Wine Enthusiast Magazine
SubscribeBudweiser: The Great American Lager No More?
by Lauren Buzzeo
The biggest buzz in the brewing world at this moment in time has to be the recent acquisition of Anheuser-Busch by the Belgium based InBev. For those of you living under a rock (or perhaps just avoid reading newspapers, watching the news on tv, or subscribing to cnn.com news updates), Anheuser-Busch shareholders will receive $70 a share in cash, translating into a total purchasing price of 52 billion dollars. The combining of the two companies, to be named Anheuser-Busch InBev, will form the world’s leading global brewer and one of the world’s five largest consumer products companies. Yes, it’s true: the great American lager is no longer owned by Americans… but what exactly does that mean?
After weeks of press releases, news articles, blogs, and any other form of information feeding for the masses, I’ve heard and seen plenty of over-dramatized reports of how the offer was “hostile,” that the beer is no longer “American” and the general sentiment is that it is now wrong and in fact un-American to purchase the iconic beverage. How further from the truth can we get, people?
Let’s go over the major points. First off, the offer was not much of a surprise. Anheuser-Busch and InBev have been working together for years; if you’ve purchased Beck’s, Bass, Hoegaarden or Stella Artois lately (along with some others), you have the relationship between AB and InBev to thank for it. Secondly, the question of whether or not the beer will remain “American.” Anheuser-Busch InBev will make St. Louis, Missouri the North American region headquarters as well as keeping the city the global home of the flagship Budweiser brand. Currently, all U.S. breweries will remain open with the promise to do so as long as, “there are no new or increased federal or state excise taxes.” What does that translate to? The good folks who are brewing Budweiser and all of its siblings will continue to do so, right where they are. How can that be un-American?
I’ll tell you what’s un-American… thinking that just because this collaboration is taking place you should no longer continue to support the Budweiser brand. Granted, I am not telling you to only support Bud, as there are plenty of other (and significantly smaller) breweries out there that all need some love. But now that you know some of the facts that might have been conveniently left out of other information sources for the sake of shock value and dramatization, you can make a more educated decision. Understand that by electing to stop purchasing Budweiser, you are actually destroying the brand that has and will continue to employ so many wonderful and talented Americans throughout the country, as well as a domestic product that has been enjoyed for over 100 years. The threat that truly exists in this situation and for the people of St. Louis, Missouri is not the foreign involvement… it’s the domestic ignorance. Let’s all spread the knowledge, keep an open mind, and keep Budweiser alive.
Lauren Buzzeo is the Assistant Tasting Director and Resident Beer Goddess at Wine Enthusiast Magazine. She thrives on shaking up the stereotypes of both wine and beer enthusiast alike. She is currently working on obtaining her Diploma in Wines & Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
Filed under: Beer, Opinions and Commentary
20 Comments
20 Responses to “Budweiser: The Great American Lager No More?”
Please Wait
August 28th, 2008 at 3:16:44 PM
Right on Beer Goddess! Great point, let’s not all resort to Natural Ice just because of Bud’s new Corporate Tree. It’s taste will remain as American as your aunt’s jello-mold.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:25:55 PM
Stevie P – Even though Natty Ice is part of the AB family, your point is understood. ;)
August 28th, 2008 at 3:31:48 PM
Oh, interesting!
I didnt know AB sold water!
August 28th, 2008 at 3:39:44 PM
Actually, they do! It’s called BORBA Skin Balance Water… and it is delicious! Check it out at http://www.borba.com.
But yeah, AB does a lot. A lot.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:08:39 PM
What about Miller being a part of South African Breweries? Or Wild Turkery Bourbon being a part of Pernod Ricard, which is a French company? Both are American brands owned by foreign entities, just like Bud. Does that make them un-American? No.It’s not a matter of who owns the brand, it’s where the roots of that brand are. Unless InBev decides to completely alter the brand (which seems unlikely) then it’s still American.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:09:25 PM
Amen, sister
August 28th, 2008 at 4:11:09 PM
There are PLENTY of reasons not to drink Bud… its parent company is not one of them.
Flavor is probably the most important one.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:29:16 PM
Greggers – Excellent insight. You definitely did some research on that one!
Lenn – I completely understand your point. I am certainly not telling anyone who does not enjoy Budweiser to go and drink it for the sake of doing some “Patriotic” act; the beer is not for everyone’s palates. Just trying to bring some clarification to those who do enjoy the brew and who might now feel uneasy about their purchasing habits… hopefully they won’t be hesitant anymore!
August 28th, 2008 at 4:50:33 PM
Great post Lauren. I think the point being made is that if you are a Bud drinker, keep rolling with it. The buyout of AB really will not affect the flavor of the beer, how it is made, the breweries where it is produced, and should not cost any Americans their jobs (although in the current economy, layoffs are always possible). But having read Lauren’s posts in the past, I don’t believe she is promoting to go out and drink the “King of Beers” in reaction to this buyout. Clearly different beer drinkers enjoy different styles of brew. If Bud, or Natty Ice, is not your thing, then this situation certainly shouldn’t affect your choice. But if you are a BudMan (or woman for that matter), then drink on!! You can still be a proud American in doing so.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:30:57 AM
Nothing says “America” more than a cold Miller High Life…truly breathtaking (even if Miller is part of South African Breweries.) It’s like saying the sky is not blue, the grass is not green, and Killer Klowns from Outer Space is not a cinematic classic!
August 29th, 2008 at 10:40:58 AM
Is it Un-American to love this great country even though we’re owned by China? Unless InBev starts sneaking Stella into Bud bottles I don’t think they going to get me to drink a Bud more than once a year.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:16:39 PM
Wow! I must have been under a rock lately, I had no idea that AB was sold. Honestly I would have never considered Bud the great American beer anyway. I’m not trying to knock bud, but I will never buy or drink any of their products. That is just based on taste and personal preference. Yuengling being the oldest brewery in the US of A, should have that title. In the recent years my vote would go to Sam Adams as the greatest American beer.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:26:34 PM
Marshall T – Couldn’t have said it better myself… though I tried. ;)
HighLifeForLife & tgt – Whatever floats your boat, guys! Keep on digging whatever you like… that’s the beauty of this world.
Chirs D – Good call on the Yuengling, and an even better one on the Sam Adams!
Keep ‘em coming, gang! Great Comments!
September 7th, 2008 at 5:06:57 PM
Bud tastes lousy and always has. However, I think sugarcoating this takeoever isn’t going to make it any better. What company’s say and what they do are two different things. When the contract of 30% of the employees expire in 6 months than see if InBev follows through on what it says. I also think your missing the whole point. This is another example of a company taking corporate profits oversees. What is there to be happy about that. Budweiser is no longer the Great American Lager anymore than Toyota is the great american automobile. Employing americans doesn’t change that fact.
September 8th, 2008 at 4:19:57 PM
Roger S – You’re absolutely correct. InBev could say one thing and do another, but unfortunately only time will tell if they will stick to their word. In the meantime, however, concerns addressed and plans laid forth seem reasonable. With regards to another overseas takeover, of course we have nothing to be rejoicing over with this ownership change. Who wants a historic American company like Anheuser-Busch to become… well… not American owned anymore. My points were simply addressed to those individuals who did regularly purchase the beer and threatened to halt given the new ownership, thinking that it would hurt those new owners, when in fact it only hurts the millions of Americans currently employed by AB. An oversees takeover is certainly one wound to deal with… but why pour some salt on it with American layoffs?
February 10th, 2009 at 12:39:14 PM
Budwieser The Great American Lager now owned by Foreigner’s that don’t care about American’s. They have laid off 1000′s of people and have pulled out of hundred’s of Sponsorship programs. The Sea World’s and the Busch Gardens are all for sale. I can’t see anything really positive from their takeover so far!
February 10th, 2009 at 12:42:34 PM
Budweiser The Great American Lager now owned by Foreigner’s that don’t care about American’s. They have laid off 1000′s of people and have pulled out of hundred’s of Sponsorship programs. The Sea World’s and the Busch Gardens are all for sale. I can’t see anything really positive from their takeover so far!
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