Good Beer Hunting

We're a little over two months since Wicked Weed, one of the nation's most popular and ambitious sour beer producers, was acquired by AB InBev in a sale that set the beer world on edge. Indeed, it seemed to push many people over the edge, galvanizing craft beer's hardcore base against AB while others started reconsidering the future of craft beer, from its definitions and divisions to even the future of their own breweries and customers. Since then, AB InBev itself has seemed to get a bit on edge with the release of the Brewers Association "independence" seal. Despite the fact that the seal was reportedly in the works for more than two years, the timing of its release seemed to add fuel to the fire of an imminent crisis point between BA-defined craft brewers and those who had passed over the threshold into just being brewers of craft beer. In response, AB's High End group, which is a portfolio populated by those acquired craft brewers, many of whom have maintained their posts, are now part of a strategic and creative leadership team for AB. They created a somewhat impromptu video response to the BA encouraging them to think about the overall health of the beer category, which is indeed shrinking, as a result of increased competition from wine and spirits. Unity was their call, rather than division. And that, depending on your scale, priorities, and opinion of AB InBev, is either prescient or absurd. Needless to say, it's been a wild couple of months for craft beer. This barely scratches the surface, really. But relevant to today's guest, that's more than enough context for what makes this interview both timely and interesting to me. Today, I'm talking to Luke Dickinson of Wicked Weed. Luke is the less-exposed, less-publicized brother of Walt Dickinson. This starts as a story of siblings, Luke being the quiet one who was initially inspired to start a brewing career based on his time at Dogfish Head, and Walt being the more entrepreneurial type who saw Luke's vision for what was meant to be a nano brewery on paper, and consistently found opportunities to finance and scale the concept for Wicked Weed into the force it is now, including the sale to AB InBev, alongside the Guthys, a very successful, Asheville-based business family they've known since they were children. Talking to Luke, the story of Wicked Weed comes to light as a sort of humble concept that created its own vortex of growth and a series of can't-say-no kind of opportunities. It's a story of what happens when a single idea gets dispersed amongst four other partners, each with their own skill sets, resources, and ambitions. And if nothing else, it tells a story of how two brothers can challenge and motivate each other into unknown—and what remains still a somewhat-unknown territory. Before we begin, I wanted to give a couple shoutouts. First to Marco from Craft Commander down in Florida and Artisan & Apprentice, two blogs whose interviews with Luke some time ago served as great primary resources for some of the things we talk about today. It's amazing how much craft brewing history has been captured by writers all over the country in the last five years, and we appreciate what you do so much.

We’re a little over two months since Wicked Weed, one of the nation’s most popular and ambitious sour beer producers, was acquired by Ab Inbev in a sale that set the beer world on edge, and indeed, seemed to push many people over that edge. It galvanized craft beer’s hardcore base against AB Inbev, while others started reconsidering the future of craft beer, its definitions and divisions, and even the future of their own breweries and customers.

Since then, Ab Inbev itself seems to get a bit on edge with the release of the Brewers Association “independence” seal, which was reportedly int he works for over two years, but the timing of its release seemed to add fuel to the fire of an imminent crisis point between BA-defined craft brewers and those who had passed over the threshold into just being brewers of craft beer.

In response, AB Inbev’s High end group, which is a portfolio populated by those acquired craft brewers, many of whom have maintained their posts, are now part of a strategic and creative leadership team for AB Inbev. They created a somewhat impromptu video response to the BA encouraging them to think about the overall healthy of the beer category, which is indeed shrinking, as a result of increased competition from wine and spirits. Unity was their call, rather than division, which depending on your scale, priorities, and opinion of AB Inbev, is either prescient or absurd.

Needless to say, it’s been a wild couple of months for craft beer. This barely scratches the surface, really. But relevant to today’s guest, that’s more than enough content for what makes this interview both timely and interesting to me.

Today I’m talking to Luke Dickinson of Wicked Weed. Luke is the less exposed, less publicized brother of Walt Dickinson. This starts as a story of siblings, Luke being the quiet one who was initially inspired to start a brewing career base don his time at Dogfish Head, and Walt being the more entrepreneurial type who saw Luke’s vision for what was meant to be a nano brewery on paper, and consistently found opportunities to finance and scale the concept for Wicked Weed into the force it is now, including the sale to AB Inbev, alongside the Guthys, a very successful business family they’ve known since they were children.

Talking to Luke, the story of Wicked Weed comes to light as a sort of humble concept that created its own vortex of growth and a series of can’t-say-no kind of opportunities. It’s a story of what happens when a single idea gets dispersed amongst four other partners, each with their own skillets, resources, and ambitions. And if nothing else, it tells a story of how two brothers can challenge and motivate each other into unknown, and somewhat still unknown territory.

Before we begin I wanted to give a couple shoutouts. First to Marco from Craft Commander down in Florida and Artisan & Apprentice, two blogs who’s interviews with Luke some time ago served as a great primary resource for some of the things we talk about today. It’s amazing how much craft brewing history has been captured by writers all over the country in the last five years, and we appreciate what you do.

Our resident composer for the podcast and our commercial video work, Andrew Thiboldeaux, is writing original scores devoted to beers he finds fascinating. These are interpretations of the experience of drinking them. But they're also just great tunes.

Our resident composer for the podcast and our commercial video work, Andrew Thiboldeaux, is writing original scores devoted to beers he finds fascinating. These are interpretations of the experience of drinking them. But they're also just great tunes.

Our resident composer for the podcast and our commercial video work, Andrew Thiboldeaux, is writing original scores devoted to beers he finds fascinating. These are interpretations of the experience of drinking them. But they're also just great tunes.

We’re a little over two months since Wicked Weed, one of the nation’s most popular and ambitious sour beer producers, was acquired by Ab Inbev in a sale that set the beer world on edge, and indeed, seemed to push many people over that edge. It galvanized craft beer’s hardcore base against AB Inbev, while others started reconsidering the future of craft beer, its definitions and divisions, and even the future of their own breweries and customers.

Since then, Ab Inbev itself seems to get a bit on edge with the release of the Brewers Association “independence” seal, which was reportedly int he works for over two years, but the timing of its release seemed to add fuel to the fire of an imminent crisis point between BA-defined craft brewers and those who had passed over the threshold into just being brewers of craft beer.

In response, AB Inbev’s High end group, which is a portfolio populated by those acquired craft brewers, many of whom have maintained their posts, are now part of a strategic and creative leadership team for AB Inbev. They created a somewhat impromptu video response to the BA encouraging them to think about the overall healthy of the beer category, which is indeed shrinking, as a result of increased competition from wine and spirits. Unity was their call, rather than division, which depending on your scale, priorities, and opinion of AB Inbev, is either prescient or absurd.

Needless to say, it’s been a wild couple of months for craft beer. This barely scratches the surface, really. But relevant to today’s guest, that’s more than enough content for what makes this interview both timely and interesting to me.

Today I’m talking to Luke Dickinson of Wicked Weed. Luke is the less exposed, less publicized brother of Walt Dickinson. This starts as a story of siblings, Luke being the quiet one who was initially inspired to start a brewing career base don his time at Dogfish Head, and Walt being the more entrepreneurial type who saw Luke’s vision for what was meant to be a nano brewery on paper, and consistently found opportunities to finance and scale the concept for Wicked Weed into the force it is now, including the sale to AB Inbev, alongside the Guthys, a very successful business family they’ve known since they were children.

Talking to Luke, the story of Wicked Weed comes to light as a sort of humble concept that created its own vortex of growth and a series of can’t-say-no kind of opportunities. It’s a story of what happens when a single idea gets dispersed amongst four other partners, each with their own skillets, resources, and ambitions. And if nothing else, it tells a story of how two brothers can challenge and motivate each other into unknown, and somewhat still unknown territory.

Before we begin I wanted to give a couple shoutouts. First to Marco from Craft Commander down in Florida and Artisan & Apprentice, two blogs who’s interviews with Luke some time ago served as a great primary resource for some of the things we talk about today. It’s amazing how much craft brewing history has been captured by writers all over the country in the last five years, and we appreciate what you do.

London's beer scene is made up of a complex tapestry of interesting folks. Like with any beer community, its people are what really makes it, and here in London, one of those people is journalist Will Hawkes. Hawkes has written about beer since 2010 for mainstream publications such as The Independent, The Washington Post, and The Financial Times as well as specialist beer mags like BeerAdvocate and All About Beer. He's authored two books including the city beer guide Craft Beer London along with its accompanying app. And in 2013, he won the prestigious British Guild of Beer Writers Beer Writer of the Year Award. Will is also the brains behind London's original craft beer week, London Beer City, which is now entering its fourth year this August. Full disclosure: I'm now involved with helping Will organize this year's event, and as is often the case it was this involvement that made me realize that we should sit down and record a conversation together. As you might expect, our chat is typically London-centric as we dig into topics such as cask ale, the recent opening of Camden Town Brewery's $40 million facility and the recent acquisition of London Fields Brewery by Carlsberg and Brooklyn Brewery.

Will Hawkes – Beer Writer/Journalist London’s beer scene is made up of a complex tapestry of colourful folks. Like with any beer community, its people are what really makes it and here in London one of those people is Journalist and Beer Writer Will Hawkes. Hawkes has written about beer since 2010 for mainstream publications such as the Independent, The Washington Post and The Financial Times as well as specialist beer mags like Beer Advocate and All About Beer. He’s authored two books including the city beer guide Craft Beer London along with its accompanying app and in 2013 he won the prestigious British Guild of Beer Writers Beer Writer of the Year Award. Will is also the brains behind London’s original craft beer week, London Beer City, which is now entering its fourth year this August. Full disclosure: I’m now involved with helping Will organize this years event, and as is often the case it was this involvement that made me realize that we should sit down and record aconversation together. As you’d expect our conversation is typically London-centric and we dig into topics such as cask ale, the recent opening of Camden Town Brewery’s $40millon facility and the recent acquisition of London Fields Brewery by Carlsberg and Brooklyn Brewery.

Will Hawkes – Beer Writer/Journalist London’s beer scene is made up of a complex tapestry of colourful folks. Like with any beer community, its people are what really makes it and here in London one of those people is Journalist and Beer Writer Will Hawkes. Hawkes has written about beer since 2010 for mainstream publications such as the Independent, The Washington Post and The Financial Times as well as specialist beer mags like Beer Advocate and All About Beer. He’s authored two books including the city beer guide Craft Beer London along with its accompanying app and in 2013 he won the prestigious British Guild of Beer Writers Beer Writer of the Year Award. Will is also the brains behind London’s original craft beer week, London Beer City, which is now entering its fourth year this August. Full disclosure: I’m now involved with helping Will organize this years event, and as is often the case it was this involvement that made me realize that we should sit down and record aconversation together. As you’d expect our conversation is typically London-centric and we dig into topics such as cask ale, the recent opening of Camden Town Brewery’s $40millon facility and the recent acquisition of London Fields Brewery by Carlsberg and Brooklyn Brewery.

On this week's bonus episode, we're going to get to know some of our subscribers, a community we started called the Fervent Few. These folks subscribe to GBH like a magazine, supporting us financially each month. As part of their subscriber benefits, they join the GBH team in a community forum where we discuss a wide range of topics—a forum that includes professional retailers, brewers, distributors, and sales people with expert perspectives. But in the Fervent Few community, everyone has an equal voice, and a respect for others opinions. I've been thrilled to see so many genuine and intellectually honest conversations transpire. The community is managed by Jim Plachy, and each week he hosts a weekly topic with our members. We're going to get to know him a little bit better this week, and I think you'll see why we immediately fell in love with him and put him in charge of this thing. He joined as a subscriber himself, and through his natural force of personality, started running the show. After that, we'll ring up a couple Fervent Few members and get their perspective on the community, and what they thought about this past week's topic, the new Independent logo created by the Brewers Association.