2016 has been called out in general by Last Week Tonight and John Oliver….
…and it hasn’t been super great for craft beer either. I know there is a month left but I am left to hope that 2017 will be better.
Among the items that disturbed me this year:
-the unstoppable fruit IPA trend. I remember talking to the folks from 21st Amendment and they were dismissive of it, then they released one.
-SABInBev buying into homebrew supplies. Really? Trying to choke off innovation or just cashing in (late as always)
-rising prices. Each year it seems that I and other consumers need to be smarter shoppers.
-slow response to born on dating. Come on. If you are scared your IPA won’t sell because of it then you should make a better one.
-declining growth. Not that decline but the response to it. Why does everything have to grow double-digits every year. That’s how you end up chasing illusory dreams.
-whale hunters. I will have to add them to every frackin’ yearly round-up. And it irks me every time. But hey, some people like standing in lines.
Come on 2017. I like Canada but I don’t wanna do all that paperwork.