy a proper beer from a highly acclaimed brewer!)

As a result I much prefer to stick with the highly acclaimed Belgium beers, as I know exactly what I'm getting when I crack one open!

CONSISTENCY IS EVERYTHING!!! (This principal applies to all aspects of life and fine goods!)

sgt_barnes · 07-09-2022, 07:56 PM

Oh, boy, vishnu, I guess the time for boiler rooms is over. Strange that they are often the last part of the lost industrial buildings still remaining after they go out of business, or focus on something else. We have an old, derilict factory for shoe polish in my hometown, and guess what? The only part remaining is the boiler building with the smoke stack.

We probably have to contend with the fact that they left the E for Excellence stars in place, and probably honor its tradition. But considered how much blood, sweat and tears were necessary to get these, it really seems inadequate to me.

The problem I have with the craft beer scene is not that of the quality of their beer. But most of the places have this plastic industrial, millennial generation look, and all too often their beverages are not as unique as they claim to be. It all is feels in a way artificial.

But, after all, they keep up the tradition of brewing beer from just barley, hop and water, and they sure teach those hipster kids to drink beer instead of alco pops. They sure are dedicated to beer, and that’s a good thing, right? And there for sure are IPAs that I liked!

I just wonder how sustainable that dedication is, which brings me straight to what Irinikus said: Consistency is everything. The craft beer guys still have to prove that, IMHO.

But look at me, I sound my own father… 🙄