InBev is the company that purchased/merged with Anheuser-Busch. In terms of quality, most of the places they've purchased have stayed the same, so you don't need to avoid them in that sense. Many people (myself included) won't support them because of their business practices. AB InBev brands - Wikipedia
Devils Backbone got that InBev money and their basecamp location is so nice and the beers are still tasty.
I talked with a guy who was a brewer at 10 barrel right when they got purchased and he said the main thing that sucks is that the money doesn't roll down hill. The investors and owners got tons of cash, the brewmaster/head brewer did and that was it. Everyone else was making the same. He wanted to come back to Michigan so he ended up quitting but said that the ingredients and beer quality had remained the same from pre-sale to post-sale, but he wasn't around that long after the sale.
ST LOUIS BREWERIES..... GO! Me and my lady are going there in June. I've been to 4 Hands once and loved it and it's right by Busch Field (we are going to a Cubs/Cards game), so that is definitely happening. Open to any others within city limits.
One of their brands that did seem to take a noticeable hit in quality, IMO, after their acquisition by inBev were Goose Island's flagships. 312, Honkers, and Goose Island IPA all took a noticeable hit in quality once they shifted production of those core beers away from Chicago to the larger AB production facilities. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but it just didn't taste the same as before. Thankfully, Goose Island still makes BCBS in Chicago and the inBev acquisition seems to have given them better resources to improve their barrel-aging program (BCBS typically tastes better year after year). So at least there is a silver lining to the entire thing.
Can’t believe I haven’t found this thread before. I’m huge into the beer drinking/trading scene in Richmond. Love having access to The Veil, The Answer, Triple Crossing, and so many more all locally. Black Heath Meadery is also world class and I have been getting more and more into mead over beer for trades since I can cellar them. If anyone ever needs recommendations for this area definitely hit me up!
Very jealous. Hoping to make a trip down there this summer. Haven't been down there since all the new places have opened in the last few years. Happy to trade if you're ever looking for any NJ stuff. Melovino Meadery is like 5 minutes from my office and putting out real solid stuff.
In regards to St Louis, I've done some research and figured out some logistical routing: Friday we arrive at our hotel: we walk to Square One, to 4 Hands, to Busch Stadium for our Cubs/Cards game. Saturday: Modern, Heavy Riff, Side Project, Six Mile Bridge, Schlafly. Sunday: Anheuser-Busch, Alpha, Civil Life, Perennial.
The cellar bottle list was cool definitely could've spent a unhealthy amount of time and money there.
Went to college in Richmond when Legend was the only beer game in town. Glad I went to the Veil this past weekend and loved their policy of last call at close (10 pm, which allowed us to finish up around 10:30-45). Final Gravity was good too.
Final Gravity is great and still really under the radar as far as hype. With all of the places I mentioned I rarely go anywhere else anymore, and I used to be at Hardywood for every release. It’s all blown up so much lately.
Someone recommend me the Daisy Cutter Pale Ale, I'm looking forward to trying considering it got outstanding reviews.
Here in Chicago it is one of THE staple local beers and available nearly everywhere. I think it's a solid "I don't know what I want, but I don't want Bud/Miller/Heineken/Bluemoon/other macro" beer.
I got the DDH on draft at a family steakhouse/Italian restaurant on a quick Chicago visit and that kind of blew my mind. Never been overly impressed with the regular but it’s a solid choice for sure.