Comments on: No Victory in Winning for WA Wholesalers http://www.washingtonbeerblog.com/no-victory-in-winning-for-wa-wholesalers/ Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:46:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: P. Fruit Trees http://www.washingtonbeerblog.com/no-victory-in-winning-for-wa-wholesalers/comment-page-1/#comment-415 P. Fruit Trees Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:43:05 +0000 http://www.washingtonbeerblog.com/?p=2035#comment-415 I think that back when they reinstated alcohol with provisions (three tier 'anti-monopoly') they never anticipated an entity like Costco. I am happy that Washington has made strides to allow for better access between the consumer and the brewery but its far from perfect. Today for instance if you want order a case of Midnight Sun you can, but with shipping costs what they are you are less likely to want to purchase a pallet of Sockeye. In regards to the whole "Costco" brand of beer, I would say that if it tastes like a Gordon Biersch then its still Gordon Biersch no matter what you call it. Thanks for the post guys. Now who is up for some beer this weekend?! I think that back when they reinstated alcohol with provisions (three tier ‘anti-monopoly’) they never anticipated an entity like Costco. I am happy that Washington has made strides to allow for better access between the consumer and the brewery but its far from perfect. Today for instance if you want order a case of Midnight Sun you can, but with shipping costs what they are you are less likely to want to purchase a pallet of Sockeye.
In regards to the whole “Costco” brand of beer, I would say that if it tastes like a Gordon Biersch then its still Gordon Biersch no matter what you call it.

Thanks for the post guys. Now who is up for some beer this weekend?!

]]> By: Patrick http://www.washingtonbeerblog.com/no-victory-in-winning-for-wa-wholesalers/comment-page-1/#comment-414 Patrick Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:59:00 +0000 http://www.washingtonbeerblog.com/?p=2035#comment-414 Is this why Costco started branding their own line of beer? (Kirkland Beer, produced on contract by some brewery in California). Seems like selling your own beer is one way to get around the middleman and get better prices. The wholesalers don't get much sympathy from me if they're basically a state-enforced monopoly. It's no problem if they provide a re-selling service that adds enough value (logistics, supply chain mgmt, etc) that businesses genuinely wanted to use them; but they shouldn't need laws to force people to buy from them. Is this why Costco started branding their own line of beer? (Kirkland Beer, produced on contract by some brewery in California). Seems like selling your own beer is one way to get around the middleman and get better prices.
The wholesalers don’t get much sympathy from me if they’re basically a state-enforced monopoly. It’s no problem if they provide a re-selling service that adds enough value (logistics, supply chain mgmt, etc) that businesses genuinely wanted to use them; but they shouldn’t need laws to force people to buy from them.

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