The Josh Innes Show - The Death Of Craft Breweries

Episode Date: May 16, 2025

I read a story about how many of Houston's craft breweries are closing. I don't root for the demise of these establishments. I love craft breweries. I enjoy craft beer. My issue is that craft beers try too hard to be different from the domestic beers the majority of the country enjoys. Also, the more I look at rental homes in the Houston burbs, the more I want to move back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alright, Jamokes, what's happening? Still on the job hunt. Do have a confirmation that I will not be getting the Baton Rouge job because they've already hired someone. As I told you, I would not even be up for that and that's obviously something they've had planned for a long time because Guy announces he's leaving a show on a Wednesday and then by Friday you have a new host. That means you've been at this for a while. That means that one of my best buddies in the world, Mr. Matt Moscona, did not even have any interest in having me do that, which hey, it's his radio station. Do whatever you want. That's your world, pal, and I'm not going to judge you for it. But we'll scratch that one off the list. I only brought it up because I had so many Baton

Rouge people that are my friends and family like, holy cow, Josh, you could come back to Baton Rouge and you could work here to be great. We can all hang out. And I've discussed that I'm very in I'm like the idea of Louisiana doesn't bother me all that much. But the idea of being so close to family, which means then you have to do stuff for family. That's where I'm like, eh, like it's nice when you're the guy that gets to come to town every couple of years and everyone's excited to see you.

It's not a good spot to be the guy that's there every day and everyone gets sick of you. And I think that's what would happen. Like you're like the belle of the ball every time you come back to visit because you live somewhere else and people are just glad to see you. You know, your dad's glad to see you, mom's glad to see you, stepmom's glad to see you, mom's glad to see you, stepmom's glad to see you, sister's glad to see you, friends are glad to see you. Then you only have to talk with everybody for you know, like one day and then you get to leave and then like they miss you. So when you come home, they're like, Oh my God, Josh is home

everybody. This is great. If you're there every day, you're there, you know, you live there a week and all of a sudden people are like, God damn, Josh, leave, go away. Now there are perks. My dad has a swimming pool. I could hang out in that swimming pool all the time and I would very much enjoy it. So there's one positive. I like the houses in Louisiana, that's a positive. I like the food in Louisiana, that's a positive. And I do not dislike my family. I love my family very much. I just do not want them to get sick of me. The negative is, like the negative is the case everywhere, there is no job right now. So that's kind of where I'm at on that. But speaking of places that I'd

like to live, let me play a couple commercials. Because if something doesn't pop here in the next couple of weeks, we have to pick somewhere to move because we're not going to stay in this house and I'm sure as fuck not staying in St. Louis. No offense to St. Louis, fine folks, but like if I'm just going to pick a place that I want to live to try to, you know, go do something with my life, it's not going to be here. Sorry, it's just not. But anyway, let me play a couple commercials and we will continue. I got myself into a little situation yesterday, and it's a situation

I didn't want to put myself in. But I just randomly started looking at rental houses in Houston area, right? Because I've got friends there, not as many as I used to. It's crazy. Like, if you think about all the people I used to hang out with 15 years ago in Houston, only a handful of them are still there. Like Bootsy from 610 is still there and Meltzer is still there. Now I know a shitload of people, but it's not like people I'd hang out with all the time,

but like people that weren't our crew that aren't married and have kids or whatever, like Bootsy doesn't have kids, Meltzer doesn't have kids, PK and Denise don't have kids, but they don't live there anymore. So it's like, you know, what do you do? Who do you hang out with? Right? That's part of the appeal of Houston is I know Houston, I've lived in Houston, I know the people in Houston. And, and like, basically, here's what happened. So first of all, I saw a story about how like craft breweries are closing around the state of Texas. And I get it because, like, I think it's one of those bubbles that was bound to burst

and I think part of the problem that a lot of these craft breweries have run into is they make booze for beer snobs and not everybody is a beer snob and that's not to say all of them like our guys at Spindle Tap have done awesome stuff. Like there are places that do good like beers. And I'm not telling you that there isn't a place for some 10% IPA. But that place for the most part is not in my belly. My belly likes beers that are domestic or beers that can mimic the deliciousness and the drinkability of domestic beers all while being crafty. And I'm totally fine with that right but I was reading this

story and it's the craft beer boom that once swept through Houston is now showing signs of slowing beloved local breweries such as Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company, Ingenious Brewing and Black Page Brewing have all shuttered since the pandemic. I didn't know that. I guess I did know that Buffalo Bayou closed. I mean look and I hate that. I hate when local businesses, I hate when people that are out there putting their blood, sweat and tears into shit. I hate when that kind of stuff closes down. But part of the problem you run into when you get into this craft business and I don't know a ton about it, but I think what happens is you

get too cutesy with a lot of the shit you're making and you make heavy shit that the average person doesn't want to drink. You know, like there's a reason why the most high end of like scotches and whiskies and shit are owned by like collectors and shit. Not everybody gives a shit about drinking like Pappy Van Winkle or whatever the fuck the biggest uh that's like Matt, my buddy Matt. Like he's a big like whiskey snob. So like in his house, he's got like all these bottles of whiskey. And one time he wanted me to go find him some fucking whiskey and in in Beaumont and shit or in Winnie. I'm like, sure, I'll

look for it. But it's all like whistle pig and shit like this. And I'm like, listen, I don't give a shit about that. I don't drink alcohol because I think it makes me look classy and I don't drink it to savor it. When I'm drinking alcohol, I'm just doing that because I want to get buzzed. Last night, you want to know where I stand? Last night, after I saw a video on that chick's cart girl Instagram that I told you about, she had a drink called The Water Hazard. And the drink was a

single or double of vodka, fill up the cup mostly with blue Gatorade, top it off with a splash of lemonade and a splash of Sprite. I drank like five of those last night and they were delicious and guess what? We ran out of vodka that was sort of I say high-end like Tito's is about as high-end as we'll go. I've also flirted with like some of the gray gooses and shit, like every now and then I'll splurge 30, 40 bucks for a bottle. Our Sammy Hagar tequila is now up to like 44 bucks,

but it's good. Like there are certain things that I'm not gonna skimp on because they do taste like shit. So like I've got, like we'll play Yahtzee on the weekends and each time someone like wins a series the other person has to go get the shot right if we're gonna shoot we're gonna shoot Sammy Hagar tequila because it's good I'm not gonna shoot some fucking like like Yokozuna tequila or some shit like I'm just not gonna do that because

it doesn't taste good so like all splurge has been 44 bucks on it for shots of that right or like but last night we're sitting around and neither one of us wanted to leave, so Jilly was going to door dash to get some more Gatorade for our drinks, and we needed more vodka. An old girl, she went to the local grocery store, the big chain that's kind of like the HEB or the giant of this area, and ordered their brand of vodka. And that vodka was $6. And I I'm like there's no way this shit is any good to mix in this but it's just a mix or how bad could it be? Usually we go Tito's or what's the other one I'm thinking Deep Addy that's usually what we go with and we mixed it couldn't even tell it was fine it was six bucks it was six bucks, it was good, whatever. Cool. I should have just had me go do the DoorDash and I could have made like this is a random question but like if Jilly

were to DoorDash and like somehow I got the DoorDash to go do that, like is there a way to fuck with the system where I then could just always do DoorDashes for Jilly and then we make it the money? That might sound stupid. I'll look into that another time. But anyway, so back to craft breweries. So a lot of people are snobs when it comes to liquor, but a lot of people just want to take some fucking Jameson and just be fine with that. Like a lot of, or they want a granddad or whatever. Like they're fine with that and that's totally cool.

And some people are very snobby about shit. But the people who are the elite snobby people as it relates to beer or liquor are way up here and in their smaller numbers when most people just want to drink something cold domestic and light like that's what they want to do. That's what people or they want to drink a Bud Heavy or they want to drink a Mick Ultra like they don't give a shit about like 10% IPA hazy IPA and all that shit. Some people just want this is going to sound shocking to these craft people.

But it's like, here's what you can do. Go out and make me something that's a little bit higher end than a bush light, but still tastes as good or as easy to drink as a bush light. I want to head for the mountains when I drink your craft beer." According to the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, more breweries are closing than opening. In 2024, the state saw 22 new brewery openings but 29 closures. Rising operational costs are a major factor. The price of raw ingredients, aluminum for cans, and essential brewing equipment has increased significantly. Additionally, Houston brewers said city rent prices have surged, further squeezing already

tight margins. That's a part for them as well. And like, and I know that they're talking about business like the buildings to pay rent on these buildings, but dude, Houston's becoming a super expensive town. Like when I lived there in 2009, the charm of Houston was it didn't feel like it was a major city that didn't feel expensive right now it is super expensive Rent is ridiculous for people in the city So a lot of people are out in the burbs like if I moved there I'd move out to the burbs And it's just a pain in the ass everybody's kind of bougie now more places have fucking What do we call it? The most places now have, what the hell

do you call it when you give your keys to some jemoke to go park your car? Can't believe I'm drawing a blank on that, but it's got that. It's like you deal with all this shit now. It's like it's too bougie. You go to the fucking, you know, go to the damn wing places and someone's got to go park your fucking car for you. Valet, it's stupid. So, anywho, we continue. At the same time, consumer habits are evolving. There's a noticeable uptick in the popularity of non-alcoholic beverages. Health-conscious choices are

shifting now in what people drink. Well, those people are assholes. Drink alcohol, you dummies. That's the thing, though. The story is that a lot of the youth, a lot of the younger people aren't drinking alcohol anymore. They're just sitting around vaping, smoking reefer cigarettes. Despite these headwinds, brewing experts say the craft beer scene isn't going anywhere. Aaron Corsi, a brewing science professor at the University of Houston. What a fucking name, man.

My man's a brewing science professor at the University of Houston. Points to St. Arnold Brewing Company as a prime example of how to adapt and thrive. Dude, St. Arnold is the OG and St. Arnold continues to crush. Look at the oldest craft brewery in Houston, St. Arnold, of course, he said. They actually increased production and sales last year, bucking the industry trend that's now down almost 4%. He attributes their success to customer centric strategies and return to classic drinkable styles. Thank you. Classic drinkable styles. Quote, it will probably be close to 100 degrees today. You don't want a double chocolate stout with raspberry fluff. You want a nice clean light lager. Yes,

I can see why this guy is the dude teaching booze at the University of Houston. He fucking gets it. People just want to drink something cold and light and crushable and delicious and Saint Arnold is like goat status at that. During the Rona and like I like Eighth Wonder, like Eighth Wonder's got ones. Oh, what's the other one I really like? Oh damn it. I'm drawing a blank on what it's called. But like, oh, Eureka Heights, they've got some good ones.

Eighth Wonders got some good ones. Spindle Taps got some good ones. I'm not telling you that these ones suck or shouldn't exist. What I'm telling you is when I'm sitting around and it's 100 degrees, I'd like to drink a St. Arnold's summer pills. I'd like to drink a lawnmower. Lawnmower was one of my fucking go-to St. Arnold's.

It was in the green can, I think. Lawnmower was one of my fucking go-to St. Arnold's. It was in the green can I think. Lawnmower just fucks and you can crush it and it's like five percent and that's the other thing is like all the domestic light beers are usually 4.2, 4.5 whatever. Give me a 5.2 crushable light beer. Give me that. As local breweries evolve to meet changing demands two distinct business models are emerging. Adults-only taprooms and family-friendly spaces. Corsi believes time will reveal which approach is most sustainable in the long run. That's another problem I have. It's like they

opened up a really cool brewery right down here in downtown Kirkwood, Missouri, and it's very cool, and they have like a restaurant attached to it that sells really expensive lobster rolls and shit, and it's a cool outdoor area. like a restaurant attached to it that sells really expensive lobster rolls and shit it's a cool outdoor area here's the problem I have is that kids are always in this fucking thing and I'm like listen I'm glad you have kids thank you for helping repopulate the universe you're wonderful I don't want to have kids I have a dog but hey rock on you do what you do but I'm at this local craft brewery here, it's called Four Hands. And I'm here

because I would like to consume alcohol in an environment that does not have really obnoxious six, seven year old kids running around all the time. I'm here to do adult shit. And by adult shit, I mean, I'm going to drink myself shit. And by adult shit, I mean I'm gonna drink myself to sleep and I don't want Colton around me right now like running around playing tag with Ellsbell. And I don't want that. Ellsbeth, Ellsbeth and Colton,

I don't wanna hear them running around. Then you got another baby in the stroller and guess what, that little shit's gonna start crying soon. And then for whatever reason, you also brought your golden retriever. So you also brought your golden retriever so you've got your golden retriever you've got your four-year-old and your six-year-old so there's Ellsbell and there's Colton and then there's you know your little baby that's sitting there and then boom I don't want to deal with that that's your

life and look not judging you you do what you want to do but I'm here to do adult shit not to be friends with your children, not to babysit your children. You made a choice. When you made the choice to shit out multiple kids, you made a decision that breweries are not for you. And look, if you want to have one that's family-friendly, go for it, but I need a warning sign outside that says, hey, there will be children in here and they are fucking obnoxious. I'm a 38-year-old man-child and I'm here to get hammered. I am not here to find out what's

going on in Bluey because your stupid kid is watching their goddamn iPad at the bar. It's a bar! Boy, what, like, dude, I'm telling you, they're not wrong about St. Arnold though. And St. Arnold does a good job with food and stuff. What are some of the good St. Arnold breweries? I'm telling you, man, or beers. Dude, some of the St. Arnold beers are just so good. Let's take a look. They got the good beer garden.

I haven't been there in forever. They've got ciders as well. See, and they still throw these out, by the way, like a seasonal beer I'm looking at right now from St. Arnold. Tropic Boom, Imperial IPA 9.5. I won't drink it. I'd try it, but like it's good that the options there. Citrus Boom, Imperial IPA 9.5.

Then you just start getting to the classics. Art Car, which I think is gross, but Art Car. Lawn Mower, there it is. Green Can, baby, Lawn Mower. What is, green can baby, lawn mower. What is the ABV on lawn mower? 4.9, that's a perfect fucking beer. A crushable light craft beer that's 4.9%. It's not your typical 4.2 like a Bushlight or whatever.

That's fucking phenomenal, man. Oh, it's good. So you had that one. I've never had Banger IPA. Let's see, Light and Refreshing Grand Prize from That Sounds Great. You give me the words light and refreshing, you're going to give me a fucking passed out by 1130 Crying to Country Videos night because that's what I'm going to do

because I'm going to crush the shit out of those. St. Arnold's Summer Pills is great. That's on there. I mean they've got good shit, man. Our ideal lager, H-Town Pills. What is the ABV on H-Town Pills? 5.2 or something? 5.2. I'm telling you, they have done it right. And that's not to knock any other breweries. I love watching these local craft breweries. I'd love to get a job at one to tell you the truth. Like if there were an opening to like just learn this, like two things I'd love to do. And then this is why moving to Texas would appeal to me. I would just have to find a job. I would love to be like a meat

apprentice or some shit like some guy that does like promotions and shit from one of these big, you know, meat smoking companies, you know, like, like, I don't know, like the meat church or something like that, like, I fuck, I'd move to Waxahatchee in a second and work for the meat church. Like, that just sounds like fun to me, like learning about all the science of smoking meat, but while getting paid to do it and do promotions and shit, I would love to do that.

I would do that for craft breweries. I would love to do that kind of shit. Like, I think that would be such a cool gig, just something different, you know, learn a new thing. I would love to do that. I would do that for craft breweries. I would love to do that kind of shit. Like I think that would be such a cool gig, just something different. You know, learn a new thing. I love learning new shit. Like I like smoking meat, but I'd love to learn the science behind fucking smoking meat at one of these fuck with, you know, one of these fucking grill or pit masters, you know, or learn about craft fucking beers, man. That shit is awesome. So like anytime I think about moving somewhere, I think about Texas, think about Texas right nothing about a place that would make sense in Texas and then I always kind of come back to Houston because it really makes the most sense for what I'm looking to do like unless I moved to Dallas and then my old

boss would be like hey come do part-time air shifts like he wouldn't do that but what if he did I know they won't in Houston because it's 790 ain't doing shit I asked I was like hey you guys have an opening in the morning here. Do you need me? And Sean was like, they ain't gonna hire you, bud. So not even worth asking. So but I was thinking, like, like, why not move to like Katie or something? Like I was looking at some of the the houses, you talk like brand new looking beautiful houses, granite countertops, a lot of space, you know enough for me

1300 square feet, whatever backyard, big privacy fence patio to do some meat smoking like $1600 a fucking month and I'm like, what am I doing here? I don't even like this fucking house I'm in and it costs 2500 bucks. It's this old. I mean it's fine, but like 2500 bucks for this. I could be out in fucking Katie, Texas with a big area to smoke meat in the backyard, a big yard for Ross to run around in for like $1,600 and then I'm like what the fuck am I doing?

Like you go around St. Louis, they don't have houses that look like this. They have the most beautiful fucking houses in Texas, man. Out in the burbs, I don't have to live in the city anymore. I'm 38 years old. Here's what I'm here to do. Get drunk, smoke meat, watch my dog run around the yard. That's what I'm here to do. But like if there was a real job that like was something I would enjoy doing, not just, you know, you know, something that I'm doing just to make money, but a job that I truly enjoy doing there, I start to look at these fucking houses and I'm like, what am I doing? Like these are 1600 bucks a month to rent, lots of space, open concept, yards to play.

I mean, they're fucking amazing. The kind of house that I grew up in. And I'm like, what am I doing? You know, like that's why it would have been lovely had these dickheads at the station in Houston called me back. Of course they never did or they never emailed me back. And want to message them again and be like what the fuck are you people doing? This job is still up there and you mean to tell me that I'm not worth fucking talking to?

Fuck you. But anywho. All that said man like there's an appeal of that man. Now it's hot as shit but fuck there's a I just need to make enough money to do it. I need to find a job. If anybody knows anything, email me. Anybody know anything in meat or craft beers? We'll see. Anyway, more to come.