Can you elaborate on why the sale broke your heart? Was it because the beer itself changed? Or you were concerned that future development of new, different, beer would cease or move in a direction you didn't like? Or was it a political/philosophical issue of not wanting to support foreign corporations?

Lagunitas has some historical significance in the American craft brewing scene. Particularly with the launch and rise of "IPA" to national significance. It might not be a stretch to attribute "IPA" with significantly impacting the tide that lifted all craft beers. So yes, seeing them sell to a huge overseas beverage company felt a bit like losing part of our craft brewing heritage to a foreign company.

I'm also probably not alone in enjoying the feeling of at least pretending I'm supporting independently owned and operated craft breweries with my purchases :) It's getting harder these days with all the consolidation occuring.

The macro Brewing company holders (AB-InBev, et al) have used a similar embrace, extend, extinguish method to Microsoft in the 90s. Eg - buy out South African hop market, then only allow those unique hops to be used by AB-InBev owned breweries. Unlike with operating systems, the independent options are actually better. I can't speak to lagunitas as it isn't available in my market, but Goose Island beer has declined significantly since being bought out (their barrel aged ones are probably still fine, but Goose IPA is now available in many more bars, and is a much less-good beer.

> Goose Island beer has declined significantly since being bought out

The brewmaster quit when they sold. He moved to a tiny city in western Michigan (Fennville) and started a hard cider company. It's really interesting stuff - kind of like exploring what wine would be like if made with apples. No idea how widely it's distributed (if at all), but worth trying - Virtue Cider.

Interesting - I've added it to my list, in case I make it out that way. Thanks!

Cider has definitely been increasing the last few years, but even the funkiest wild-fermented ciders don't come close to what you can find in beer. In my experience!

> Unlike with operating systems, the independent options are actually better.

Wait, I know it was a throwaway comment, but are you saying Windows 10 (or some previous version) is actually better than any other OS?

Also, fwiw, I have tried a lot of craft beers but now find that Coors (the original American "microbrew," since it was only available in a relatively small area when I was young) satisfies my beer thirst. Though I'll admit that I'll happily drink Budweiser, Miller, Shiner (another original "microbrew"), or a number of other ordinary beers. Time-tested and true, all of them, with the bonus that their CEOs don't turn into politicians.

I guess we're probably completely opposite in tastes.

Edit: Have you ever had a Rolling Rock? It's a good beer.

> > Unlike with operating systems, the independent options are actually better.

> Wait, I know it was a throwaway comment, but are you saying Windows 10 (or some previous version) is actually better than any other OS?

Ha, yeah it was definitely a bit of a throwaway comment. I meant the opposite of that. I think a more accurate way for me to have said it would've been: "With craft beer, and unlike with OS, the independent options are indisputably better".

I'm not referring to the standard Macro brew styles - Bud, Coors, and even Rolling Rock are all indisputably good at what they do (American Lager, generally. https://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/style01.php ). But they aren't trying to be flavourful, adventurous, craft breweries. The independent craft breweries are the ones that have tried new things to see what stuck. They brought us the waves of IPA, and more recently kettle sour and gose. And the craft breweries that have been bought out (eg Goose Island) have generally not been as adventurous or responsive with new styles, and have not even maintained the quality with their existing recipes.

Unlike most of the user base on this site, craft beer is definitely my strong suit, and computer stuff secondary. That said, I think with operating systems, there is a lot of room for dispute (eg, Windows is definitely the best operating system for running AutoCAD or most games, but that doesn't make it the best for every use case). I guess the same could be said for beer. If you're looking for a nice lager, you're probably going to be better off with something reliable from the big breweries, than the ester-y "lager" some brand-new independent brewery is trying to sell you on. Sum it up: yep, a throwaway comment :)

Alpine is owned by some random holding company in Michigan now after Green Flash over extended themselves and collapsed. Alpine used to make incredible beer that Green Flash was never able to replicate. Thankfully you can still get it at their original pub in Alpine.

Yeah, that's a real shame; Duet is one of my favorite IPAs. The store up the road from me still gets Duet, Windows UP, and recently Nelson(the only Nelson hops beers I've seen in the USA). Not sure how they have changed(I read WC IPA changed after Silva left) but I'm keeping an eye on the whole situation haha.

Duet, Hoppy Birthday, Pure Hoppiness, and Nelson were four out of my five favorite beers. I'll keep it short and just say it was crushing watching GF fail over and over again with that merger.

You are also right about West Coast IPA changing after Silva left. They turned it into a DIPA and it wasn't nearly as good. Much sweeter and less balanced.

I have seen one of my favorite beers (Alpine) take a bit of a nose dive in quality around the time they sold to Green Flash. Pity. Their pre-GF beer was good.