Anheuser-Busch watered down beer ?

By Hum
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Grand Master

Hum

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PHILADELPHIA ? Beer lovers across the U.S. have accused Anheuser-Busch of watering down its Budweiser, Michelob and other brands, in class-action suits seeking millions in damages.

The suits, filed in Pennsylvania, California and other states, claim consumers have been cheated out of the alcohol content stated on labels. Budweiser and Michelob each boast of being 5 percent alcohol, while some "light" versions are said to be just over 4 percent.

The lawsuits are based on information from former employees at the company's 13 U.S. breweries, some in high-level plant positions, according to lead lawyer Josh Boxer of San Rafael, Calif.

"Our information comes from former employees at Anheuser-Busch, who have informed us that as a matter of corporate practice, all of their products mentioned (in the lawsuit) are watered down," Boxer said. "It's a simple cost-saving measure, and it's very significant."

The excess water is added just before bottling and cuts the stated alcohol content by 3 percent to 8 percent, he said.

Anheuser-Busch InBev called the claims "groundless" and said its beers fully comply with labeling laws.

The suit involves 10 Anheuser-Busch products: Budweiser, Bud Ice, Bud Light Platinum, Michelob, Michelob Ultra, Hurricane High Gravity Lager, King Cobra, Busch Ice, Natural Ice and Bud Light Lime.

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Grand Master

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I don't know about everywhere, but I know a guy whose wife used to work for a brewery in Australia and can confirm that's exactly how they make light beer--brew the regular beer, then add water when bottling. Difference is, light beer is cheaper there because you only pay for the amount of actual beer you're getting. Should at least be the same all 'round, and all the ABV% should be accurate on the label.

Grand Master

Xerino

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I expect countersuits and appeals out of this, I work for Sierra Nevada Brewery, and we had to sign a non-disclosure aggreement, that carries on even if the job ends, I am pretty sure the Enheiser-Busch works the same way, remember that episode of king of the hill when peggy got a job at alamo beer?

Grand Master

n_K

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This lawsuit doesn't stand a chance because beer consists mostly of water anyway (up to 96%).

Not 96% afaik.

The '4%' on the label refers to the amount of ethanol there is in it, if it was pure 4% ethanol and 96% water you'd have a very weak vodka, beer on the other hand has barley and other things in it which give it the distinctive taste, it is certainly not (well shouldn't be and stuff in the UK isn't) 96% water.

Grand Master

+Mirumir Subscriber¹

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Not 96% afaik.

The '4%' on the label refers to the amount of ethanol there is in it, if it was pure 4% ethanol and 96% water you'd have a very weak vodka, beer on the other hand has barley and other things in it which give it the distinctive taste, it is certainly not (well shouldn't be and stuff in the UK isn't) 96% water.

Vodka is a distilled beverage and you are right in saying that it is a mix of ethanol with water. However, beer is different; it is a fermented drink; it is brewed; it's not distilled, speaking about the real stuff.

It takes a lot more than 4% of barley of the total (final) mass to produce beer. Because it is a fermented drink, the yield is not just a sum of the ingredients.

Grand Master

Chasethebase Veteran

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This lawsuit doesn't stand a chance because beer consists mostly of water anyway (up to 96%).

They said the same about milk years ago when farmers would add water to get a higher yield. Now there are analysis methods to check the water content, and if it's too high the batch gets rejected and you can be fined.

I don't know if the same system can be used for alcohol since it has a much lower freezing point but it can be analysed.

Grand Master

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I drank beer in Munich Germany and to me that is the best beer. Unfortunately I live in the U.S.

I have found that local breweries make the best stuff. There's one around here called Straight to Ale, and they have some fantastic beers. It can be tricky finding them, but if you ask around, good beer is being made in the States--it's just generally not found in the supermarkets.

Grand Master

Redmak Administrators

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I drank beer in Munich Germany and to me that is the best beer. Unfortunately I live in the U.S.

German beer is great. We have some nice beers here in Holland as well

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