niccos's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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.
mlindner's review against another edition
4.0
Started re-reading 22 June 2018 after getting an early start one night late in Corvallis.
apgreader's review against another edition
4.0
This book was very interesting, especially if you like beer. It is incredibly well researched and we'll written. You go from cheering for Goose Island to hating them to understanding. It also was very illuminating how underhanded AB inbev has been throughout history. My only wish was that it included a timeline that summarized all of the events described in the book.