Pictured above is a row of taps, as photographed yesterday at the West Baden Springs resort hotel. The two on the left matter. The four on the right don't, and it is irrelevant as to which engorged monolith manufactures them, where they do it, and how many shareholders who are busy drinking wine profit from the transaction.
Funny, isn't it, that when Anheuser-Busch buys into a foreign brewery, it's somehow a patriotic imperative that reaffirms our collective self-esteem ... but when a foreign conglomerate seeks to buy Anheuser-Busch, we must bar the doors and protect a beloved icon from acquisition?
Pound away, hypocrites, and read about it here.
I hope the deal goes through. It would just make one less monolith to chop down in the name of quality and integrity.
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned elsewhere, I look forward to the day when I can walk into a bar, sneer disapprovingly at the A-B lemmings and say, "What's the matter? American beer not good enough for you?"
I have to agree with Jeff, as well adding that maybe with A-B getting bought out that the quality of beer might increase to what it used to be back in the day before profit overtook a quality flavored product made by skilled brewers.
ReplyDeleteCharles Dickens drank Bass . . .and he didn't have a blog.
ReplyDelete"W" drank...and he doesn't have a brain.
ReplyDeleteI disagree, for the reasons best stated by Stephen, lifted from here.
ReplyDeleteHe said:
"It would be a disaster!! Even though us craft beer drinkers don't like AB, we must remember that they are a great US brewing company and when they started in the mid-late 1800's, they too were small at about 1000 bbl per year. Apparently they are pretty good at what they do.
Most importantly, they are focused on beer flavor and if you have ever had the opportunity to talk to an AB Brewmaster, you will find that they are passoniate about beer flavor and this approach comes from the very top... they are run by brewers. Imbev, on the other hand, are run by accountants, and although this might make sense from business standpoint, it is bad for beer flavor. Now I know all you out there are saying, "so what!! Bud tastes like watery piss anyway!" But they make Budweiser because its what they want to make and because it sells not because its cheap... who else uses chips/shavings in brewing anymore?? This is not a cheap operation and would surely go away with Inbev. Also, if you have seen there breweries, there is a lot of capital invested that is unique and because it takes ~32 days to make Bud; I am sure this process would also be cut with Inbev and they would go the route of SAB Miller and Molson Coors... god help us all who appreciate beer!!! As one who has brewed a fair amount on my own, I can honestly say that it is much harder to make a light beer (like Budweiser) then it is any craft beer. The balance is harder to achieve and the beer is easily knocked out of profile because it is so light. With a strong IPA, for example, many off notes can high behind the many intense flavors. So let's not confuse light beer flavor with quality and hope like hell for the brewing indusrty that Imbev does not takeover Anheuser-Busch.... it would be a disaster for all!"