The downtown Indianapolis brewing scene may have received a big blow today. The Indianapolis Business Journal Property Lines blog reports that California Pizza Kitchen will replace Alcatraz Brewing Company.I asked brewer Skip Duvall what this means for him and he emailed me:
I heard this rumor, but you just confirmed it. Have no idea what will happen.It's certainly a shame that he heard this news from the media instead of his employer. Alcatraz was part of downtown's resugerance and the first of downtown's breweries. While it was a corporate brewery, the brewers had flexibility with their beers. It doesn't appear that any California Pizza Kitchens have in house breweries, so I can only assume that brewing will cease at that location. But hopefully we are wrong.
We wish Skip the best of luck, one way or another.
I set-up the brewing equipment in Alcatraz oh those many years ago. It was a top of the line system back then and is still high tech. The story of the silo is interesting, ask me next time you see me.
ReplyDeleteI hope some of the Indy brewers will snatch up the equipment!
Bad deal that the brewer must learn it from someone else. Hate to hear this news.
ReplyDeleteYa i work there and had to hear from the news also that i dont have a job anymore??? wtf
ReplyDeletehate to say it but I would expect this from a couple more indy brewers soon...market is getting waaay too flooded!
ReplyDeleteToo flooded? Nonsense.
ReplyDeletewait and see, demand is not growing as fast as the supply rate...how many breweries have opened in the past year alone...how many people are going to lose huge accounts once scotties starts replacing other crafts with their own...how much longer will people be willing to pay $11 for a 4 pack of cream ale?
ReplyDeleteAdjustments? Surely. But to say there isn't room for growth is simply not true.
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely room for moderate growth...but the indy area has experienced huge growth over the past year, with more scheduled to open in 2011...
ReplyDeleteI can't believe people would moan and groan about new craft breweries opening in the area. Room in the market? We only make up a tiny percentage as it is! It isn't about getting a sliver of our small piece of pie, it's about growing the piece. And we do that by converting people one pint at a time.
ReplyDeleteSorry to Alcatraz and to Skip. Horrible news.
I don't think anybody's complaining about too much growth, but to think that every one of these new brewing operations will be around in three years (hell, probably one year) is completely foolish. Businesses fail, and it's not because they're bad people or selling a product that nobody wants. I'd say Sun King and Scotty's are the only sure things, and the rest are a coin toss. Both of the brewpubs in Plainfield are going to be successful? Not likely.
ReplyDeleteCraft beer consumption in Indiana is still very small compared to other states. That certainly means that there is room to grow, but it also means that for now there are only so many customers to go around.
There used to be thousands of small breweries, like one in every neighborhood! Why can't things be like that again? If only every bar could make and server their own beer, what a sight to behold.
ReplyDeleteLiquor laws do make it difficult to be profitable as a nano, but I don't know that nanos do it for the profits as much as for the love. I mean it's nice to make a living, but making a living doing something you love vs. making a living as a robot -- well, hopefully you get my point.
I'd do it today if I wasn't broke with 2 kids and a family to support. I think it will be my retirement plan at the very least. If things go well, perhaps we can ramp up that plan several decades.
If you want to try Alcatraz's beer one last time they still have one keg of their bock on tap at Tomlinson Tap room as of Saturday.
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