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Friday, April 15, 2022

Speaking Of Beer

Speaking of beer...

Here on the farm we have to plan ahead if we need much of anything since it is a 20 minute drive to get groceries or supplies, including beer.  Even then the small town beer selection is limited.

The grocery store where we shop runs a weekly ad and two weeks ago they advertised New Belgium beer, brewed in Ft. Collins, Colorado, for $7.99/six pack.  Regular price is $9.99/six pack.  New Belgium brews a number of different beers, one of which is 1554, a favorite of mine.


New Belgium started out as a small craft brewing company and was purchased in 2019 by Lion Brewing of Australia.  Since it has been continually brewed in the United States their formula hasn't changed, unlike beers from other countries that have been purchased by InBev and ruined by brewing them in the United States. 

The grocery store has a reasonable selection of beer, however don't put a lot of effort into stocking all varieties when a brand is in the ad, likely intentional.  Since New Belgium's 1554 is a speciality dark lager such was the case when I went to make a purchase.

I got a rain check and as requested returned two days later.  Still no 1554.  Check back next week I was told.  I did.  Still no 1554.  Long story short, ten days later it was finally there.  Such are the occasional speed bumps living in the country.


Wednesday, April 13, 2022

InBev Ruins Beer

AB InBev (Anheuser-Busch InBev), a Belgium owned company, is now the largest beer company in the world. 


 

Prior to the merger with SABMiller (South Africa Brewing) in 2016 it owned 200 brands.  After the merger it now owns 400 brands. 



As a result of these mergers and acquisitions a number of beers formally brewed in various countries are now being brewed in the United States at Budweiser plants in St. Louis, Fort Collins and others including:

formerly Germany

formerly Australia



formerly Germany



formerly Belgium

My preference is beer from craft breweries or brewpubs.  For off-the-shelf beers I've enjoyed each of these beers in the past, however they are simply not the same.  Whether intentional or not, Budweiser has ruined the taste and character of these beers.  Now comes the most recent Budweiser acquisition of Kona Beer of Hawaii.

Currently Kona seems to have remained essentially unchanged.  I wonder how long before Budweiser ruins this beer.