Carnahan, AB’s congressman, takes somber tone
U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, whose district includes Anheuser-Busch’s Pestalozzi Street headquarters, offered a glum statement today regarding the future of the brewery. 
On the heels of investment sage Warren Buffett reportedly declaring he’s on the side of Belgian beer giant InBev, here’s what Carnahan had to say about the looming takeover:
This is a day we never anticipated and yet it has arrived. By all public accounts, Anheuser-Busch’s stellar position in our community, across the country, and throughout the world is being challenged. While the company must respond to the unsolicited purchase attempt by Belgium based InBev Corporation, it is now up to the proven leadership of Anheuser-Busch to decide how best to proceed in securing not just its St. Louis survival, but its long-term economic success.
Collectively we share great concern for the welfare of the St. Louis area, the men and women who have led Anheuser-Busch to iconic prominence, and a questioning public that rightfully wonders what will be next. I have spoken with many colleagues from across the country and Missouri in the last few days who are more than sympathetic to our concern, because they see it as theirs as well.
Anheuser-Busch is more than a corporate giant and leader for St. Louis AB is an iconic symbol of the city and is inextricably tied to the
St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. So, I think the brewery should take evasive steps to fend off an unsolicited acquisition by InBev.
No matter how the deal is packaged the brand will change if InBev takes over. I hope this deal does not happen and believe the management at AB will do what is necessary for the short and long term survival of Anheuser-Busch and St. Louis Missouri.
Carl Harris
I’m guessing this is about the same way that people in Pennsylvania felt a couple of years ago, when AB purchased Rolling Rock and transferred brewing to Pennsylvania. Or, for that matter, how those of us who enjoy products from other breweries feel when we get stuck drinking Bud Light because so many of St. Louis’s concert venues and bars have exclusive arrangements with AB.
What surprises me here is that with so much discussion going on, nobody has asked the most important question of all: If InBev acquires AB, will we still be able to get free beer at Grant’s Farm?
PS - There’s an ironic twist here … at saveab.com, there’s a link to a mock radio commercial from the Mark Reardon show. The commercial makes fun of the names of several beers, including Hoegaarden … which is distributed in the United States by Anheuser-Busch.
What will happen to the Clydesdale if the brewery was sold?
The only link between AB and the Cardinals is the name on the stadium and the obscene amount they charge for a beer at the game. AB sold the Cards over 12 years ago now and ran them into the ground prior to that.
This meeting with the congresspeople is just a formality. Inbev has hired a lobbyist in DC to get the job done. I also have inside info that the deal is going through. How very sad for St. Louis.
“What will happen to the Clydesdale if the brewery was sold?”
The Belgians are big fans of a spice horse-meat sausage called Kibblewurst. Rumor is it tastes great with a refreshing glass of InBev Lite or InBev Ice.
I am sure Russ really sympathizes with IV seeing how they both got their jobs the same way.
Russ Carnahan is electric!
Russ is who we have been waiting for!
Seriously, we went from Gephardt to this guy?
flyover and Randy–you guys have it right. If only about 1600 others in the third district would have voted for someone in 2004 who could actually do something in Congress besides promoting the Cardinals opening night or something else just as nonsensical we might have had someone who could actually help the people in the third district and throughout the Metro area