Another day, another British success story.
This time around it's Fourpure – one of the Bermondsey Beer Mile crew. Yesterday, they announced becoming part of Australia's second largest brewing company, Lion.
More information here, courtesy of beertoday.
They've joined the long list of British breweries growing their business/partnering with a bigger distributor/selling out to the devil (depending on who you speak to)... Below are some of them, as a reminder that this is not a new occurrence:
2011 – Sharps (Doom Bar) sold to Molson Coors and ABI bought Goose Island (still a great range of beers!);
May 2015 – Meantime sold to SAB Miller, subsequently to AB InBev, then onto Asahi to stop ABI breaching competition rules;
Dec 2015 – Camden sold to AB InBev;
July 2017 – London Fields (God, remember him?!) to Carlsberg;
Oct 2017 – Charlie Wells to Marstons;
Nov 2017 – Heineken acquires minority stake in Brixton Brewery; and
June 2018 – just last month, Beavertown took the plunge with Heineken too.
"I'd put it in the same bracket as your favourite band splitting up (the tears, the anger, the acceptance...)"
Yes, there is an argument about the 'craft' movement and, yes, we all do get a little emotional over beer – I'd put it in the same bracket as your favourite band splitting up (the tears, the anger, the acceptance...) – but we must keep a clear head.
This is business. Pure and simple. These guys have gone into it to make a successful, money-making career. SPOILER ALERT – they don't do it purely for shits and giggles.
Stability and growth are important in paying for a house, car, food, clothes and providing for a family. Furthermore, these founders (and their colleagues) can still love what they do, have passion for it, and – importantly – still make great beer.
Something that's usually forgotten in the mêlée are the hardworking, real people behind these brands. Those who cycle into work. Those who are making ends meet. Those who are supporting relatives and loved ones. And those who aren't. Oh, and those who run the social media accounts, too!
I'm all up for supporting independents, and those starting out but – at the end of the day – the goal should be the same. Have fun, do something you love, make some money, make some memories, and enjoy life.
So please, Internet (yes, I'm looking at a certain 'forum' on Facebook), take a moment before launching into a diatribe about 'your' beer and selling out. We're all in this crazy world of work for the important things – family, friends and happiness. Don't be a grinch.