On 5/31/2008 10:36 AM Steve Jackson ignored two million years of human
evolution to write:

> wrote:
>
>> The best beer though comes from Belgium and they maybe actually saving
>> the Brewery.
>
> That may be, but InBev is not responsible for the beers that most people
> think of as representing the best qualities of Belgian beer.

InBev is largely responsible for dumbing down the beer range from
breweries they have taken over, ruining the Belle-Vue lambic range,
making Hoegaarden Wit blander (and deleting some of Hoegaarden's
former specialties from the range), and so on. Some of their bottom-
line dominated decision making, like attempting to close the De Kluis
brewery at Hoegaarden and move production to the lager factory at
Jupille, proved to be unworkable, and they wound up re-opening the
line at Hoegaarden. Once in a very great while, even brewing behemoths
can be humbled by reality.

> Although, if I recall correctly (and I may very well not be), A-B's
> growth has slowed in recent years as well.

In product volume, yes, which is true across the board for the biggest
of the corporate macrobreweries. A-B has done all right in holding the
line on margins, but A-B still also dabbles in more potentially
profitable business as well: repositioning and expanding the Michelob
line to appeal to a market that's moved away from Bud/Bud Light/Busch,
but still likes a bargain. A-B also owns substantial chunks of Widmer
and Redhook, and has deals with Kona Brewing and Goose Island as well,
bringing all those brands into its distribution portfolio. And of
course, A-B is already the importer of record for InBev's Belgian beers;
if A-B imported and distributed all InBev brands, it would control a
sizeable share of the import market, what with Beck's, Spaten,
Staropramen, Diebels, Bass, Labatt's, and so on. Wouldn't be at all
surprised to see a massive consolidation of these brands' distribution
networks should an AnBev (or is it InBusch?) merger take place, complete
with lots of yelling and shouting and lawsuits galore.

> The reason InBev is looking at A-B is not because A-B is struggling.
> It's because A-B wants a strong foothold in the North American market,
> and A-B's the one takeover opportunity.

The reason *who* wants a strong foothold? (Yeah, I know what you
meant. PSYCH!)
--
dgs