German Fans Frothing Over World Cup Without Home Brew

Expatica ^ | 22 April 2004 | Expatica

[Weimdog]

MUNICH - It's proving hard for German fans to swallow - the 2006 football World Cup looks likely to go ahead without German beer.

Now shocked politicians are seeking talks with tournament organizers after it emerged that a US brewer has the exclusive right to sell its beer in and around World Cup stadiums.

A World Cup in Germany without traditional German beer is almost as inconceivable for Germans as the country's football team failing to qualify for the tournament - or losing to England on penalties.

But the Germans may have scored an own goal in allowing football's world organizing body FIFA to secure an exclusive contract with the US brewer Anheuser-Busch, brewers of Budweiser, as one of the tournament's official sponsors.

In Bavaria, where beer is regarded as part of the state's cultural heritage, senior government officials have met to discuss the serious prospect of the World Cup kicking off in Munich's new Allianz stadium without any of its traditional wheat beers on sale.

The local Green party has called on state premier Edmund Stoiber to make the lack of German World Cup beer a top-level issue.

"We will very shortly be approaching the World Cup organizing committee to see what possibilities there still are," said a culture ministry spokeswoman.

Both Munich and Nuremberg, another Bavarian World Cup venue, are now planning "fan villages" outside stadium precincts so supporters can buy German beer instead of American Budweiser.

Gerhard Ohneis, head of the Augustiner brewery, told Munich's Merkur newspaper: "It's annoying if there is not going to be any Munich beer in the Munich stadium."

A spokesman for Paulaner brewery said a possibility might be to enable Bavarian beer to be sold in "neutral glasses".

Bavarian Social Democrat parliamentary group leader Franz Maget said: "The cities will make sure that World Cup visitors are supplied with respectable products."

Nuremberg has an additional problem - it won't be able to sell its traditional Nuremberg sausages at World Cup games. "McDonald's has the exclusive on sausage supplies," Maget said.

And if that were not enough, German carmakers will also be left on the sidelines, with players, VIPS and officials being shuttled to and from games by South Korean sponsor Hyundai.

[laotzu]

"I'd probably invade France!"

How about I meet you there next Saturday. I'll bring a case of Buds, and then we can take France.

Let's make a weekend of it.

[TXBSAFH]

If I may join your party with a case of Sam Adams, we can take Spain as well. They are going frog.

[NCjim]

I cannot imagine drinking anything other than Weizen in Bavaria! I am sure this will be fixed or circumvented somehow...

[Weimdog]

I agree with the Germans as well; who'd want American food and beer during a World Cup in Munich, not me.

The problem is that the German breweries had every opportunity to bid on sponsorship rights just as A/B did and failed to do so; now they whine about the consequenses.

[Michael81Dus]

Nah, there´re at least a few things left, which are not Bushs fault!! ;-D (I´m still laughing, but when I sit in the stadium in two years, I will not drink Bud)

[Jokelahoma]

There are (possibly still ongoing) lawsuits between Anheuser-Busch and a Czech company which also brews a (very, very good) beer called Budweiser or Budvar (German and Czech respectively, I believe -- and how many parenthetical side comments can I make in one sentence?). Anyway, to the best of my understanding, part of an agreement in regards to the lawsuit is that Anheuser-Busch was allowed to call their beer "Budweiser" in the United States, and the Budejovice beer is called "Czechvar" here. In many European countries, the Czech beer is allowed to be called "Budweiser".

To get to my point, I think it would be hilarious if German officials were to say "ja, you can be the sponsor, but you cannot call your American carbonated water 'Budweiser' here. Since 'Alcoholic Perrier' would likely upset the Frogs, let us call your product... hmm... what is the word for 'bubbly goat urine', Klaus?"

And sure, there are people who find American Budweiser drinkable, but then, anything that close to plain old water would fit that description. To each their own, I guess.

[laotzu]

Oui oui.......I mean, si si.

We'll have to take a three day weekend. Being in Spain, I must play 18 with my golf hero Sevi.
(that's really more of a rum thing)

[antiRepublicrat]

The problem is that the German breweries had every opportunity to bid on sponsorship rights just as A/B did and failed to do so; now they whine about the consequenses.

I doubt any could compete with the likes of Anheuser Busch. Some things just shouldn't be left up to pure capitalism. Could you imagine some German company winning the right to serve hamburgers at a big U.S. event? (Germans couldn't make hamburgers to save their lives) No, I'd want a nice, fat juicy real burger.

[Warren]

No, got yanked out of Germany early & sent to nam.
Would liked to have visited England and many more countries.
Never got the chance again.

[antiRepublicrat]

You guys sound like that South Park episode.

[Warren]

American breweries have caught up?
Which ones? I would try some if I knew which ones.

[TXBSAFH]

Envious?

[TXBSAFH]

Sma Adams Boston Lager
Saint Arnold's Lawn Mower
Shiner Bock

[bmwcyle]

The beer is great and then head for the single malt in Scotland.

[Diplomat]

Now this is some real payback for not supporting us in Iraq. Have some yummy McDonalds bratwaust(sp) and to help wash it down, put this bud in your stein and drink it! bwahahahahaha

[TXBSAFH]

They do deserve to be punished serverly, but this is to cruel.

[laotzu]

I've done some business with an elderly, retired man that was once a German Brewmeister. He had retired, moved to Texas, and earned a nice income as consultant to two local breweries.

I had to ask what he thought of the local Pearl Beer. With his palm facing down, he waved his hand at waist level, and stated "it was like drinking off the bottom of the cess pool".

I then asked him about Budweiser. He perked right up. In a similar motion, he held his hand over his head and said "Ah!! Budweiser! Now, that's like drinking off the top of the cess pool".

[freedumb2003]

No, I'd want a nice, fat juicy real burger

Didn't you read the part about McDonalds being the other sponsor? So much for your "nice, fat juicy real burger." But you do get the fat.

[antiRepublicrat]

what is the word for 'bubbly goat urine', Klaus

If it were on a bottle, the label would probably say "Ziegeurin mit Kohlensäure."

The Bud cases continue with one or the other winning in various countries. The UK made a compromise where both could be sold under their names. For pure standard-of-living reasons, I suggest having a taste test between the two and letting the better keep the name (Sorry, AB).