Saturday night I drank a six-pack of Bud. Sunday night I read that Belgium-based InBev had purchased Anheuser-Busch. I think I'm going to be sick.

One is tempted to say that it's as bad as when "the beer that made Milwaukee famous" shut down its Milwaukee brewery. But it's worse than that. Can I sue the company for false advertising when they conclude their Super Bowl commercials by saying, "Anheuser Busch, St. Louis, Missouri"?

It's not that I am a nationalist when it comes to drinking. It's just that it hurts my pride of country to know that Pabst is now the largest American-owned beer company. The beers I consistently drink--1. Busch, 2. Labatt, 3. Budweiser--are all North American beers, but I venture into such territory as Harp and Heineken on ocassion. I have several beers I enjoy in Central Europe--Krusovice in the Czech Republic, Zywiec in Poland. Alas, those affordable beers alchemize themselves into high-end snob brews when they enter the American market. I like them, but not $15-a-six-pack like them.

Beer snobs incessantly put down Bud, and to a lesser extent, all mass-made American beer. It's as if any beer designed to allow you to drink ten of them, and not one with dinner, is a disgrace. Beer isn't wine, fops. As one poster on a beer message board put it, "What can I say Budweiser is absolutely disgusting (average by American standards) but it continues to sell in disgraceful numbers mostly to image conscious -----." The anti-Bud animus, as one can see by reading between the lines, is linked to an anti-American animus. Perhaps now that Belgians own it Europeans will have a continental epiphany on Budweiser.

Although I am not a beer nationalist, I discovered on my most recent trip to Europe than some Europeans are. Upon stopping at a neighborhood dive bar in Salzburg, Austria--ironically on my way to a monastic brewery on the edge of town to drink the best beer I would ever drink--I was regaled with whining by a local about how evil Budweiser was for getting exclusive rights to beer sales at all World Cup events in Germany. The local yokel blamed the American megacorporation for this turn of events, he blamed George W. Bush, he half blamed me I sensed--he blamed everybody save his fellow Germans for taking Bud's money for this monopolistic business venture. As I looked up from my glass after painfully listening to, and then gleefully zoning out from, this harangue, I noticed the bar decorations included pictures of Karl Marx and a small Soviet flag. It figured.

I am no commie, so I don't begrudge foreign capitalists for buying an American company. American capitalists buy foreign companies all the time, and only the ilk of that man in the Salzburg retread bar try to stop them. It's also becoming clear that national identity with regard to beer, sadly, is becoming a thing of the past. None of my favorite beers listed above is owned by the natives. Krusovice is a Czech beer once owned by royalty, expropriated by the Communists in 1945, and now owned by the Dutch. Zywiec has a similar history, with ownership shifting from Hapsburgs, to Communists, to Belgians. It's a Polish beer, but in one sense it never was a Polish beer. It gets pretty confusing. With Miller and Coors (Miller-Coors?) owned by South Africans and Anheuser-Busch owned by Belgians, what's a patriotic beer drinker to do? Drink Pabst? Some sacrifices, even for country, ask too much.

Dan, I am personally switching and making Yeungling my beer of choice. I don't know what I am going to do when I am back home in St. Louis.

Well, I'll continue to drink Red Stripe, as it's a great beer, I don't mind giving the Jamacians and Irish my money (and really, is there any difference between those two groups if you think about it?). I drink Corona quite a bit too, but since Busch will soon own all of Grupo Modelo, and Inbev will own Busch, it appears that the only quasi-domestic beer I drink will also be foreign-owned. Oh well.

Stoned Soldier: So, do you care if it falls?
Stoned Soldier: What?
Stoned Soldier: The Roman Empire.
Stoned Soldier: [Laughs] phuck it.

A most logical choice, Chris. Yeungling may be the new Bud. Consider that Yuengling is the oldest American brewer, and that with Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Coors now owned by foreigners, the largest American beer companies are:

1. Pabst
2. Sam Adams
3. Yuengling
4. Sierra Nevada

Despite its trendiness among rich kids playing poor, Pabst, and its stable of low-end beers, is really gross. Additionally, since they contract out all of their actual brewing to SAB-Miller, there's a question about whether Pabst should be considered an American brewer, or even a brewer at all. Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada, heavier and hoppier beers, are more the type of beers one drinks for taste than beers one drinks in volume. That leaves Yuengling, which is of the type of easy to drink lager beers that Americans have traditionally gone for, which is why any beer nationalists, or just Show-Me-staters hurt by all of this, might do just what Younce is doing. Yuengling is the new Bud.

Don't like it either, but as I navigate through this plane of existence, I find there is one thing that's consistent: change.

I truly do get sick of the beer snobs. Friends of mine who tout the obscure ‘beer du jour’ as the only one to drink (this week) while putting down more common brews.

Budweiser? Ok by me. In fact an ice cold Bud can be one of the best beers one has ever had. For that moment anyway.

My preference would be Stella Artois. A truly yummy Belgium brew and will drink it whenever I can get it.

Contrary to our author though, I am a big fan of Pabst. It is a very good domestic brew. Thing is, you can’t get it around here that readily.

Does this mean my beloved st. louis cards are "gulp"! europeaon owned?

There's a question: is IC still an American brew?

"Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada, heavier and hoppier beers, are more the type of beers one drinks for taste than beers one drinks in volume."

As some regulars here can attest, I've consumed Sierra Nevada in volume on many occasions. It's a fine beer both for taste and for excess.

Just to further comment on the similarities found when comparing Jamaica and Ireland: first, they both have palm trees - a fact that was rather surprising to me. Second, and probably most surprising: you've probably heard the famous urban legend about the toothbrushes and the Jamaicans (and the photos after the fact)? Well let me tell you something: I've been to Ireland and they do that $hite all the time.

Dan,

Irony or hypocricy that you criticize "beer snobs" but spend a lot of time trashing Pabst both in the main post and even more above? Here you even trash those who drink it as "rich kids playing poor." What sort of snob does this make you if not a beer snob? ; )

Zywiec is so good though. Yummmmm.

what about high fall brewery makes gennesee jw dundee etc, im done w/ bud light the way the economy is going down the tubes ill only waste my money on american owned from here on out. genny light here i come.

Yeungling , I've never had but now is my beer when i can get it . Pabst will be my next or first since it is more easily access.
American owned and made I will be proud to purchase . When are we going to wake up ?

What in the H-E-double hockey sticks are you talking about Homer?

Trust me, the Irish know.

You're a very stange cat Homer.

Batman: It's called "slumming." Trendy hipsters have adopted Pabst as their cool beer. Some might see it as a reaction to the beer snob trend. I view it as an extension of it. Drink a beer that you like, not a beer that you would like other people to see you drinking.

Michael, Younce, etc.: I went looking for Yuengling at my local supermarket-sized packie last night. No dice. If they want to fill the void--and I think they would be the logical choice--they need better distribution. My packie carries everything, which made Yuengling's absence all the more glaring.

Homer: Jamaican everybody crazy.

All I know about Jamaica is the story about the American and Jamaican guy on the beach changing out of their swimming trunks. They noticed that they both had the same tattoo on their manhoods - WENDY. In the case of the American guy, it was in honor of his girlfriend. In the case of the Jamaican, it literally said: WElcome to jamaica mon, have a Nice DaY.

Truth is, I've been to both places a couple of times and beats me what's similar about them. Although, both have great Ganja.

http://www.snopes.com/racial/crime/toothbrush.asp

I understand. But it can't be considered a race crime unless the players (perps and victims) are reversed. Least ways that's the way the Boston Globe teaches the lesson.

Like Jesse Jackson spitting in people's food. Right? No crime there.

I've got to try this Yuengling. As sheltered as I am, I have to admit to not knowing what it is but sure sounds like it's worth a try. And, for the record, I've been drinking Pabst for many moons and have enjoyed for at least that long. In fact, they have (had?) a bock beer that was particularly good but haven't seen it around for some time now.

It's not a race crime when the Irish do it.

That's right. Because the Irish have suffered enough and can do any damn thing they want!! Don't hear them whining about it though.

Who cares about Budweiser? Sam Adams any day. Beer is just another field where Boston dominates everybody at everything.

I first heard of Sam Adams twenty years ago, when we used to steal them from a friend's father's copious stash. If you would have told me that Sam Adams would be the biggest American brewer twenty years in the future, I would have gotten sick laughing at you. Despite my Boston background, there is something truly perverse about Boston, rather than Milwaukee or St. Louis, being the Mecca of the American brewing scene. It is all the more perverse that America's #1 brewer charges $28 a case. This is why I agreed with the above posters that saw the shake-up as an opportunity for Yuengling: America demands a $15 a case, American-made, lighter, lager-style beer. Some beer needs to step in and fill the void. What amount to specialty beers--Sam Addams and Sierra Nevada--are among the top American beer makers. Strange.

Doesn't that sort of destroy the premise that America demands a $15 a case beer?

No, because even though Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada have risen in popularity, they still sell nowhere near the beer in volume or dollars than Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Coors products. It's just that Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Coors are now run by foreigners. In other words, Sam Adams's rise to the top of American brewers has everything to do with more popular brands being bought by foreigners and next to nothing to do with their expanding market share.

That's on the money. In fact, many people would still consider Sam Adams a designer beer and the fact that it is #1 by default is matter of semantics.

Sam will continue to grow in popularity but will never be the brew of choice for many people who would rather a light everyday lager.

I have a case of Sam Adams ten feet away from me as I type, so I'm not knocking them or Sierra Nevada, which is even better. I am just saying they will never be mass-market beers because...

1. They go down too heavy
2. They are way too expensive

The public's palate and pocketbook may be changing, but not that much.

I've always enjoyed a beer like Sam more in the Fall and Winter. Something meaty about it and it just doesn't go down as well in the warm weather. Same with Guinness and other dark malt or hoppy beers. Exception might be an IPA of choice.

I drink whatever Sam Seasonal is out at the time, I find the change throughout the year is welcome. Summer Ale is my personal favorite.

P.S: Sorry Dan, didn't realize you were already counting Budweiser as foreign.

Summer is a excellent alternative and another fine Sam product. But still, for most, not an everyday beer staple. In other words, still see more people drinking Bud or Miller products on a regular basis as the drink of choice.

Oh so do I. But Sam Adams is better. I think Budweister (not Bud Light or Bud Lime, but Budweiser, period) tastes decent. The rest of the American "big three" beer products all blow.

If Coors spent as much time on improving their beer as they do on coming out with gimmicky cans and bottles, they would have the best beer on Earth.

No apologies necessary, Ben. I guess one of my points is that everything is all too confusing now. Labatt, for the last fifteen years, has been my default beer. It's not wrong to call it a Canadian beer, but now that it's owned by Belgian InBev it's a Canadian beer with an asterisk. Bud earns the asterisk now too. For the purposes of this discussion, we are talking largest American-owned brewer, which is Boston Beer/Sam Adams, or largest American-owned beer company, which is Pabst, or largest foreign-owned American-brewed beer products, which is Anheuser Busch. I don't wish to confuse matters further, but the reason you can't say Pabst is the largest American brewer is because they contract out their brewing to SAB-Miller. Beer nationalists exist, and my sense is that before last week they mostly drank some Bud variant. My evidence for this other than anecdotal and instinctual, is Bud's recent campaign: "the Great American Lager." If patriotism isn't a pull for beer drinkers, why would Bud market itself that way? Why would Busch use Lynard Skynard's "Simple Man" to advertise it?There's a void now, for cheap, American-made, lager-style beer. I don't know who will, or can, fill it.

Splitting hairs with Pabst but you are accurate in terms of brewing rights. However, the fact is that Pabst is still an American OWNED beer company and is still nevertheless brewed in this country.