Is the Brewery era over?

[cc1091]

Wondering if the era of new microbreweries is at its end? What do you think?

Within the last few days, these announced closings:
- Broad Street Brewing in Rheinbeck, Iowa.
- Another Road Brewing in Marion, Iowa (uncertain about their 'new' brewing facility in Cedar Rapids)
- Rock Bottom in Des Moines (to close Feb 4).

 

[tim_redd]

It's like any other business now. Good ones will survive, bad ones will cease operations.

 

[CloneinWDSM]

So many of them now, lot of competition to gets niche crowd

 

[jdoggivjc]

I wouldn't put "Rock Bottom" in the same category as the rest - it's a chain that's part of Old Chicago's parent corporation (also called Rock Bottom, I believe).

 

[KCClone1]

BarnTown had a 45 minute wait last night. I think craft breweries are here to stay

 

[packattack425]

Lol to people who consider rock bottom a brewery

 

[NWICY]

Like most businesses, some will make it and some won't. There will probably even be some good product ones close if they aren't in the right location, or their owners decide there are less time consuming ways to make a living.

 

[DeereClone]

I think it’s a saturated market and a bunch will get out, but good breweries in good locations will still do well.

 

[Macloney]

Lol to people who consider rock bottom a brewery

Rock Bottom provided a service/product that few others offered, literally years ahead of everyone else. It really wasn't that long ago that it was cool if place had Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada or Newcastle. I vividly remember trucking back cases of Fat Tire when we were in school and when it was a score to get Boulevard in Ames.

It's easy to rip on Rock Bottom now, but them and Racoon River and Court Ave. are the only "breweries" in Des Moines that I can recall being there for about 20 years.

 

[cc1091]

I wouldn't put "Rock Bottom" in the same category as the rest.

I agree. The article does say they were hemorrhaging $100k a year. If that is the case, then I can only imagine what Granite City is loosing.

 

[jdoggivjc]

I agree. The article does say they were hemorrhaging $100k a year. If that is the case, then I can only imagine what Granite City is loosing.

Granite City may have a microbrewery, but they're known for being a good restaurant as well (never been to Rock Bottom personally so I can't say - I only knew about their connection to Old Chicago because my friends and I used to burn money at the one in Bettendorf). I can't imagine they're losing a ton of money. The one here in the Detroit suburbs does well.

 

[chuckd4735]

Lol to people who consider rock bottom a brewery

It is a brewery. Just because it was the Applebee's of breweries doesn't mean it wasn't a brewery. I actually liked a few of their beers and the food wasn't bad at all.

 

[Gerbs]

It’s to the point now where if you don’t serve exceptional beer or have good beer and great brewery atmosphere you won’t survive. Too many good options for mediocre operations to exist

 

[veteran4cy]

I wouldn't put "Rock Bottom" in the same category as the rest - it's a chain that's part of Old Chicago's parent corporation (also called Rock Bottom, I believe).

Craftworks is the parent company

 

[KnappShack]

Rock Bottom provided a service/product that few others offered, literally years ahead of everyone else. It really wasn't that long ago that it was cool if place had Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada or Newcastle. I vividly remember trucking back cases of Fat Tire when we were in school and when it was a score to get Boulevard in Ames.

It's easy to rip on Rock Bottom now, but them and Racoon River and Court Ave. are the only "breweries" in Des Moines that I can recall being there for about 20 years.

$4 at Racoon River went a long way too

 

[ianoconnor]

When Erik was at Rock Bottom they put out some really nice beers

 

[laminak]

I agree. The article does say they were hemorrhaging $100k a year. If that is the case, then I can only imagine what Granite City is loosing.

I can't speak for the one in DM, however the GC in CR seems to still have good crowds, despite the competition.

I've been to the Rock Bottom in Chicago far more than the one in DM and it was usually packed and decent.

 

[CyForPresident]

No, because I need to keep getting ******* drunk. When I no longer need to keep getting ******* drunk, then yes, “the brewery era” will be over.

 

[CyHans]

I don't think the era is over but it does seem to be at a place where there are enough out there that if you don't keep upping your game people will go someplace else.

 

[ArgentCy]

All these micro-breweries that are popular just because they are creating lots of new flavors are just a fad. Most will disappear. A good brewery like those that remain in Germany can last for centuries. And they probably average fewer newer beers in 100 years than what even Rock Bottom brewed. But they make darn good beirs.