Scan barcode
petertruog's review
4.0
Much more enjoyable than anticipated. Great narrative-based storytelling, and makes you really question what it means to be a craft brewer, and to challenge the pros and cons of craft brewers selling to macro brands. Also just some great characters and stories from the world of small and big beer.
ajkhn's review
4.0
It's a nifty enough book to read a few minutes at a time on my phone -- more as a social media replacement than as an honest-to-god book. I don't mean that as a dig; Noel is a good and concise writer, and he does a good job of keeping what could be an enormous cast of characters manageable.
I could never figure out if Noel was making fun of the Hall family or not. John Hall is...well, he's a Hinsdale executive who found out he could make a lot of money selling beer. There aren't a lot of heroes, just cynical entrepreneurs and the folks they strung along. I'm not sure if Noel knows that or not, if I'm reading this book against the grain or not.
The fact that the book is clear-eyed is great. It's not a diatribe either way. I think it could have been more interesting if it went into the second and third wave of brewers in Chicago, but it was clear that they wanted to keep the book national and not a Chicago story. It's an interesting book, that maybe could have been a bit more interesting (for me) and be less of a best-seller. It's all the same, a good book if you're interested in how the phenomenon of craft brewing began.
I could never figure out if Noel was making fun of the Hall family or not. John Hall is...well, he's a Hinsdale executive who found out he could make a lot of money selling beer. There aren't a lot of heroes, just cynical entrepreneurs and the folks they strung along. I'm not sure if Noel knows that or not, if I'm reading this book against the grain or not.
The fact that the book is clear-eyed is great. It's not a diatribe either way. I think it could have been more interesting if it went into the second and third wave of brewers in Chicago, but it was clear that they wanted to keep the book national and not a Chicago story. It's an interesting book, that maybe could have been a bit more interesting (for me) and be less of a best-seller. It's all the same, a good book if you're interested in how the phenomenon of craft brewing began.
niccos's review
5.0
A great narrative covering the history of craft beer and honing in on the stories of two foundationally different breweries uniting under seemingly impossible circumstances. An informative, page-turning read which avoided becoming preachy, which isn't to be understated with this type of book
carolynschaf's review
4.0
I really liked this book. I did not know the story behind Goose Island. Nor the story of Anheuser Busch InBev methodical takeover. I enjoyed it but am very passionate about craft beer. If you just kind of think it's okay, you're better off reading an article.
abookolive's review
4.0
Macrobreweries dominated the beer market for decades, but when craft beer began growing in popularity, the big boys started to see them as a threat. This is the story of how beer giant Anheuser-Busch acquired Chicago's Goose Island, producer of a beloved and lauded barrel-aged stout. The purchase ended up being a watershed moment, marking a turning point in the beer industry when big beer started to see microbreweries as potential competitors and decided to gobble them up before they became a toothier opponent.
Josh Noel, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, does a fantastic job outlining this situation and all the different ways it was significant to the modern beer market.
I discussed this book with a fellow beer enthusiast over on Booktube!
Josh Noel, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, does a fantastic job outlining this situation and all the different ways it was significant to the modern beer market.
I discussed this book with a fellow beer enthusiast over on Booktube!
nickmiller's review
5.0
Great book that not only delves into the nitty gritty of the beer business in the US, but also clearly articulates why we as consumers should care about where the beer came from and who made it, not just the quality of the liquid in the glass.
thebookedbamlet's review
4.0
A well-written, well-researched narrative about the growth of one of craft beer first pioneers and how that growth contributed to the prevailing dominance of Big Beer in the craft space. As a professed beer geek, this book was enlightening and a little saddening, but I enjoyed it all the same.
morelivesplz's review
4.0
The amount of research done was shown throughout the book. Entertaining read diving into the business of beer. My main highlight was about how people may just care about the beer in their glass and others also care about HOW the beer got into their glass. Love it!
ralovesbooks's review
4.0
Thank you to Chicago Review Press for my free copy!
My small town has a long tradition of craft beer, and as I read this book, I overlaid that history on the timeline of Goose Island's launch, development, and sale. In my town, the annual fall beer festival started in 1998, and the winter festival began in 2014. In the intervening years, so much happened in the world of craft beer, and this book is a clear, interesting take on those events. I appreciated the hometown spin from Chicago Tribune writer Josh Noel, and I felt that the objective journalistic style left the reader to decide if there were any good or bad guys. I love anything behind-the-scenes, and this book was like the most thorough brewery tour. I would definitely recommend it to a beer lover, especially if you have a mind for business.
When I got into craft beer around 2012, I knew not to buy or order Goose Island. "It's really Budweiser," my more savvy beer friends said. We had plenty of selection in my area, so I never perceived a loss. Goose Island was one of a few breweries/beers I knew to avoid because of big beer acquisition, but over time, I lost track. Which ones don't we like any more? The author writes well about how Anheuser-Busch InBev intentionally obfuscated brands and beers to hide how beers were brewed, and indeed, question what really qualified as craft beer. There's another layer of the business end of the operation, with lots of detail about the mergers and acquisitions from that time, including stats on profitability and growth. A lot of that went over my head, but I appreciated the rigor, and I think those details would be of interest to someone who has interest in finance and investment.
My small town has a long tradition of craft beer, and as I read this book, I overlaid that history on the timeline of Goose Island's launch, development, and sale. In my town, the annual fall beer festival started in 1998, and the winter festival began in 2014. In the intervening years, so much happened in the world of craft beer, and this book is a clear, interesting take on those events. I appreciated the hometown spin from Chicago Tribune writer Josh Noel, and I felt that the objective journalistic style left the reader to decide if there were any good or bad guys. I love anything behind-the-scenes, and this book was like the most thorough brewery tour. I would definitely recommend it to a beer lover, especially if you have a mind for business.
When I got into craft beer around 2012, I knew not to buy or order Goose Island. "It's really Budweiser," my more savvy beer friends said. We had plenty of selection in my area, so I never perceived a loss. Goose Island was one of a few breweries/beers I knew to avoid because of big beer acquisition, but over time, I lost track. Which ones don't we like any more? The author writes well about how Anheuser-Busch InBev intentionally obfuscated brands and beers to hide how beers were brewed, and indeed, question what really qualified as craft beer. There's another layer of the business end of the operation, with lots of detail about the mergers and acquisitions from that time, including stats on profitability and growth. A lot of that went over my head, but I appreciated the rigor, and I think those details would be of interest to someone who has interest in finance and investment.
nataliemcollins's review
5.0
One of the most enjoyable reads I have experienced in a long time. I grew up with Goose Island and remember the sale to AB very well. Also remember I consequently stopped drinking their beer. Well rounded story telling. I'm looking forward to revisiting the beers. Hopefully there's a 312 telephone tap handle on the horizon.