Not sure if you all heard, the company who owns SS Brewtech, along with many other lines like Wild Goose (Middleby) has shut down its brewing operations. SS Brewtech is having a pretty good sale. If you need any proprietary parts you might want to act fast. I’ve been eyeing the jacketed Uni and just got one at 25% off.
We use a Wild Goose canner at Olentangy River Brewing Co. (Sorry, shameless plug 
), so not sure how this will affect things. One concerning thing is I would have thought Middleby would have shopped around for a buyer…
The craft/home brew is now done with its cycle… perhaps it’ll sit in this lull for a few years before it starts back up again. Our craft brewery seems to be busy but it is kinda off the heavily travelled road and folks still like to enjoy brews by Moose Lake. Well, that is my thought.. Maybe you too have a corner spot that folks enjoy the atmosphere ?
Sneezles
Craft beee sales are down almost 5%. Diversity of your product is key.
Home brewing is down even more. So it doesn’t surprise me at all, especially when they also offer products for the commercial side.
I see a LOT of established homebrew shops offering really good sales and can only assume it’s a sign of what is continuing. Hopefully most can hang on.
different crowd doing home brewing now
the days of building your own setup are gone people buy a AIO and quickly get bored and quit brewing. I have a cheaper AIO and only use it occasionally, I find it boring myself. Come on, most home brewers are only brewing 5 gallons batches. If you don’t have the time you need a different hobby. I meet people who think you need one to brew good beer. If the companies pushed simple home brewing equipment then get people hooked then they can keep selling the next thing. If I spend a ton of money up front maybe I may not be willing to keep on spending
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I also believe that finding your product that you need not want. Yes it is time consuming and expenses have something with it. You can go to a brewery taste something and buy it.
Home brewing was way to get brews that were very tasty AND very cost effective. New Castle was the carrot in front of the horse for me. Then, the IPA’s and hops took over. I can say the last couple years before I stopped consuming alcohol, New Castle totally lost its original flavor and the hoppy brews just didn’t have the hop character l enjoyed. And then the price for barley kept creeping up. I don’t think the youngsters understand the process to create great brews and also don’t have the time. Maybe the disposable way of living has arrived full fledge now?
Sneezles
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