BeerPulse has been around in its various incarnations (it used to be known as Beernews.org not more than 4-5 months ago, wow) though your editor has learned relatively little about the wine industry during that time. So imagine his surprise when he stumbled upon an article in the Yakima Herald-Republic about Artisanal winemakers praising Gallo’s purchase of a couple local comrades. Gallo just happens to be the world’s largest privately-owned wine producer.
"I think the entrance into the state by a California producer signals that Washington has grown up to the point that it is an important, viable player in the wine industry," Shiels said. In fact, the Washington wine industry’s response to Gallo’s acquisition early last month has been overwhelmingly positive, which may appear Pollyannaish to other industries where competition is much more cutthroat.
Now, think back to A-B InBev’s purchase of Goose Island and the mixed reaction that it drew. Recall this past week’s article about what is new at Goose Island and whether your favorite beers from this brewery have changed at all in the year or so since then.
Is the craft beer industry rhetoric that Big Beer’s entry into ‘craft’ is bad for small brewers valid or tired?
What differences exist between the beer and wine industry that make these lines that we’ve drawn in the craft beer sands important?