Amen to stopping the negative talk by the politians. Mayor Slay last night on Fox 2 seemed resigned to the buyout. I am not sure, other than grandstanding, what they thought they were going to accomplish they knew from the beginning they couldn’t stop it.
Like I have said before it is time to break out the lip balm and start kissing up.
Expect Inbev to come with their hands out and want tax relief from the city and state to stay here. Inbev will not be fond of paying the city earnings tax on their revenue and I am sure other cities would love to have the several thousand North American jobs that will remain and will gladly offer tons of tax breaks to get them to move.

I’m curious how the extra $5 solves the Cuban issues AB raised recently. Were those just a smokescreen or will Inbev divest itself of the Cuban business? I heard some stories that Inbev could pass the Cuban business off to Modelo until Cuba opens up.

Sam Adams for now on! Whoopee!! Good Luck Guys! You are going to need it!

Slay should be on the phone with Brito right now to invite him to the August Boyz II Men concert at Live Off the Levee. That will show Brito what a world-class town St. Louis is. It would also give the numerous self-interested organizations and factions in St. Louis an opportunity to shake down Brito at the earliest possible moment.

For her part, McCaskill should be trying to arrange free nursing home care for Brito’s family. As for Bond, well maybe he has some cigarette butts to offer.

In my way of thinking, if AB sells out (even if friendly) fine. Good riddance! I would prefer they go ahead and move out of town. And don’t let the door them on the way out. I WILL NOT ever buy another beer from AB or InBev and you can take that to the bank.I’ll buy Schlafly beer.

The rest of you can take your submissive poses if you like. Brito won’t be a boon to this town no matter how much you beg. I’ll switch to Schlafly, Sam Adams, and whichever microbrews get launched from AB employees who choose not to be employed by InBev.

You guys need to get off the emotional rants and think this thing through. The deal is most likely to happen and the best thing we can do is as dave nicklaus said–back off the harsh rhetoric, put our best foot forward and try to work with InBev. I don’t think this is a “submissive pose”. It is just being realistic and in the best interest of the employees and St.Louis. don’t worry about what damned beer you are or aren’t going to drink. think about the big picture.

Rick–The Cuban comments were a smokescreen. Why else can InBev already sell beer in both the US and in Cuba? What InBev cannot do is move their overall HQ to the US and retain the Cuban business; companies based in the US must abide by the government’s embargo against Cuba.

Paul is right. I work for a company that has a Canadian subsidiary. They trade with Cuba on a regular basis. It is a whole different subject, but the law prohibiting trade with cuba is just plain stupid. it has been around for 40 plus years, hasn’t accomplished didley except keep u.s. companies from trading with cuba. the canadians and europeans just fill the void.

Mr. Brito is a business man who will make his decision based on what the numbers tell him is best. Make no mistake, he will extort the local and state governments for tax breaks and other incentives to keep jobs in St. Louis. Truly, he doesn’t give a damn what we think. Handshakes and warm smiles won’t keep the jobs here. Conversely, I am not saying he should be treated like dirt. That won’t change anything either. It’s just the idea of people acting meek in front of this man turns my stomach.

Call me provincial if you like, but I try to support American and local products as much as I can. I buy Energizer batteries, not Duracell. I’ve bought Ford and GM cars, not Toyotas. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but Sam Adams will be the largest American brewer after this takes place and Schlafly is made by St. Louis Brewery.