I wonder if / when the downturn will affect the winery industry. Current 18-26 yo's drink way less than my generation did.

I don't drink so alcohol producers stepping on their members has no impact on me other than being entertaining and making me wonder if they are consuming too much of their own product.

They were solid. I prefer B-52 if I'm in that area, though.

DeschutesAg said:

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Small breweries and brewpubs having been shutting down all across America. A combination of over-expansion + weakening demand + higher beer prices + higher input costs + consumers having less disposable income.

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Fire Ant in Tomball shut down a couple weeks ago. Couple that ran it wanted to spend more time with the grand kids. Between the lines says it was profitable enough for them, but not enough for one of their kids, or even a manager, to take over. Might have been more a labor of love/passion thing than generational business.

But with those trends in mind if you're going to survive or grow it's best to just not pick sides.

Location is east of 45 and off the beaten path even for Conroe. Place itself was small and nothing noteworthy about it.

Kenneth_2003 said:

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DeschutesAg said:

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Small breweries and brewpubs having been shutting down all across America. A combination of over-expansion + weakening demand + higher beer prices + higher input costs + consumers having less disposable income.

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Fire Ant in Tomball shut down a couple weeks ago. Couple that ran it wanted to spend more time with the grand kids. Between the lines says it was profitable enough for them, but not enough for one of their kids, or even a manager, to take over. Might have been more a labor of love/passion thing than generational business.

But with those trends in mind if you're going to survive or grow it's best to just not pick sides.

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Hated to see Fire Ant close down. Hopefully, someone gives it a go. I've completed many a work task there!

Wasn't this the brewery where the founder was shot and killed answering his front door and the murder was never solved?

It's a tough business

Overhead, equipment, ingredients are a killer

And frankly, the product at some of these places just kinda sucks

But I think the big national brewers are in for rough times. That mass produced, flavorless light lager is just terrible and holds about zero appeal to anyone under about 40

But yeah, alcohol sales are way down. It's not just beer. The whiskey distillers in Kentucky and Tennessee are taking it on the chin

Vodka seems to be doing ok I guess. Judging by the shelf space it occupies at specs. I guess Gen Z still likes their Chocolatinis and Lemon Drops

TX_COWDOC said:

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[read in the Bud Light commercial dude's voice]
Real Men of Genius….
Here's to you Mr. Brewmaster turned political activist.
It's not enough to brew skunky, over hopped beer. You also have to interject your wokeness on your patrons.

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Would have been good if you had used the word "interject" properly.

Good. Maybe it will get easier to buy Long Necks by Lone Star now. Really hard to find any more.

Phooey! How's that? Good call out. My father and sister are the English majors in the family!

TX_COWDOC said:

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Phooey! How's that? Good call out. My father and sister are the English majors in the family!

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In that sentence, the word you were looking for was "impose."

You can't interject something on somebody.

Budweiser seems to be doing ok.

No, they are just doing pot and ketamine instead of drinking.

TX04Aggie said:

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No, they are just doing pot and ketamine instead of drinking.

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I stand by what I said.

bonfarr said:

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Wasn't this the brewery where the founder was shot and killed answering his front door and the murder was never solved?

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No, that guy owned a distributor, Duff

AozorAg said:

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TX_COWDOC said:

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[read in the Bud Light commercial dude's voice]
Real Men of Genius….
Here's to you Mr. Brewmaster turned political activist.
It's not enough to brew skunky, over hopped beer. You also have to interject your wokeness on your patrons.

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Would have been good if you had used the word "interject" properly.

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Would have been good if properly you had used the word "interject".

FIFY

Kenneth_2003 said:

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Aside from Gin, vodka is generally the next easiest spirit to produce. Dig deeply enough and you'll find that most of these, including many of the "craft" products start with GNS (grain neutral spirit). It's just distilled food grade ethanol. No aging required, no barrels.

Why did you see distilleries start packaging and shipping hand sanitizer during Covid? They were using their GNS and putting it into a carrier gel.

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Yeah it's easier to produce, but also, people still buy it and use it.

It's neutral and it's versatile. Younger women consume an infinite number and recipes for "martinis" and other cocktails. And it's inexpensive. A 5th of Aggie owned Enchanted Rock is like $15

Bourbon, not so much, and the Appalachian distillers are struggling

As for "craft" vodka production, I had no idea how prefabricated those products are until I got set straight here on TexAgs. lol

Waning fad + people trying to get healthier with sleep tracking showing them how bad alcohol is for it + gummies

DeschutesAg said:

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Small breweries and brewpubs having been shutting down all across America. A combination of over-expansion + weakening demand + higher beer prices + higher input costs + consumers having less disposable income.

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Username checks out

Buddy of mine owns a distillery down in Beeville. Opened up right after I moved back to Houston, but I learned a good deal through conversation.

I was shocked at how little really goes into "craft" vodka.
He has an unaged whiskey that mixes well