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"DrJohn":h5nmblxa wrote: Thirdly, I thought that Irish breweries were listed (and supported) on this site determined by their output per year.[/quote:h5nmblxa]We follow the excise duty rebate rules, and they take account of the whole company, not the individual breweries it operates.

While wishing them all the best, looking forward to their festivals in the coming months and continuing to drink their beer, I don't think the Franciscan Well requires the official support of a consumer group.

I really really don't agree with this statement. To put so much stock in a press statement isn't right. I thought that beoir would support independent brewers craft brewers. We have just lost one. I'm really saddened by this statement.


[quote:3aoz5tik]Comment by Sean Billings, chairman of Beoir, the Irish beer consumers' group: "While it's always a concern when a brewery loses its independence, I think Franciscan Well will be in safe hands. Molson Coors has a good track record in the UK and seems to recognise the value of individuality among its acquisitions. We therefore expect that the quality of Franciscan Well products will remain as high as ever under its new owners. Furthermore, the international opportunities now open bode well for the profile of Irish beer abroad, as well as providing a clear indication that the domestic craft beer market is in good health and has plenty of room for expansion."[/quote:3aoz5tik]

"Irishman2":1rols8n2 wrote: I thought that beoir would support independent brewers craft brewers.[/quote:1rols8n2]It does. What it doesn't do is attack breweries which aren't independent or craft.

For the record, I completely & wholeheartedly agree with the above release from Sean.
What else would the group do? Pitchfork/flaming torch vigil outside of the Well?! Burn effiges of Jean Claude Van Damme in his denim?! Lordy, this could be the gateway to an interest in Irish beers that goes beyond the island, which can only be a positive thing.

I know i'm a bit annoyed by the acquisition, but that statement is an endorsement. It makes alot of assumptions and conveys no concerns. I really don't want beoir to attack anyone. I'll can give out myself <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: --> Its a really really strange statement. Why?

I just want to make it clear, that i'm not against any brewery. I like all types of beer, but I won't drink a blue moon because I feel that misrepresenting beers as been craft to consumers is wrong.

If Franciscian Well puts clearly on it's bottle, Franciscian Well owned by Molsen Coors, then I will be drinking it from time to time myself. Does that make sense? I'd rather they weren't owned by them and i'll have a preference for real Irish independent craft beer.

Has anyone here seen beer wars?

&amp;quot;Irishman2&amp;quot;:3ob3g1jd wrote: Its a really really strange statement. Why?[/quote:3ob3g1jd]I think the reasoning would be better discussed on the members' forum. If you'd like to join Beoir, drop me a PM.

&amp;quot;Irishman2&amp;quot;:3ob3g1jd wrote: If Franciscian Well puts clearly on it's bottle, Franciscian Well owned by Molsen Coors, then I will be drinking it from time to time myself. Does that make sense? [/quote:3ob3g1jd]They've been completely up front and public about the arrangements and plans. It would be very hard to accuse them of trying to pull a fast one on the drinking public when they did a major PR job on the takeover. Had they not done so I think Beoir would definitely have had a job to point out what was really going on. We'd have been calling in veterans of the Árainn Mhór campaign <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

We'll be continuing to promote what is independent Irish craft beer as distinct from what is not so drinkers can make an informed choice.