Exactly what is InBev trying to do?

I agree wholeheartedly. I was lucky enough to find some Chicago-brewed and Delaware (New Hampshire?)-brewed Honkers last Spring and compared them blind, side-by-side -- no difference.

 

Sounds to me like the CEO of Inbev should be running the damn country.

 

Back to the O.P., I'm pretty sure Goose Island is the only craft brewery that's been purchased outright by Anheuser Busch. If you follow the "chain of command," I'm pretty sure there is no direct ownership of Goose Island by InBev, they "own" Goose island by proxy of owning A-B, but it's A-B that has direct ownership.

You can point to Red Hook and Widmer, but A-B does not own them outright.

 

Oh boy... the conspiracy theory starts...

 

We can't afford him. If we wanted him to take the job, we'd have to pay him...

...a Brazillion!

 

IMO Beck's was never a good beer to begin with. Nor was it ever a top notch pilsner. I think most people are complaining about it because they bought it expecting a German beer and then read on the label that it is made in St. Louis. Another factor could be that they were used to drinking the skunked ones that we used to get, and now that they are getting fresh ones, it tastes different. These non-skunked fresh ones are actually much less offensive than the ones that I used to get back in the day. I actually had a few over the summer out in the sun during some hot weather and they were kinda enjoyable.

However, being a fan BCBS, I will start to complain if the quality drops off on this one.

Oh ya, the OPs question. Just as many people have posted in here, they are trying to make money. Large companies and corporations, since the advent of industrialization, will expand as much as possible.

 

So does this mean I'll start seeing Goose Island beers distributed nationwide? aka I want it in TX.

 

That's been the plan.

 

I think you'll be pleased when it hits- their distribution system is pretty kickin'. It has total saturation here in NJ/NY as far as I can tell. There are a bunch of little liquor shops and supermarkets where you normally wouldn't see anything beyond Guinness, Smithwicks, etc (not even SN, for whatever reason) that now have a selection of Goose Island beers on the shelves. And at very reasonable prices, too.

 

Yes it is, because thinking that's the way most people will act is ignorant and absurd. The only way to stop unethical business practice, greed and general corporate B.S. is to acknowledge it exists. There is a reason for the Sarbanes Oxley Act and why there are so many rules within our tax code. Believe it or not, no matter how bad you want us all to hold hands and color, people are people and most lie, cheat and steal on a daily basis

 

Lets get the facts straight anyone who says profit is not the motivation is just plain wrong. While growth is important like increasing market share they would choose larger profits from the existing base every time. Just because they are buying up more companies does not mean they are ramping up the production of beer for these brands as well. In a publicly traded company the market is driven by maximizing short term profit. Thats what the share holders want. By buying a series of craft brewery they are hedging their bets and offsetting the losses in market share the craft beer industry has gained. Like it or not its a very smart strategy especially the purchase of goose island. At first their was a lot of outrage but this hasn't stopped people from supporting the brand and its coveted barrel aged beers offerings

 

Is this a serious post people don't realize InBev calls all the shots not AB anymore. This is like saying well pepsi co really doesn't own propel or G2 because Gatorade owns them and Pepsi own Gatorade. No direct ownership? you either own a company and their brands or you don't. The final say on everything is up to InBev. You are correct however that at least in the US Inbev only holds minority ownership in other craft breweries.

 

Got any proof to back this up, or are we just coasting on speculation?

 

You forgot "steal underpants"

 

Many people may steal or cheat when presented the opportunity to do so with little risk of consequence. However, I think you'll find that most people don't seek out dishonest, selfish, or destructive behavior. There seems to be a pervasive fallacy stating humans are successful because they will always act in their own self interest and engage in cruel, cold behavior. This is just not the case. It is our capacity for extreme cooperation (sometimes cruel cooperation) that has made us successful as a species. People who are cruel to all others and do not engage in cooperative behavior are typically viewed as mentally ill or psychotic.

That is where the rub of public trading comes in. A small group or a single individual can run a business how they like. They have the freedom and capacity to act in the interest of posterity. A large, angry mob of shareholders just won't tolerate that. That's why we have Sarbanes Oxley.

Lastly, you seem agitated. None of this really matters. I think you may find holding the hand of a close friend or child and doing a little coloring calms your nerves and helps you remain at peace with the world. Cheers.

 

let me clarify in original agreement when AB bought Goose Island their was a promise to let them still have creative control over the new and old recipes and maintaining quality of ingredients/brewing process. However a good chunk of their year round production has shifted to AB breweries in NY and New Hampshire which samples are sent back to chi to make sure they are consistent. I didn't think its speculation to say that InBev ultimately controls all the decsions because they control how much money is approved to be put into goose island. This directly effects the quantity of beer produced which in turn influences - how many markets they can supply and MRSP. If InBev wants to sell of Goose Island they can. I don't know what says more control then that. what they basically promised them for now in all the articles I've read is they are not going to micro manage brewing personnel choices and production in the chicago brewery

 

I guess the bottom line in all of this is I havnt noticed a drop off and quality yet. TBD. What I have visibly seen is greater distribution and presence in stores as well as the supply of BCB beers because of the investment in the barrel aging program. So in the end its just a question if its the same quality beer.

 

Another perspective:
http://www.beerscribe.com/2011/03/28/why-the-ab-inbev-deal-is-good-for-craft-beer/

 

I just don't know that to be true and have yet to see anything that confirms InBev's direct control.

And I believe the "they" in all of those articles is A-B, not InBev directly.

I completely understand your speculation that if InBev owns A-B they can run roughshod if they feel like it, but everything I've been following says that A-B is the direct owner of Goose Island and any shots being called in Chicago come from St. Louis, not Brazil.

Exactly. And if that happens, I'll be the first to call foul -- I like my Goose Island beers and don't want to see them change... at least not the ones that are established. Bring on new and exciting beers anytime.

 

Cha-ching!!!