Bitter Brew: The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America's Kings of Beer

This book, at one level, traces the evolution of Anheuser Busch as it grew--and as it was taken over. A part of this picture is the Busch's who assumed leadership--their strengths and weaknesses.Tracing the leadership over time--Adolphous Busch (whose wife was an Anheuser), August Busch, August Busch Jr. (Gussie), August Busch III, and--finally--August Busch IV. The business began after the Busch family moved to the United States from their homeland, one of many Germans coming to the United States. They joined other Germans in producing their German beer after immigrating into the United States--Pabst, Schlitz, Blatz, and so on. The Busch's were almost religious in sticking with their brewing approach, using pure products (as best they could) and taking a longer time than others did with their brewing process. The company took off under August and continued to grow with August, Jr.The latter, often called Gussie, became enamored of nonbeer enterprises, such as the origins of Busch Gardens and developing his homestead (which contained Ulysses Grant's :Hardscrabble" farm. He also became interested in baseball, and purchased the St. Louis Cardinals. As he got older, his leadership became less focused. His son, August III, led the overthrow of his father and became the head of the company. He was hard driving and led the company into a dominant position in the American market. After he retired as active leader of the company, his son, August IV, took over leadership. And an awful choice it was. He drank too much, used drugs, and had little of the clear sense of mission that his father did. In the end, the company became vulnerable and was acquired by InBev. Anheuser Busch disappeared as an independent entity.The book also addresses the evolution of the beer industry in the United States. The original major companies were the Milwaukee businesses (e.g., Schlitz and Pabst) and the St. Louis Anheuser Busch. Over time, Miller emerged as a key competitor. Schlitz, at one point, was a rising competitor--but changed the formula for the beer to save money in production. What a sad tale of a major company dropping out as a player because of one poor decision.All in all, a fine book on beer with a focus on Anheuser Busch.

I grew up in southern Illinois and some of my fondest memories was going to Busch Stadium and watching the Cardinals. The Busch family were icons during that time (1960s). One was always impressed with their immense wealth, excentricities, and flaws. William Knoedelseder does and excellent job chronicalling their beginning throughout their take over by In- Ben. He gives a great deal of information in a compelling manner.There is information about Prohibition, the company's direction and excesses, personal failings and monumental egos. There are enough details to keep anyone's interest. He does an excellent job painting all of the principal players. He paints them warts and all but he also has a warmth for most of them. If you want specific information about the inner workings of the family - it's there. (In fact, you may need a score card of all the children from multiple marriages, cousins, and nephews.) If you want to see the excesses of wealth and the feeling of being "noblessely obliged" - its there. There is a great deal of information regarding competitors that adds to the narrative. There is information about the inner workings of the business. Throughout the narrative there is a tragic component that comes through. And yet through it all the bumble, stumble and persevere to enormous success. In the epilogue, the author compares the efficiency of AB In Bev with the philosophy of the founders. It was sad. Aunheiser Busch was such an integral part of the communities in which they were located and you could see that their absence affected the communities in a number of ways.The Busch's could be tyrannical, arrogant and ruthless at times. But there was a brilliance and love for what they were doing. The quality of the product was paramount. The love of being good at what you did was the motivation not the ledger sheet.It was a very interesting tale. I enjoyed the rise and the fall, the peccadilloes and the successes. Enjoy!

Ich liebe solche Bücher, die mich als Leser quasi auf Zeitreise mitnehmen. Die Familiengeschichte dieser Brauerei-Dynastie hätte sicher auch auf viele andere Famiien (Rockefeller, Cargenie etc.) ü vertragen werden können, insbesondere der Teil, wie die Gründer die Firmen zu ihrem Erfolg geführtbhaben. hochinteressant zu lesen, mit welcher Weitsicht in vielen Fällen schon vor mehr als 100 Jahren agiert wurde, welche moderne Management Techniken ganz selbstverständlich angewandt.. Die Familiengeschichte - mit sich überraschend wiederholenden Mustern der Väter und den Erstgeborenen - als auch die "finale" Entwicklung der Firma sind sehr gut und anschaulich vom Autor beschrieben. Sehr schade zu lesen, welche Auswirkungen der Untergang der Brauerei auch auf die Stadt St.Louis hatte - für mich werden dabei Erinnerungen an die Hoechst AG meiner Heimatstadt Frankfurt wach. Für geschichtsnteressierte Leser eine absolute Empfehlung.

I had never given much thought to how very large beer companies were, and how few there really are.This was an interesting read full of the history of beer and even some baseball. I would recommend this book to a friend.

Well written and captivating insight into one of the most iconic brands in America. Number 4 really flushed it all away. Shame.

A interesting read about the history of a global beer brand. The story focused on the individuals that ran the compamy