Things are changing, fellahs
Well... those Belgians got 'em. I have mixed to no feelings about the reins of Anheuser-Busch being handed off to ImBev. We're not talking about Sam Adams or Otter Creek or something. We're talking about a global consortium that will not change a thing about the beers we (well... mostly not I, but many---Jesus that sounds snobby as hell) drink. Now I care about people's jobs and hope that the restructuring that will surely come with this takeover, if it indeed goes through, doesn't leave a lot of hardworking beervolk out of beer work. But I have to admit I think I'd be more nervous on a sheerly beer-level (leaving lay-offs, taxation, etc aside) if AB were angling for a European brewer. I mean... I like Stella more than Bud. Or Milwaukee's Best. Anyway, here's some info on the merger and a few links to folks who are not-so-cool-widdit. Judge for yourself, but it seems to me that most of their arguments are based on xenophobia and not a fear of damage to good beer:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/14/anheuser.inbev.ap/index.html
http://savebudweiser.com/
http://saveab.com/