AB InBev, SABMiller deal wins U.S. approval, adds craft beer protections

[MohRokTah]

Not pleased with this decision even with the so-called "craft beer protections". I'm glad I have a home brewery. Thinking about it, though, I should probably build it out for higher capacity of 10 gallon batches and all stainless gear as opposed to my 10 gallon stainless boil kettle, 10 gallon drink cooler mash tun and 10 gallon drink cooler hot liquor tank for 5 gallon batches:

AB InBev, SABMiller deal wins U.S. approval, adds craft beer protections

NEW YORK | BY LAUREN HIRSCH AND CHRIS PRENTICE

Brewers Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI.BR) and SABMiller (SAB.L) received U.S. antitrust approval for their $107 billion merger on Wednesday, bringing the largest-ever consumer products deal a big step closer to completion.

The combination of the world's top brewers, which together will make nearly 30 percent of the world's beer, now only needs regulatory clearance from China, a blessing that is widely expected given the proposed divestment of SAB's business there.

The deal has already been cleared by Australia, Europe and South Africa, and AB InBev said it still expects closure this year.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) approval, which is notable after the regulatory authority derailed several recent mega-mergers, came a day before SABMiller was to meet with shareholders at its annual general meeting in London.

...

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-sabmiller-m-a-abinbev-idUSKCN1002HJ

[liberal N proud]

1. That stuff they peddle isn't beer.

[MohRokTah]

2. Technically, it is beer.

Swill is more like it, though.

The sad bit is they buy up craft breweries and either turn beloved craft beers into just more swill or close it down and shelve the recipes altogether.

And this merger will have something like 75% of the global beer market, not to mention nearly $600 billion/year in revenues.

[dhill926]

3. not good...

they're already buying up some craft breweries in California, and certainly elsewhere. It remains to be seen, if they're gonna fuck with the recipes, or if it's just more of an outlet for marketing the beer...

[NightWatcher]

4. One of my fav brewers just sold out to SabMiller

Terrapin Brewing makes some tasty brews.

[Xolodno]

5. Ah yes...the "pickle" phenomenon in capitalism.

Thus far, my "cheap" go to beer, Samuel Adams hasn't been bought out....I suspect there would be major outrage if they did try to buy them out. But some of my other favorites, Rogue, Deschutes and Coronado could be targeted. Much like Waste Management figured out how to break into the Los Angeles market....walk into the Armenian or Russian owned business, open the check book and ask what is the first number and how many zero's after that.