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

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.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2012 William Knoedelseder (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

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.

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.

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.

Great history of the King of Beers and Co.

What did you love best about Bitter Brew?

I collect books on the history of food/alcohol and nutrition. I actually own a hardcover version of this book but didn't read much of it. The audiobook from Audible kept my attention from beginning to end.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bitter Brew?

The naming of Anheuser-Busch and Budweiser and the early years of the company.

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

No, but he was a good narrator.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was struck by the family's love for guns, despite the suicides by firearm and accidental shooting (without major consequences) that occurred in the family's home(s).
Also, the final generation's continual partying, drug use, apparent vehicular homicide (without major consequences), and the many privileges, opportunities, PR staff (spin doctors), and get-out-of-jail-free cards that the very wealthy evidently are entitled to.

Any additional comments?

The book has extra-emphasis on the final generation, before being bought out by a non-American corporation. Budweiser and other Anheuser-Busch products were once synonymous with America, but that can't be truly said any longer.
I enjoyed learning about the initial generations' struggles, successes, and biographies rather than the drawn-out final generation's. Then again, being the most recent, I'm sure the author had much more information to work with (e.g., articles in publications, inability to conduct in-depth interviews with the long-dead associates of the initial generations) regarding the final generation's flop and the eventual buyout of the company.

Mispronunciations galore

Any additional comments?

I don't know who exactly the target audience was for this book, but someone had to know that the St Louis community would be a big part of it...right? But yet no one had the common courtesy to check on the pronunciations of the city's neighborhoods and landmarks...and even the newspaper. Very very distracting!

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).

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.

Compelling story & I don't even like beer!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I think that this book would appeal to everyone. I hesitate to say I'm a St. Louisan because you don't have to be a local (or a beer drinker) to be facinated by this story! AB was huge nationally as well as locally but as a St. Louisan, it really is a sad story about a tragic family and the loss of another major business to foreign investors. It's another example of truth being more compelling than fiction!

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

Yes! I binged on it!

Any additional comments?

Whose job is it to research the pronunciation of local place names? There were several errors.

Intriguing and informative

This offered insight into the American beer industry on a grand scale - from the founding of AB, to the turmoil of prohibition, and beyond. Wrought with family drama and interesting cultural history, this is still a worthwhile read even for those who are not involved with the brewing industry.

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.