Bye, bye, A-B, and about 1,000 employees

So the dreadful deal has come to pass: Last night the news came out that Anheuser-Busch had indeed sold out to Belgian brew-giant InBev.

In a previous blog, I had somewhat jokingly wondered aloud if the buyout might actually make the A-B product, of which I'm not a huge fan, better. However, that entry didn't take into account the human cost of the pending takeover.

It now appears that, as many knew already, InBev will indeed cut a large chunk of the A-B workforce, to the tune of about 1,000 full-time salaried jobs, according to Wall Street Journal blogger Heidi N. Moore. Meanwhile the A-B execs play smiley gladhands with the InBev leaders.

The next chapter in the decline of American corporate dominance? You be the judge.

George Will on beer

At least one good thing has come out of the InBev buyout of A-B: a wonderful column by George Will about the importance of beer.

The piece is a real treat for any beer lover. Check it out.

If you ask me, Will is at his best when he's writing about beer or baseball.

AP video about the buyout

Bond, McCaskill weigh in

As will always happen with big news like this, our U.S. senators, Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill, have both weighed in on the sale, McCaskill with some political spin.

A quote from McCaskill's news release:

“I’m disappointed. Anheuser-Busch’s Missouri workforce will continue to make the company one of the best in the world, and I am going to do everything I can to make this new arrangement work for Missouri and the millions of Americans who love Budweiser. We need to remember that InBev could afford this All-American company because of the weak dollar created by the economic policies of the last seven years. It’s time for a change in our nation’s economic priorities.”

Here's what Bond had to say:

“Is this a good deal for St. Louis workers? Ask me in three years. It is critical that the good intentions and commitments made by Anheuser-Busch and InBev be confirmed over time. I hope both of these companies uphold their end of the bargain, St. Louis has been down this road before.”