Forgive me, I gotta rant on this one. In the news today, John McDonald, Founder and President of Boulevard Brewing Company, released a open letter announcing that he has sold the company to a Belgium-based brewery called Duvel Moortgat. He is keeping a minority stake in and will be on the board of the company. A recent transplant to the area, I have come to drink and enjoy Boulevard a lot. It is my preferred drink of choice and I love taking friends who come down for the weekend from Des Moines for a tour of the brewery. It is a living and breathing landmark of the city and a lot of KC folk take pride in our hometown beer. Ive read a few tweets and updates by people in the area saying tonight, this beer tastes just a little different. Like its not their hometown beer anymore. Let me retort. 1. Get over yourself. 2. If you could take some time and actually look at the company doing the buying, youll realize they are looking to take American craft beer and take back to Europe to expand their reach. 3. All indications point to nothing changing of any significance at our brewery. They are still going to turn out great beer and have some weird experimental beers (had a taste of one once at a tour...didnt like it at all. Some beers just dont work). 4. For me, most importantly, John McDonald sank a quarter century of work, money, resources, blood, sweat, and tears into making his brewery into a Kansas City icon. If he wants to bank some of that equity into a retirement, look at that tasty beverage and say Nice work, John. Heres to you. Tonight, if you Boulevard beer tastes different, look in the mirror and it will reflect the difference. Oh, and Go Chiefs. -T
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 10:11:25 +0000