Larger local Craft Brewery releases similar beer.

[Noble31]

Looking for a little advice.

The local large craft brewery in our area just released a new beer that is almost exactly the same as what was going to be one of our core beers. Has anyone else ran into this same situation? What did you do in response?
Where my biggest concern comes from is we are about 18months away from opening and i dont want consumers who dont know us thinking we are just trying to ride on someone else's coat tails.

Any advice appreciated.


Chris

Red Crow Brewing Company.

[Covert Operator]

Short answer? Change your plans, change your recipe.

One of the laws of marketing is, "You don't have to be the best if you are the first."

You won't want to fight an established brand/ recipe once it has been introduced into the market.

[Noble31]

Thats what i was thinking. I have a couple other ideas in the same beer just haven't tried them out with anyone else.

May just scrap that style as one of our core beers.

Thanks

Chris

Red Crow Brewing Company.

[liammckenna]

I think your logic is flawed.

Guinness/Beamish/Murphys are not the only stout producers out there. I've had dozens of pale ales from different companies that I could swear were identical.

Even if you are the first, it doesn't ensure loyal custom.

Just do it well. Make beer to the best of your abilities and you'll be fine.

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

A recipe is worth the paper it is written on really. You can take the same recipe and produce it in three brewhouses by three brewers and it will likely be noticeably different from each establishment.

Relax and focus on what you need to do to get open and producing beer.

Pax.

Liam

[Phinney Wood]

I agree with Liam. Is there only one IPA out there?

If you were doing a novelty beer like double black imperial peach kolsch I could see the problem, otherwise I wouldn't worry.

[Bham Brewer]

heck, you could always look at theirs as a marketing tool for you... see how it's selling, talk to some bartenders and retailers about the beer, what responses has it gotten? You can then adjust yours, if need be, to make the product people are wanting... Or, you could find it isn't selling well at all and you're better off not fooling with it...

[Noble31]

Thanks everyone for there advice. After thinking about it and discussing it with the rest of our members we're going to tweak it just a little and go ahead with it.

All help is appreciated and well be asking more questions her in the future.

Thanks

Chris

Red Crow Brewing Company.