Budweiser banned in Italy

And nothing of value was lost

 

Now only if they would ban green bottles....

 

Oh no. I'm going to Italy next month and was going to bask in all of Budweiser's deliciousness. I guess I'll just have to enjoy all the other actually good beer they still serve.

 

Wow. They've both been fighting over the Budweiser brand for over 100 years!

 

I don't know about "original" - Budejovicky Budvar has won in more countries than AB or ABInBev has.

--- Budweiser vs. Budvar Battle Continues To Brew AP story by the same author as in the OP link​

 

This is not unlike the situation in Germany. It's less of an issue of ABInbev being unable to sell the beer in as much as selling that beer (the liquid) as 'Budweiser' in name.

In Germany, Budweiser Budvar has sole claim to the 'Budweiser' name. ABInbev Budweiser must be sold as Bud.

If ABInbev rebrands this, as I would assume they would, they will be able to resume sale of the beer.

 

Unfortunately, actually finding a place that serves good beer in Italy can be impossible, depending on where you are going.

 

They should ban it in the USA as well!!!!

 

I've found craft beer in the Italian alps, in Sicily, and everywhere in between. No, it's not like finding craft in the US, you may have to keep your eyes open a bit and do a quick search for "birra artigianale" in google, but these days in just about any city you can find some good beer without too much difficulty.

 

On another note, I'll be waiting to see when the new Budvar labels saying "Budweiser" start showing up in grocery stores. I'll be sure to pick up a few bottles when I see 'em.

 

Much easier to do as an Italian than as a tourist who barely speaks the language

 

Interesting, I remember reading that article a while back, but never made the connection of Budvar with Czechvar (clearly didn't read it well enough).

We used to get Czecvar at the beer store I work at from the AB distributor, found out about three weeks ago that they stopped carrying it. Coincidence or no?

 

The game is rigged. Budvar is a state owned brewery, InBev is a multinational. This means, in EU courts, that the outcome is all but predetermined.

 

Well I'm not Italian(yet,) but I'm also not a tourist and I do speak the language.
But in all honesty, it depends when you were in Italy. Even three years ago it would have been difficult to find craft beer in my town. In the past 3 or 4 years though half a dozen bottle shops have opened up, three or four exclusively craft beer bars have opened and a brewpub has opened in the historical center. Aside from that, many "irish pubs" and little pizzerias and to-go food places now offer something craft.

 

The US importation rights to Czechvar have bounced around a lot in the decade and half (?) or so since it's been shipped to the US. When Budejovicky Budvar signed with AB's "Import Brands Alliance" in 2007 (before InBev's purchase of AB) it was surprising, but they both said that it would have no effect on the ongoing legal disputes around the world. From AB's initial announcement of the deal:

The agreement was cancelled last year when ABI did not meet the contract's sales requirements. From the April 2012 Budvar Press Release:

The one benefit from AB's importation and distribution of Czechvar was that it was included in their occasional $10 Rebate off a case of their imported brands deal. $16 for a case of fresh BudCzechvar? Yeah, I'll take that deal.

 

This can be one move to show the world that there is Italian beer lovers/brewers willing to learn and love all styles of beer, and not allow a product they would not drink.

Despite what others may feel or think, Italians take their quality of beer making seriously, as ingredients are crucial to every aspect of Italian life such as coffee, milk, water(Italy drinks bottled water and has the greatest variety of water in the world), and of course food. All the while, I hope it com across as humble and not egotistical as that is my goal in sharing this Italian beer love. If the Italian beer falls, I will join it, and if it makes it big, well, I will be there too!

 

This is a legal ruling over a brand name/trademark - one that has been fought for over a century, and in over 100 different courts around the world in just the 21st century. It has nothing to do with the beer that Italians will or will not drink, nor have they "banned" the product - merely prohibited the brewer from using the "Budweiser" name in Italy.

As has been the case in previous countries, AB-InBev will no doubt continue to sell its "Budweiser" brand beer in Italy under another name, most commonly just "Bud" (as is done for the German and Belgium markets, among others).

 

Eeks! I knew I was reading deeper into the matter and missed the point! My error of course and I should have taken more care to read thoroughly.