Anheuser-Busch buying and closing its Czech rival???(not April Fools)

Friend | April 1, 2004 | Myself

[AnalogReigns]

A friend told me she heard a local well connected beer supplier say that Anheuser-Busch was going to buy out and close down the renowned Czech brewer Budweiser Budvar (called "Czechvar" in the USA).

Czechvar is about the best Pilsner I've ever tasted--and is actually brewed in Budweis, Czech. They've been haranging with A-B since the 1800s over the "Budweiser" name. Over most of the world giant A-B has won out.

[AnalogReigns]

I'm wondering if anyone else in the wide wide FReeper-world knows if there is any truth to this???

If so this would be tragic.

[Yossarian]

I hope this isn't true - it would be a crime!

The Eurotwits would finally have a good reason to hate the U.S.....Budvar is the best damn beer ever!

[wireplay]

Budvar not for sale
Czech minister indicates brewery will stay in state hands

Sept 8, 2003 - Czech brewery Budejovicky Budvar, which continues to battle U.S. giant Anheuser-Busch for the rights to use the name Budweiser in countries around the world, will remain in state hands until at least 2006, Czech media reported Monday.


ADVERTISEMENT



Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, in charge of the central European country's privatization program, was quoted as saying the sale of the fully state-owned brewer was out of the question during this cabinet's term, which expires in June 2006.


In June, Sobotka hinted the sale of profitable Budvar might be possible as part of the government's campaign to raise money for badly-needed infrastructure investment.


"So far, (our) analyses do not speak in favor of Budvar's privatization in the nearest future," Czech Radio quoted Sobotka as saying.


Budvar's value is estimated at around about $110 million but the rights to the Budweiser brand, which the Czech brewer can exclusively use in many countries, is thought to be worth 10 times that amount. In most countries, only one brewery or the other is allowed to use the name Budweiser. In the United States, for instance, Budvar is sold as Czechvar.


Reports indicate that Anheuser-Busch would try to buy Budvar to end the ongoing litigation with its Czech rival over who can sell beer as Budweiser.

[BenLurkin]

'BUD'. A solid stock, virtually recession proof business, pays a modest dividend.

[archy]

The Eurotwits would finally have a good reason to hate the U.S.....Budvar is the best damn beer ever!

It's clearly a matter of personal taste, and I've always thought draft Bugvar[nish] was seasonally better at some times than others, a little sweetish, on about 6-month cycles. It was priced right too, around 2 marks per halfliter as I recall.

But it's probably up in the top 5 best, certainly the top ten best in the world and right up there with Pilsner Urquell, though I've rarely had the opportunity to sit down with ten or a dozen of my global favourites in one sitting. I did however know quite a few Bavarians who found Budvar to be very worth their time, and the Germans take that sort of thing very seriously, even religiously, as in the case of Augsburger Monchof

I've had CzechVar here in the states as well; not bad at all. I'm not certain how I'd compare it with the original I had in Europe, as too much time had passed. But clearly, the US-available version could stand quite nicely on its own merits.

[AnalogReigns]

Other than freshness (as it is shipped here from Czech) I'm not sure there is any difference in formula between Czechvar available in the USA and Budweiser Budvar available in Europe.

Unfortunately for us in the USA Czechvar is available only on 1/3 L green bottles (which allow it be spoiled by light) instead of the 1/2 L brown bottles available in Europe. I think its a great beer--my friend has me worried though...