E-Malt.com News article: United States: Another Busch beer business brewing up in the US

Almost one year after the Busch family sold its Anheuser-Busch brewery to the Belgian InBev, one family member is brewing up beer business plans of his own, Portfolio.com posted on August, 19.

Billy Busch, an uncle of former Anheuser-Busch CEO August Busch IV, is drafting his own plans for a brewing business with St. Louis investor John Timmermann.

The pair have formed Busch Timmermann Brewing LLC to “brew, market, and sell malt, barley, and other grain-based beverages,” according to its articles of organization filed June 1 with the Missouri secretary of state’s office.

Al Watkins, an attorney representing Busch and Timmermann, said the two are exploring a variety of opportunities. “It was not formed for the purpose of sitting dormant forever,” Watkins said. “There are no others involved, but that’s not to say at some point in the future there won’t be.”

Busch, 49, is a son of the late August “Gussie” Busch Jr. and a half brother of former Anheuser-Busch Cos. chairman August Busch III.

Unlike Busch III and Busch IV, Billy Busch is not restricted by a noncompete agreement with Anheuser-Busch Inc. or the brewery’s parent company, Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Craft brewing has continued to grow nationally, with 1,501 craft breweries operating in 2008, up 4.6 percent, from 1,434, in 2007, according to the Brewers Association. Year-over-year craft beer industry sales volume grew 5.9 percent, to 8.49 million barrels, last year.

Fran Cardonna, who owns O’Fallon Brewery with her husband, Tony, said she gets calls all the time from people seeking advice on how to launch a brewery. Although she had not heard of the Busch Timmermann venture, she said startup breweries continue to appeal to many entrepreneurs.

“It’s a happy business, and it holds up well in tough economic times,” Cardonna said. “People might cut back on other things, but they tend not to stop drinking.”


19 August, 2009