Beer Lover’s Chicago book<\/a> that will be coming out this summer, I spoke with John Hall about just such a possibility. Back in November, selling the brewpub wasn’t on the radar (at least, as far as he was willing to tell me).<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur full conversation will be released with the book, but here’s the relevant portion of our conversation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Karl: Another thing I\u2019m curious about is that you retained ownership of the brewpubs, while A-B basically took over Fulton and grew it like crazy from there. How has it been, in terms of a management structure, with you both operating in somewhat of the same world with the same name, but also in two separate worlds at the same time?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
John<\/strong>:<\/span> A couple of things. One is that AB, when they acquired us, had no interest in and no knowledge of brewpubs, and under Illinois law they couldn’t own the brewpubs. Those were two things. They obviously have made acquisitions since then that have included brewpubs and they understand the value of brewpubs in marketing, especially with craft beer and everything like that. From that standpoint, that explains why I own the brewpubs. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nIt does present some complications but I understand what’s going on over there because there is law that I’m a retailer now, and so we have to be very careful that we don’t violate Illinois state law and get any extra benefits from a brewer. That’s a big issue and they’re very concerned about it, as I am too. It does present some problems but I do know the brand pretty well and we try, I try and promote the brand as much as ever. That’s what it is but it does present some complications.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nKarl: <\/b> Other breweries that have been acquired by A-B have brewpubs, including Ten Barrel and Elysian. Do you think it was just a question of legality, or do you think they were more comfortable with the craft beer world after purchasing Goose, to go into the brewpub world? <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
John<\/strong>:<\/span> I think they learned from Goose Island that brewpubs are very, very influential in the growth and marketing of craft beer. I think they’ve seen that with both the other’s one’s that they’ve acquired, how important they are.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nKarl: <\/b> Since you guys inked the deal, the rules have changed significantly, to the point where breweries and brewpubs can co-mingle a little bit. Revolution, for example, has a production facility and they started in a brewpub. Do you see a day where you’re ready to let A-B take over Clybourn as well?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
John<\/strong>: <\/span> I think that is a possibility, without a question, but yeah there’s nothing, nothing that I know of.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Anheuser Busch now owns Goose Island Clybourn, where Chicago’s craft beer scene took flight — and they plan to convert it into a taproom.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":822,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[935,944],"yoast_head":"\n
Goose Island Clybourn Sold to Anheuser-Busch | Guys Drinking Beer<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n