• Bitter Brew

  • The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America's Kings of Beer
  • By: William Knoedelseder
  • Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
  • Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (711 ratings)

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Bitter Brew  By  cover art

Bitter Brew

By: William Knoedelseder
Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
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Publisher's summary

The engrossing, often scandalous saga of one of the wealthiest, longest-lasting, and most colorful family dynasties in the history of American commerce - a cautionary tale about prosperity, profligacy, hubris, and the blessings and dark consequences of success.

From countless bar signs, stadium scoreboards, magazine ads, TV commercials, and roadside billboards, the name Budweiser has been burned into the American consciousness as the "King of Beers". Over a span of more than a century, the company behind it, Anheuser-Busch, has attained legendary status. A jewel of the American Industrial Revolution, in the hands of its founders - the sometimes reckless and always boisterous Busch family of St. Louis, Missouri - it grew into one of the most fearsome marketing machines in modern times. In Bitter Brew, critically acclaimed journalist Knoedelseder paints a fascinating portrait of immense wealth and power accompanied by a barrelful of scandal, heartbreak, tragedy, and untimely death.

This engrossing, vivid narrative captures the Busch saga through five generations. At the same time, it weaves a broader story of American progress and decline over the past 150 years. It's a cautionary tale of prosperity, hubris, and loss.

©2012 William Knoedelseder (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about Bitter Brew

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Couldn't stop listening...

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

This is a great story detailing the blood sweat and tears associated with building and ultimately losing one of America iconic companies / brands. I have lived in St. Louis for nearly 4 years now and this story has given me an entirely new perspective on the big brewery and the family that built it. I would reccomend this book to almost anyone who has an interest in history, business or even general drama.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pass the Beer and Ammunition

Would you consider the audio edition of Bitter Brew to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version of Bitter Brew but there is a great PDF attached to the download for pics and charts.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Forth is my favorite as he is leaving an incredible path of death and destruction in his wake.

Have you listened to any of Peter Berkrot’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I do plan to listen to his other books in the future.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was broken into 3 parts, and I finished it in less than a week as I found it very interesting. I think they should make it into a TV mini series.

Any additional comments?

I live in St. Louis so the book is a must read for people living in the Lou, but people from other places will enjoy the book if they have ever drank a beer or wondered what rich people do when they have no morals or common sense.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • BK
  • 12-11-12

Well researched

Did Peter Berkrot do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

It's too bad Berkrot didn't do as good a job researching things as the author did. Mispronouncing "Carondolet" might excusable for a non-St. Louisan, but to mispronounce Stuart Symington's name and Red Schoendienst's name is NOT excusable. His voice is pleasant enough, and I enjoyed listening, I just wish he'd have checked some things first.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Detailed history of A-B

I enjoyed the book, though the beginning was a little slow. Like a biography, the book started at the beginning with establishing the family. It was a necessary inclusion for this particular family that was so intertwined with the corporation, but it was still a little slow starting off. The rest was great.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Every St. Louisian should read

Where does Bitter Brew rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best told stories of St. Louis history. This is a book every person in St. Louis should read. So full of a colorful history of one of our city's icon company's rise and fall.

What does Peter Berkrot bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Peter Berkrot reads the story as though he was there and experienced every event and episode. He has a great voice, easy to listen to for long periods of time. I could not put it down (turn it off).

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating Story Well Told

Any additional comments?

I'm more of a wino than a beer drinker, but this is a really interesting story. It's extremely well written and well narrated. I would highly recommend this audio book to anyone interested in the history of American business. Informative and entertaining at the same time.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Don't Have to Care About Beer to Enjoy this Story

What made the experience of listening to Bitter Brew the most enjoyable?

This history of Anheuser-Busch is fascinating, the wealth, the power and the disfunction. A very well-written, page turning history lesson. One character is more fascinating than the next. I am waiting for someone to do a cable series on this family.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Most of the characters were flawed and that made the story more compelling.

What does Peter Berkrot bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Peter Berkrot is an excellent narrator. Doesn't get in the way of the story, no over-acting.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story! Hard to believe it is true.

Really enjoyed this book! Narrator executes well but feel he may have been a bad choice for purely tonal reasons.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gran historial

Cuenta de manera detallada los intrincados asuntos de 5 generaciones que manejaron AB durante siglo y medio

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstandingly comprehensive

I’ve listened to over 40 audible books and this is among the top 3. Detailed story of the only rise and fall of an American legend.

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