Response to your questions and allegations:
<<1) How is the Beer?>>
Recently, at the California State Fair, BJ's won a gold medal for its ``PM Porter'' in the Porter category and a silver medal for its ``Harvest Hefeweisen'' in the wheat beer category. BJ's also Won a Silver Medal in the Strong Ale category at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado for their Jeremiah Red Ale.
For only brewing beer since 4/96, I would say that is a pretty good track record.
<<2) How is the Food?>>
According to newspaper polls, BJ's pizza is considered among the best in Orange County, California. It has won numerous awards over the past years from publications such as the Orange County edition of the Los Angeles Times, Orange Coast Magazine, Daily Pilot and The Metropolitan. BJ's pizza was featured in 1994 on the TV show "Live in LA" as one of the five best pizzas in the Los Angeles area. Finally, BJ's pizza was voted number one by the readers of the Orange County Register, a leading Orange County, California-based newspaper and by the readers of the Maui News.
<<3) How is the Service?>>
Try to get into any of the BJ's on a weekend night. Your looking up to an hour wait at most locations. They must be doing something right to get people to wait that long.
<<As you have noted I have a background in the Brewpub Industry. I also have has the pleasure of knowing Alex Puchner, manager of Brewing Operations. On one hand I would like to share with you the caveats I have with this company, but on the other I might just be wrong. Two years ago Alex Puchner was not qualified to scoop spent grain, ie. the beer that he brewed is barely drinkable. He may have since learned The brewpub that he designed for Laguna Beach Brewing Company is a very faulty design. He may have learned how to design a brewhouse since. >>
Very serious allegations, hope you have proof. Or are you just a little envious of the success he has achieved so far? BTW how many awards have you won and who are you? Given the packed restaurants and awards BJ's has enjoyed to date, it appears quite a few people disagree with your assessment of their beer, which if I understand you right, you have never tried.
<<The BJ's location that I seen that was "converted" actually only pours beer that was brewed at another location.>>
So!?! That has been the plan all along to build a few brewery locations which will supply the other locations. Makes good economic sense to me. BTW why didn't you go in and check it out?
<<A good brewpub is able to brew 465 gal of beer using less than 40 man hours labor. Once this beer is kegged and shipped to another location for sale Quality and profitability is greaty reduced.Per the co's 9/10/97 press releasee:>>
So your saying every location should incur the expense of brewing its own beer, when one strategically located brew facility can supply the other local restaurants. C-mon kegging beer and driving it across town does not appreciably effect its cost or quality. This is what economists call economies of scale. Have to disagree with you on that one.
Rory |
