The only ones who should be mad at Anheuser-Busch are other beer companies, like Stella Artois' InBev. Image: Newscom

Beer cans in team colors are already available in some locations. These “Fan Cans” are the company’s way to combat declining sales, but the promotion could backfire. Anheuser-Busch is facing trademark issues, and they have agreed to stop selling the colored cans near any college campus who submits a formal complain. Already, Michigan, Colorado, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, and Boston College has asked that the beer not be sold near their campuses. Michigan lawyers are actually threatening legal action if maize and blue cans are sold anywhere in the state. Other colleges, including LSU and Texas, have decided to allow the beer, though many health officials at the school oppose the use.

Anheuser-Busch, however, doesn’t think they are doing anything wrong. The company reports that they and their US wholesales have spent over $750 million to combat underage drinking, as well as drinking and driving, since 1982. They also comply with an industry-wide agreement with colleges to prohibit marketing that encourages binge drinking, which is why you don’t see Bud or other alcohol companies sponsoring happy hour anymore.

Here’s the thing, though. College students are going to drink on game day whether they have colored cans or not. The question is whether or not they’ll be buying Bud Light because it shows a little school spirit or another brand that doesn’t taste like piss. Yes, Anheuser-Busch is going to probably see a jump in sales, but let’s be honest…it’s going to be at the expense of other beer companies who weren’t smart enough to come up with such a good marketing campaign.

Post from: EveryJoe

Colleges Mad At Bud

Since I’m a fan of Bacardi and I’m a fan of Mojitos, I assumed that the Bacardi Silver Mojito Original would be a safe and satisfying selection.

Oh, dear God was I wrong.

My first thought was Zima. Remember that stuff? Every yuppie party in the ’90s was stocked with it and I’ve only met one person who was brave/stupid enough to admit that they liked Zima.

After a drink or two, I noticed an odd “mint” taste. The first two drinks I had mistaken the “mint” for some kind of chemical substance on the rim of the bottle. Maybe I had spilled something on the bottles before I opened them?

The longer I drank on the bottle, the less repulsive the drink became. While I don’t think that I was getting a buzz off of 1/2 a bottle of the “premium malt beverage”, maybe my taste buds were taking their toys and going home?

Whatever the case, I finally poured the stuff over some ice in a red party cup [I had to do it up right] and it became a bit more palatable. The stuff also sat heavy on my stomach and I felt like I had eaten a five course meal by the time I was done with one bottle.

There are two other flavors and I’ll have to give them a go since I figure they have to be better than the “original”.

Image courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Post from: EveryJoe

Bacardi Silver Mojito Original Review

Kasey hopes Budweiser will put their support behind him for the 2009 Sprint Series. The king still resides over his court

Anheuser-Busch hasn’t announced who they’re going to throw their sponsorship behind for 2009. They may go with Kasey Kahne, who they sponsored in 2008, after the departure of Dale Earnhardt Jr. for Hendricks Motorsports at the end of 2007. But they estimate they only received around 12 million in benefits due to this arrangement, less than fifty percent of the exposure value they received using Dale Earnhardt Jr., so they might be looking around for someone they figure is a little more high-profile to help them return a little more value for their dollar.

Budweiser put their money behind Kahne in 2008

Kasey Kahne is probably crossing his fingers and planning on Budweiser continuing their relationship, it’s hard to find sponsors in the current economic climate and I’m sure the last thing we wants to do is find a new sponsor for 2009. Budweiser on the other hand, is probably wishing Richard or Dale were still available, instead of being otherwise occupied.

Post from: EveryJoe

Anheuser-Busch Drops Sponsorship for Kenny

But it’s good to know that beer companies aren’t failing with the rest of the failing markets. So we’ll be poor but drunk. Maybe if no one can afford beer, they’ll drop the price?

Post from: EveryJoe

Super Beer Giant Created

Anheuser-Busch desperately wants to be American, despite the fact that it’s now Belgian owned (gosh, that’s weird to say).

I’m sure that you know what I’m talking about – the overtly American-themed commercials, the red, white and blue branding and the use of the word “American” in everything. Now, A-B has introduced Budweiser American Ale, which went on draught this week. It will debut in retail stores on September 29.

According to A-B, the American Ale is a craft brew (don’t get me started on the overuse of that term) and is all-malt, top-fermented ale. It’s dry hopped with Cascade hops from the Pacific Northwest.

A-B plans to promote the new brew like crazy in television, print, outdoors and on the internet.

Post from: EveryJoe

Anheuser-Busch Tries Hard To Be American

We’ve reported on the sale of Anheuser Busch and its flagship Budweiser brand beer to InBev. At this point, A-B and Budweiser are effectively synonymous, at least in the US, but there was a time when there were many different Budweiser beers across the US (including one brewed by Miller). Indeed, the name “Budweiser” really just means “from Budweis” in German, much as “Pilsener” means “from Pilsen.” US brewers, familiar with the long brewing history of Budweis, used the name in the US to connote old-world brewing quality.

The last of the American Budweisers was brewed by the DuBois brewing company of DuBois, Pennsylvania. DuBois first started brewing its Budweiser in 1905, long after A-B, but the St Louis giant failed to challenge the small Pennsylvania brewery until some 35 years later. The dispute was solved once and for all in 1972, after DuBois was purchased by the Pittsburgh brewing company. DuBois stopped brewing shortly thereafter, and the brewery building was razed in 2003.

That leaves A-B’s Budweiser and it’s international archrival Budweiser Budvar, from the Czech Republic as the only two Budweisers left.

image courtesy of Mark, public domain

Post from: EveryJoe

And then there were two …

Post from: EveryJoe

Another look at the A-B Acquisition

Do you know the new pecking order? Quick, name the three largest American-owned breweries after A-B becomes (gulp) Belgian!

The answer is after the jump.

1, Samuel Adams
2, Yuengling
3, Sierra Nevada

An interesting turn of events, for sure.

Post from: EveryJoe

Move Over, A-B, There’s A New Sheriff in Town

The Missouri based Anheuser-Busch was America’s largest brewer and the world’s second largest. Its brands include Budweiser (”the great American lager”), Bud Light, Michelob and Busch.

InBev’s brands include Stella Artois and Becks.

InBev claims that it will use St. Louis as its North American headquarters. InBev has also promised that it will keep open all 12 of Anheuser-Busch’s North American breweries, which are located in:

- St. Louis, Missouri (world headquarters)
- Baldwinsville, New York
- Cartersville, Georgia
- Columbus, Ohio
- Fairfield, California
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- Houston, Texas
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
- Merrimack, New Hampshire
- Newark, New Jersey
- Williamsburg, Virginia

InBev has not promised to retain all A-B employees. It is widely believed that the company will see cutbacks as cost-cutting has been a central theme of A-B’s failed preservation plan. How significant those cutbacks will be is yet to be seen.

There’s a lot of speculation about the result of the merger – but not a lot of information. What do you think? Is this a bad thing for beer?

Post from: EveryJoe

Hallo Budweiser!

An online petition at SaveBudweiser.com has garnered nearly 62,000 signatures. You can sign the petition here.

You can also buy a “Save Budweiser” tee shirt on the site. The “keep our beer here” shirts run $8.

Post from: EveryJoe

You can Save Anheuser-Busch – Or At Least Get an Iconic Tee Shirt