[EDIT: So, more news has come out since I wrote this up. If everything that's come out this morning is true, it doesn't really change my opinion about Dave or Ian specifically, but certainly confirms any feelings I was playing "wait and see" with in regards to the owner of Blue Lobster. If the owner really thinks that's a proper way of doing business, boycotts won't be necessary because they'll be out of business in a year anyway. Certainly, there's going to be plenty of patrons that will have no idea and no concern over what went on with this whole Sakolskygate, but these allegations, if true, just point to how poorly run this operation truly is. I still believe a business can part with an employee for any legitimate reason they deem necessary for the growth or well-being of the business, but there's a certain responsibility to handle in a professional and forthright manner. Just as water runs downhill, the behaviors and attitude of a business owner will eventually affect the customers... even the ones not paying attention to the behind the scenes.
I have decided to leave the rest of this article as originally written on Tuesday night. Enjoy my mostly antiquated opinions!]
And then some weeks, fate dictates what you're going to write about.
Here's the short version of the story for those who haven't already heard the news. David Sakolsky, head brewer of Blue Lobster Brewing Company, is no longer with that particular brewery. There's a lot of speculation out there about what exactly went down and why based on past impressions people have of the relationship between the brewer and the brewery owner. Both have played their cards relatively close to their chests in terms of official announcements, but the internet loves battle lines and the flouncing has already begun in earnest.
Here's a slightly longer version, which I'll try to base more on what I've actually read with my own eyes and some (probably) measured speculation. Monday morning, Blue Lobster took to the Facebooks to announce the "addition" of new brewer and recent UC-Davis Masters in Brewing graduate (the importance of this pedigree in a moment) Ian Browne. At the time of announcement, there was nothing official about the "subtraction" of David Sakolsky. That came about an hour later when David clarified the situation on his Twitter account, confirming he no longer worked for the brewery but teasing that he had big news.
The things to know about David is that his pedigree and product were the engine that drove the beer geek community to love his work at Blue Lobster. He was trained by Shaun Hill, the eponymous and legendary head brewer of Hill Farmstead Brewery. David also was actively involved with the online community, which only endeared him to the craft crowd that much more. Once it became official that Ian, a relative unknown graduate student, was replacing a Hill disciple and much-loved fellow beer geek brewer... well, just go anywhere and read the comments.
Of course, it doesn't help that Blue Lobster has been running horrible PR over the whole incident. As noted, the original announcement wasn't exactly transparent. Now, in my opinion and all love aside for David or any brewer... breweries are a business. If someone wants to go in a certain direction with their business, that is their prerogative, but people appreciate honesty. Blue Lobster was not only accused of creating a mult account on BeerAdvocate that said some less than encouraging things about David (which the brewery has denied), but also accused of deleting comments on their later Facebook posts. This one, I can actually confirm. The first comment after the post went up last night asked why they were deleting comments. The question, being a self-fulfilling prophecy, was deleted. So have some later comments that noted this same fact.
The venues for the community's emotional outlet for this story seem to slowly be closing. While comments were being deleted from the BL Facebook, there was a bit of back and forth going on over at the BeerAdvocate thread for this story. Of course, in the most typical BeerAdvocate move ever, the thread has been locked without explanation. This is step up from their usual deletion without explanation. Keep on shining, you crazy diamonds.
Oh, but Reddit may have won this whole fiasco with this image:
Oh, but Reddit may have won this whole fiasco with this image:
I can't endorse the sentiment behind that one just yet, but I can laugh about how quickly the internet makes hay.
On a personal note, and I believe I've recounted this before, I've been pretty impressed with Blue Lobster right along, and the couple of times I got to speak with David only underscored the reasons he's getting so much love through all of this hoopla. To speak of his beers, I found them to be unique for the Seacoast. They were just well-made, and didn't rely on additives or gimmicks, as is all too often easy for a young brewery to lean towards. The first time I ever went to Blue Lobster, David was very proud to point out the peach flavor in his IPA, or the creamy chocolate qualities of his stout, or whatever else about a beer I was drinking, and equally quick to note that he did not use any flavoring to achieve anything he did. Just water, malt, yeast and hops. Dude didn't even use lactose in a brew billed as a milk stout (but certainly had the body of one), Gales of November.
As I'm flitting around the onlines looking for more insight as to the pulse of this situation, I can see one thing that restores my faith in the community. Although people are flouncing like mad and shouting about boycotts, no one seems to be speaking any particular ill of Ian, who has the unenviable task of replacing David. I'm of the mind that we don't really know what happened. David clearly either has something else lined up, or is close to having some other opportunity... so perhaps this decision is more mutual than we know. Of course, even if it is completely one sided, I'd still like to hope for the best case scenario... and that would be that Ian surprises everyone, all while David finds success in whatever he undertakes next, and then we'll have TWO great options for beer where we used to have one.
My Blue Lobster howler (their name, for some reason, for a half-growler) is sitting next to my desk as I write this. It will be filled again, and it's only at that time that I'll decide if there will be more refills or if I'll seek a return on glass deposit (but I can assure you that I won't put up an internet video of throwing it in the trash). So here's hoping for success for both of these brewers, Ian and David. Hopefully, the flouncers are just a very vocal minority, and we can all go back to judging beer based on taste instead of the politics of business, just or otherwise.
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