Spec’s Beer Category Manager provides insight on Texas market, Lagunitas
Interesting insights on Texas from a major beer retailer…
As for a particular brewery that is doing great things in Texas right now, Lagunitas really stands out in my mind. I think the perfect environment has been created for them in Texas. As I just mentioned, Texas is a hop centric state; Lagunitas is a hop centric brewery. The price points on their year-round items are also very attractive which is extremely helpful. But, I think the largest factor in their success actually came from the attention Dogfish Head received due to their nation-wide exposure on the Discovery Channel [Ed. Note: Thank you telegenic Sam Calagione). Following the TV series, every account across the state experienced major out of stock issues that still haven’t been rectified. Slowly, the distributor, retailers and customers began filling those voids with similar products. Lagunitas gained vacant draft lines, shelf space and customer loyalty due to the fact that they could actually get their products in.
via Beer Biz Daily.
Breweries: Lagunitas Brewing
With all the great breweries in the U. S. I felt I had tasted them all and many are really very very good, yes. So why go anywhere else, I asked myself.
Then in Argentina I tasted JEROME handcrafted brews. Better than many I had tasted in the U. S. and now the brewery, small as it is, is adding new lines to their original 5 and some are outstanding. Their new Barley and Imperial Stout are just the “tip” as the owner Eduardo Maccari was telling me. All ingredients are from Argentina including the Andes water which runs through a tributary on their propery. No tap or treated water in these “puppies”!! Their Diablo and tripple Diablo and Barley are outstanding and they brew an ale called ArcAngel that is matured for 5 years in 2nd use French Malbec Oak barrels – and that is ArcAngel Suave and ArcAngel PORTER !!
YUP – 5 years!!!! Not for everyone but——–WOW!! The new lines Eduardo is contemplating are going even further “out”!!!! The original line of 5 are sold in a few states but none of the new are reaching the U. S. Just a note for you to say, “there are tremendous brews” outside of the U.S. for those who venture “beyond borders”!!!!