R.I.P.

Budweiser is now the official beer of the Engilish FA Cup, the nationwide competition that pits the smallest local amateur teams against the best pro teams. Think Salinas Spurs vs. the NY Yankees.

Bud is also the official beer of the World Cup...soccer's worldwide championship in which 178 countries participate.

England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Belgium, Holland, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bosnia, Serbia, Turkey, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Denmark, Mexico, Jamaica, South Africa, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Russia......

That is me thinking of countries whose beer I have had that blows doors off the coldest Budweiser on the hottest afternoon.

In the last ten years America has done many things to infuriate the rest of the world: invading Iraq, for example. Wrecking the world economy, for example.

I think in the long run, Budweiser's invasion of English and international beer will be seen as much, much worse.

Sorry, I'm an asshole....no one has died in the Beer Putsch, I know. But, imposing upon a multi-millennial, trans-national organic culture(s)......both beer and soccer..... the insipid, clueless, boring, lifeless, overbearing.....but profitable! brand that is Budweiser....... might just presage America's own epitaph:

Insipid. Boring. Clueless. Overbearing.....but Profitable!

And definitely "Lifeless" in the long run....

Clink....here's to ya. With a Speakeasy Ale from Hunters Point (orange peel and coriander)....and with a lift of the glass to William Younger's Tartan Bitter.