Anheuser-Busch buys Rolling Rock

MSNBC ^ | 05/19/06 | AP

[evets]

Anheuser-Busch Cos., which brews Budweiser and Bud Light, said Friday it bought the Rolling Rock beer brand from InBev USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Belgian-Brazilian brewer InBev SA, for $82 million.

Under the agreement announced by the two companies, Anheuser-Busch will use the brand to expand its portfolio of products and begin brewing Rolling Rock and Rock Green Light in August.

Meanwhile, InBev said it will sell its brewery in Latrobe, Pa., to focus its U.S. business on imported beers and is currently in discussion with potential buyers.

[ImProudToBeAnAmerican]

Again, I am sooooooooooo bummed!

Just another example of the dark side of capitalism, 'it you can't beat 'em, buy 'em!'

Budweiser so sucks...German for 'cold soapy backwash'!

I'd rather stick pins in my eyes, jab rusty nails in my arse and rub my face in broken glass than drink Bud - and drink ZIMA too!!!

Life can be so unfair sometimes....

Trivia question - what does the '33' on the back of each Rolling Rock bottle stand for? (I'm one of the few people on earth who figured it out myself.)

[toothfairy86]

I practically grew up drinking Rolling Rock. The brewery is one of the major employers in the Latrobe, PA area. (aka Arnold Palmer/Mr. Rogers country) This will be a huge blow to the local economy. The secret to Rolling Rock beer is that they use spring water from the Laurel Highlands. It just won't be the same if they make it somewhere else:-(

[Mannaggia l'America]

As long as they keep their grubby hands off of Yuengling...

[CertainInalienableRights]

I'm sorry to hear this too.

Rolling Rock is my favorite "table beer". A good beer, but not so good you feel bad not savoring it. Yet not so bad that it falls in the Busch/Coors/PBR category. Great beer to knock back on a hot summer day while working in the yard.

I hope it doesn't change, but I'm not optimistic.

[RebelBanker]

Coors products give me a headache, but no other brand. I asked my family doctor about that and he said I may be having an allergic reaction to the specific type of hops they use.

[Coop]

I like Coors Banquet beer. It's probably my favorite American-style lager.

Bud Light gives me a headache before I finish the can/bottle.

[akorahil]

Oh, I argue not on Bud's market share (even more now with the purchase of RR). I do however raise an eyebrow to those that deem it beer.

It's sort of like the difference between "cheese" and "cheese food".

Besides, I don't know why anyone would drink Bud or RR if they have access to:

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I occasionally drink Rolling Rock. It has more character than Bud or any of the Busch beers. I hope Busch doesn't screw it up.
After living in Germany for 4 years, I don't drink Miller, Bud or the crappy wholesale American beer. Microbrews can be good, but I now drink Spaten which is a Munich beer similar to Spatenbrau sold in Germany.

I know that Busch has tried to buy the Czech beer company that makes Budvar. I have been to Czechoslovakia and had fresh Budvar, it is 100 times better than Budweiser:

Budweis (noun)



Pronunciation: ['bud-vIs]

Definition: The German name of the Czech city of Ceske Budejovice.

Usage: The city of Cesky Budejovice is called "Budweis" in German so that Budweiser Beer means "beer from Budweis" in that language. The American brewery Anheuser-Busch began using the name in 1876. The problem is that the Czechs have been brewing beer—which they called the Beer of Kings—in their town since thirsty King Premysl II Otakar (son of good King Wenceslas I) founded the city in 1245. Unfortunately for the Czechs, they only began calling their beer Budweiser Budvar in 1895 and ever since that time the two breweries have been locked in a legal battle for rights to use the name.

Suggested Usage: The new problem brewing for the US brewer now is that, according to the laws of the new European Union (EU), of which the Czech Republic became a member this past week, manufacturers may use the name of a location only if their plant is situated in that location. So far, however, after a century of legal squabbles, both sides are still brewing beer under the name "Budweiser."

Etymology: By the way, another Czech town, "Plzen," or "Pilsen" in German, has given its name to a type of beer widely called "Pils." The next beer battle in the EU? (Roberto Carosiello of Turin, Italy wondered if linguistics had anything to say about these disputes. Linguistically, all we have to do is keep these words capitalized and we are both grammatical and legal.)

–Dr. Language, YourDictionary.com

[Hydroshock]

I drink over ten different beers, just depends on mood. Shiner is always chilled in the fridge.

[dfwgator]

Just as long as they keep their hands off of my Shiner Bock.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

As long as they keep their grubby hands off of Yuengling...

Amen.

[oldleft]

I've never liked the stuff myself. Everyone knows it's a plot by the Masons to keep down the beer drinkers of the world.

[MplsSteve]

That's funny that you mentioned Leinenkugel's.

Back in the early 80's (when I was in high school), we used to drive across the border into Wisconsin to buy beer. More often that not, we'd buy Leinie's.

The beer was either the most hideous tasting swill you'd ever drank - or it was the most heavenly-tasting beer you'd ever drank. There was no uniformity of taste whatsoever.

When Miller bought them, they evened out the taste to a pretty uniform. I guess that's no surprise when a big company buys out a smaller one.

Did you ever experience the ups and down of Lienie's like I did?

[Tallguy]

Great beer to knock back on a hot summer day while working in the yard.

You've nailed it! Nothing more to be said!

[akorahil]

From the article above:

Meanwhile, InBev said it will sell its brewery in Latrobe, Pa

The history of the brewery and area alone, may spur some local buyer to keep the brew flowing there.

Albeit, most likely under another bottle/name/brew, but I digress.

[1rudeboy]

Budweiser is sponsoring the World Cup in Germany, and only Bud products will be sold in the stadiums. The Germans are setting-up beer tents just outside the boundaries and urging folks to drink wine while at the matches.

[djf]

Yup. Decent brew, no bad, pretty consistent.

Way better than that bear whiz AB usually sells.

[Constitution Day]

Say it ain't so!
That was the first beer I ever drank.

One of my dad's fishing buddies used to drink that when we went surf fishing for flounder on Pea Island in NC during the seventies and eighties.

I can still hear Tom saying to his daughter: "Lessie, fetch me a Rolling Rock!"

[Warren_Piece]

Not to mention, Rolling Rock Lite is by FAR the best of the "Ultra Lite" beers. And belive me, I've tried them all!

[doctor noe]

It's all about price. You can buy a case of Bud for about the price of a 12-pack of Sierra Nevada, if not less. I haven't bought piss beer in over 10 years. I'm willing to pay more for quality.