The problem is that no chickens are coming home to roost. If I recall correctly InBev and AB are sufficiently isolated that there is little overlap. Unlike Rolling Rock (which now tastes like piss in a green bottle) and Bud were pre-buyout their products are not in direct competition.

The C-level execs at AB all insulated themselves by guaranteeing cushy jobs on the board of InBev or buyouts. I'm pretty sure they'll even hook up August Busch V with all the comped Natty light he can drink.

So yeah, this is nothing of like the Rolling Rock situation in terms of damage for the brewers back in the show me state.

" If a person really cares about American beer, then he or she should support a good local American craft brewery or brew pub."

That's why I appreciate

http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/

Schlitz was ruined when Stroh's took it over, and even more when Pabst bought the brand.  I guess that's the beer business for ya.  Microbrews are the only ones worth drinking any longer.  I've had good ones in Baltimore, Cleveland, Chicago, Denver, San Diego, just about anywhere you go.  The behemoths like A-B just crank out pee-water, so it's no loss.  I hope InBev loses their shirt on the deal.  I couldn't care less.

there's only one way to find out...

I wonder if this will improve the selection or not?  I hadn't thought about how many places have exclusive agreements with A-B (or Miller, or whoever).  My feeling is that it probably won't make much difference though.  When Miller was bought out by SAB, it's not like they automatically started offering the full range of SAB beers at Miller-exclusive locations.  My feeling is that A-B InBev will probably stick with its Bud-only strategies because Bud is a very profitable beer (it's a relatively cheap and easy style to make, plus the high volume reduces overhead costs), and it won't want to cannibalize those profitable sales with less profitable sales of its other brands.

Did you know that the Anheuser-Busch brewery in upstate New York is on Belgium Road? Yeah, true story.

"anyone "outraged" by this clearly isn't clued in to the fact that beer is better in belgium."

I've got to go with you on that one.  St. Sebastian Belgian Ale is one of my favorites, but at $7/bottle, it's not exactly the sort of thing you swig at a barbeque.  American pee-water has been going downhill in quality for years, but it's relatively cheap, and goes well with a grilled burger after mowing the lawn.  I'd still suggest you search out a good, local microbrew.  

I went through a stint (couple of years) of homebrewing, but it's a lot of work.  Not for the casual beerdrinker.  

there's only one way to find out...

One of the commercials for last night's MLB All Star game proudly trumpeted Budweiser as "the great American lager."

Illegitimi non carborundum.

"But all I really care about is whether Red Hook keeps shipping that IPA."

I don't know about Red Hook, but at one time (~30 years ago?) A-B made one called Red Wolf, and it was pretty darned good.  Whether InBev will have the good sense to bring that one back remains to be seen.  At any rate, the major US brewing companies haven't made anything good for years.  Bland as all get-out.  Get an import (usually stale) or a microbrew (much better).  The Michelob brand was just the same thing as Budweiser, just in bottles with fancier labels and more expensive.  Major-producer American beer is about the worst in the world.  

there's only one way to find out...