InBev Buys America

When I heard that Warren Buffett was in favor of the deal, I knew in my heart that the American cause was lost. The last vestige of our empire in the new world would fall victim to the Euronauts – Budweiser would be bested by the Belgians.

But before we all get overly jingoistic about the affair, let us remember those other great American brewers whose market shares were diminished or crushed by the juggernaut from St. Louis: Schaefer, Stroh’s, Schmiidt’s, Piels, Falstaff, Genesee, Narragansett, Rheingold, Knickerbocker, Hamm’s, Olympia, National Bohemian and of course the venerable – Olde Frothingslosh. Who amongst us has shed a tear or raised the flag on their behalf.

I believe that ridding ourselves of one company that has dominated better than fifty percent of the marketplace for such a long time is good for America. Just because InBev took Budweiser doesn’t mean that we can’t still kick some Bass.

Like our forefathers we must shed monarchy. We shall not be ruled by the king of beers.

I say, “Pabst for president and Schlitz for VP!”

Posted by: Chris Poh, Publisher

 

 

 

God Save The King

 

 

Is it possible that America will lose its monarchy before the Brits? According to a story filed by The Associated Press, Budweiser the St. Louis based icon may be acquired by the Belgium brewer InBev. The citizens of the “Gateway City” along with most company executives and probably most beer drinking God fearing Americans are appalled at the possibility. The question is will the shareholders be able to resist the rumored $65 bid being offered for a company that has been been trading between $45 and $55 for the the last two years. The argument seems to always come down to patriotism versus personal prosperity. 

  

Being a bit of an iconoclast myself, I concur with Bob Dylan’s take on patriotism, it being “The last refuge to which a scoundrel clings.”  And having been brought up on the products of eastern breweries, such as Ballantine, Knickerbocker and Rheingold, or given the fact that the beer snob in me supports the Reinheitsgebot – (German Beer Purity Law), one might think that I would celebrate the fall of the king. But truth be told, I take no solace in the fact that Budweiser may suffer the vagaries of the global free market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For I too have fallen under the spell of Dalmatians, Clydesdales and the brilliant marketing campaigns that ultimately layed to waste a good number of domestic competitors. In many ways Budweiser represents the last vestige of American capitalism done right – a consistently good product, priced well and promoted properly.

On the othe hand, if the Belgiums do nip St. Louis in the Bud,  beer snobs will probably gladly pay more for the labors of the Busch family - given their unpatriotic propensity for imports.   

Posted by: Chris Poh, Publisher -  American Public House Review