so this is permanence, beer's shattered pride

i read the news today, oh boy.  we have an economic recovery, and good times are coming.  the politicians say it: things may not be getting better, but at least they are getting worse at a slower pace.  green shoots and all that...but i am still not happy, i feel like there's something wrong...

as it turns out, this feeling is not strictly the result of paranoia, misanthropy, or other admitted personal defects.  the price of beer is rising, again - most regretful.  beer is among the few sources of pleasure available to a plebeian like myself.  according to the wsj article linked above:

"""

"We do plan on taking prices up in the fall on the majority of our volume in the majority of the U.S.," said David Peacock, president of Anheuser's U.S. division. "The environment is very favorable, we think."

"""

what does he mean exactly in reference to these favorable conditions?  do beer drinking folks have more cash to blow [ie the green shoots thing]?  well no, not really.  the article goes on:

"""

MillerCoors also said it will raise prices.

"""

and

"""

The two companies, which account for about 80% of U.S. beer sales, increased prices at about the same time last year.

"""

personally i could not care less what MillerCoors does with prices.  i did not even realize miller and coors were the same company until now.  i am concerned about budweiser though; it is an american classic and a personal staple.  i do not care that inbev took it over nor that hipsters appear to favor it as of late.  belgians and hipsters can eat a dick.

it is interesting and seemingly illegal and/or unethical that two companies own 80% of a market and coincdentally raise prices at the same time, twice in two years.  probably just a coincidence and not duopolistic price fixing though.  maybe prices are just increasing across the board, but according to article:

"""

Still, beer prices in the U.S. have risen faster than other consumer goods. In July, the price of beer, ale and other malt beverages sold for consumption at home rose 4.6% from a year earlier. Meanwhile, consumer prices in the U.S. overall were down 2.1%, the biggest 12-month decline since 1950, according to Labor Department data.

"""

so that does not seem so jake.  to add to this:

"""

Both U.S. giants have reported strong profits this year, in part by raising prices to offset flat volumes. MillerCoors's adjusted income rose 27% in the first six months of this year from a year ago. Anheuser's North America division posted a 29% gain in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in this year's first half.

"""

so heavy profits during a tough economic climate...

i love budweiser in a way most could never understand.  but if the belgians or anyone else want to piss on that, fine.  f them.

join me and stop buying from these assholes.  if your income is going up 27% per year, keep drinking beer by all means.  if not, drink something else - personally i am going with stoli.  if 80% of us stand up, then at least we can have a good fight.  i drank my last beer tonight; please join me, and we will see what 80% of zero is worth for these guys.