Bottoms Up

Odd bits.,..the news real fast… Dow Jones is reporting that the rumors are true, Brussels, Belgium-based InBev has made a $65 a share offer for Anheuser-Busch:

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Anheuser-Busch Cos. (BUD:
late Wednesday confirmed it received an unsolicited, non-binding proposal from Belgium-based InBev to buy all outstanding shares of Anheuser-Busch for $65 a share in cash. Anheuser-Busch’s board will evaluate the proposal within the context of all critical factors, including its long-term strategic plan. “The board will review the merits of the proposal consistent with its fiduciary duties and in consultation with its financial and legal advisers. The board will pursue the course of action that is in the best interests of Anheuser-Busch’s stockholders,” said the U.S. brewer in a statement. The board is expected to make its decision regarding the deal in “due course,” it said

A-B shares closed today on the New York Stock Exchange at..$58.35 and rose another $3 in after-market trading. How much is $65 a share? I dunno. Billions and billions.

Meanwhile on the Miller-Coors merger - joint venture, Andy England, currently CMO of Coors Brewing Company said this, according to Brew Blog, the Miller house blog:

“We’re here to drive the profitable growth of the beer business,” Andy England, currently CMO of Coors Brewing Company, said at a meeting of Miller Brewing Company employees.

MillerCoors has a “really extraordinary collection of brands, without question the best collection of brands in the U.S. beer industry,” he said.

MillerCoors has two sharply differentiated light beers — Miller Lite standing for more taste and Coors Light standing for cold refreshment — that can effectively compete against Bud Light.

Its lineup of crafts and imports, which includes Blue Moon, Leinenkugel’s, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell and Molson, is a “collection that is about to explode,” he said.

And on a sad note… East Coast bloggers have been mourning the death earlier this week of Jay Misson, a well-known and much-respected East Coast brewer. Blogger-author- Lew Bryson noted that Jay worked for years at Gordon Biersch in San Francisco. Now, a brewer there sent him this note:

Dear Lew, My name is John Tucci and I am the head brewer at Gordon Biersch San Francisco. I worked with Jay for several years at Gordon Biersch and remember him fondly.

I am planning a west coast get together at Gordon Biersch San Francisco in honor of Jay Misson. A bunch of us are getting together Saturday June 14th at 4pm to toast him and remember old times.

I’ll be emailing the event details to all the friends in the area here I know that knew him, and will direct them to your blog for more info.

Gordon Biersch San Francisco
2 Harrison St. San Francisco, CA
June 14, 4:00 p.m.