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[~Devil Trigger~]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/31/justice-department-budweiser_n_2591134.html
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/143379637/ABI-Complaint

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department filed a lawsuit Thursday to stop the international conglomerate that makes Budweiser and many other beers from taking over the company that brews Corona.

Federal authorities allege that Anheuser-Busch InBev's $20.1 billion takeover of Grupo Modelo, announced in June, would "substantially lessen competition in the market for beer in the United States as a whole" and result in consumers "paying more for beer and having fewer new products from which to choose," according to the Justice Department.

In a statement, ABI said the Justice Department's action was inconsistent with the law and the marketplace. "We remain confident in our position, and we intend to vigorously contest the DOJ’s action in federal court," the company said.

ABI is the largest beer firm, and Modelo is the third-largest firm. Together, they control around 46 percent of annual beer sales in the U.S. (ABI already owns a stake in Modelo). Federal authorities say that ABI considered Modelo's Corona a significant threat and launched Bud Light Lime to compete with Corona in 2008, even going so far as to "mimic Corona’s distinctive clear bottle."

But unlike MillerCoors and other brewers, the complaint says, Modelo wouldn't follow along when ABI increased beer prices.

"Ultimately, instead of trying to compete head-to-head with its own product, Bud Light Lime, ABI is thwarting competition by buying Modelo," DOJ said in a press release. Both ABI and MillerCoors have been forced to lower their prices to discourage consumers from "trad[ing] up" to Modelo brands, the government said.

"The department is taking this action to stop a merger between major beer brewers because it would result in less competition and higher beer prices for American consumers,” Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer, who heads DOJ's Antitrust Division, said in a statement. “If ABI fully owned and controlled Modelo, ABI would be able to increase beer prices to American consumers. This lawsuit seeks to prevent ABI from eliminating Modelo as an important competitive force in the beer industry.”

In October, Businessweek reported that ABI executives have a taste not only for swallowing up the competition, but also for quietly tinkering with beer recipes by substituting cheaper ingredients in an effort to save money.

Please stop this

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

I already pay more for beer, but it's worth it:

 

[Davedough]

Glad I brew my own and dont have to worry about the swill water that is Budweiser.

 

[Deadstar]

DOJ doesn't care about phone/internet company monopolies, why do they care about beer?

 

[Clydefrog]

Turd sandwich wants to buy a giant douche

 

[Reven]

DOJ doesn't care about phone/internet company monopolies, why do they care about beer?

Because federal agents love beer.

 

[chaostrophy]

Never knew that Modelo made Corona...because I've never liked Corona. Negra Modelo is my go-to beer at Mexican restaurants though.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Gotta pay to play in Washington...

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.php?id=D000042510


Looks like they bet on the wrong horse.

 

[BobTheFork]

I'm going to bomb the fuck out of every brewery in the States except Odell's. I may spare Oskar Blues since I go eat there.

 

[Davidion]

I support all the crap macrobreweries merging into one gigantic entity so that I have a single focal point of distaste when it comes to beer.

 

[Mindlog]

Federal authorities allege that Anheuser-Busch InBev's $20.1 billion takeover of Grupo Modelo, announced in June, would "substantially lessen competition in the market for beer in the United States as a whole" and result in consumers "paying more for beer and having fewer new products from which to choose,"

Kind of a weird thing to say considering the influx of smaller breweries appearing on supermarket shelves. Outside of supermarkets the beer market is phenomenally healthy. So much quality and variety out there :cheers:

 

[Guevara]

I was pretty bummed to reach Corona, Negra Modelo and Pacifico are all owned by the same conglomerate.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

I'm going to bomb the fuck out of every brewery in the States except Odell's. I may spare Oskar Blues since I go eat there.

You mean every macrobrewery right?

Because there are hundreds of delicious microbrew varieties available.

 

[Trojita]

Corona tastes awful. They can have them.

 

[soundahfekz]

Corona tastes awful. They can have them.

This. Take that shit

 

[ezrarh]

Kind of a weird thing to say considering the influx of smaller breweries appearing on supermarket shelves. Outside of supermarkets the beer market is phenomenally healthy. So much quality and variety out there :cheers:

It's funny they're doing this for a market with a low barrier of entry. One of the few times I say "so what?" to large companies buying one another.

 

[kudos.]

I already pay more for beer, but it's worth it:

Ashevillian here. I can get most beers but I have yet to see a Three Floyds beer. Makes me sad.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

Ashevillian here. I can get most beers but I have yet to see a Three Floyds beer. Makes me sad.

You have to ask for it in most stores in the Chicagoland area because they sell out as soon as it comes in. People figure out the delivery schedule and buy up the entire stock.

It's madness.

 

[krae_man]

Beer makers can't merge/buy eachother out because it is anti competetive, but Live Nation and Ticketmaster merging? No problem.

 

[injurai]

I support all the crap macrobreweries merging into one gigantic entity so that I have a single focal point of distaste when it comes to beer.

lol, I like this.

 

[Marvie_3]

DOJ doesn't care about phone/internet company monopolies, why do they care about beer?

The bribes they get from brewers probably isn't high enough.

 

[Lkr]

bud and corona both suck though so who cares

 

[Seth C]

Ashevillian here. I can get most beers but I have yet to see a Three Floyds beer. Makes me sad.

Probably the closest it gets to you is Kentucky. Come to Lexington, but don't expect Zombie Dust, at least not in bottles. That barely leaves the area of the brewery. We get kegs of it in Lexington from time to time.

I do have a case sitting here at home, though.

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

Corona tastes awful. They can have them.

awful?

no

 

[Tawpgun]

Beer snobs reporting in.

 

[Linkhero1]

 

[Calantus]

say what you want about Corona, but it is 200% better than anything Budweiser.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

awful?

no

No?

Yes.

I've never said this before, but this really should have been the first post.

And I AM the first post!

 

[Ekdrm2d1]

Beer snobs reporting in.

Must be nice.

 

[GK86]

Hands off my corona.

 

[Trojita]

awful?

no

If I didn't have a grasp of the Spanish language I would think Corona stands for Rancid Skunk Piss.

 

[Omegasquash]

Corona isn't my beer of choice, but I think it's odd that the DOJ would get all up in this. They seem to care about some industries and not give a poop about others.

Maybe I just don't understand their logic.

 

[StriKeVillain]

What actually is the best Mexican beer? I'm fond of Dos Equis. My local mexican joint gives you a huge mug with a lime wedge for like $4. Shit is amazing.

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

No?

Yes.

Yes?

No. Its not the best beer by far, but its good.

i guess for some people here, if the beer doesn't come from a hipster's Williamsburg apartment bathtub, its auto-bad.

 

[Clydefrog]

Corona only tastes okay if you put a lime in it. Otherwise it is actually disgusting. Beer should taste good by itself. Corona fails that distinction.

 

[T.M. MacReady]

 

[Subitai]

Don't drink, but it sounds like this is good news for beer lovers.

 

[Slayven]

Corona is terrible.

 

[Sharp]

What actually is the best Mexican beer? I'm fond of Dos Equis. My local mexican joint gives you a huge mug with a lime wedge for like $4. Shit is amazing.

Based on my experiences to date, there is no such thing as good Mexican beer. GAF, please correct me.

 

[Clydefrog]

What actually is the best Mexican beer? I'm fond of Dos Equis. My local mexican joint gives you a huge mug with a lime wedge for like $4. Shit is amazing.

of the big brands? Yeah, Dos Equis and Tecate are my favs

 

[ConradCervantes]

My girlfriend said I didn't have to buy any beer on NYE, her fridge was stocked with Corona.

I arrived with Spotted Cow. The only thing Corona has going for it is that it's better than Bud.

 

[Stinkles]

A monopoly on the most flavorless and weak beers in the world. I say let 'em do it. Although Corona >>>>>>>> Bud. Both suck.

Negra Modelo fo life.

 

[Lucky Forward]

"Ultimately, instead of trying to compete head-to-head with its own product, Bud Light Lime, ABI is thwarting competition by buying Modelo," DOJ said in a press release.

heh heh

 

[lil smoke]

awful?

no

Me too. I wouldn't say awful. But I'm not a snob either.

 

[Zero Hero]

I don't always drink Corona, but when I do it's because I prefer it over anything that starts with 'Bud'.

I've heard that InBev is also brewing Heineken and Beck's in America now and still charging import prices. Anyone else hear anything about that?

 

[snacknuts]

What actually is the best Mexican beer? I'm fond of Dos Equis. My local mexican joint gives you a huge mug with a lime wedge for like $4. Shit is amazing.

I love Dos Equis amber in a giant frosted mug with a lime wedge.

 

[Prezhulio]

You have to ask for it in most stores in the Chicagoland area because they sell out as soon as it comes in. People figure out the delivery schedule and buy up the entire stock.

It's madness.

one of the few perks of living in indianapolis. zombie dust has been on tap all over the place in indy the past few months, it's fuckin great. nothing beats gumball head though...that's even hard to get around here where they sell other three floyd's.

 

[Vio-Lence]

I already pay more for beer, but it's worth it:

I'm going to the brew pub later today to pick up some beer

 

[Death Dealer]

What actually is the best Mexican beer?

I've tried most of the ones available in the states. Bohemia is the best, but it's not a "Mexican-style" Mexican beer. It's brewed in Mexico, but tastes like a European brew.

If you want a traditional tasting Mexican beer, I like Pacifio the best.

 

[kudos.]

You have to ask for it in most stores in the Chicagoland area because they sell out as soon as it comes in. People figure out the delivery schedule and buy up the entire stock.

It's madness.

I can't complain. The amount of good beer here is plenty enough to drain my wallet. That's all I can ask for. Plus KBS and Hopslam coming out soon.