Anat Baron, who directed Beer Wars, kept getting asked about a list of which brands are owned by which of the two big beer companies operating in the U.S., Anheuser-Busch InBev and Miller Coors. I thought I’d help out by putting together this list, which still probably isn’t exhaustive since it doesn’t include experimental releases being test-marketed (or brands I simply missed). Putting together a list of this type is harder than it looks, because so many of the arrangements between InBev and MillerCoors and their subordinate brands aren’t all straightforward ownership deals. Some involve partial ownership, distribution rights and alliances, limited ownership (in certain markets) and limited distribution rights (ditto). What should be included and what shouldn’t? Good question. I tend to think that if the brand is controlled in a particular market (usually that would be through distribution) then it should be included.
To be clear, this is a snapshot of the U.S. market in 2009. Many of the relationships have since changed, while still others no longer exist. Goose Island, for example, is now wholly owned by ABI, while Starr Hill Brewing no longer has any distribution arrangement with them.
Anheuser-Busch InBev
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MillerCoors
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