So, it looks like in the past few weeks A-B has bought both Rolling Rock and Goose Island. What are your thoughts? Is this a good thing? Will larger distribution make you happy? Will Marissa and Ryan get back together?
UPDATE: In the comments, beerinator notes that A-B didn't buy Goose Island. See this article at Chicagoist for more info.
In the case of Rolling Rock, it's sad to me that the plant is closing and that they've been swallowed up. On the other hand, I've never had or even seen Goose Island beers, so perhaps the increased distribution power that AB has will be beneficial. However, it's always a bit disheartening to see the little guys get gobbled up by the big guy.
A-B has not bought Goose Island. A-B is working out a distribution deal with Goose Island. There have been rumors of A-B possibly owning a 35% share eventually, but that would just be of the bottling brewery and now the brewpub entity.
Saying that A-B bought Goose Island recently is simply not true. Much of this whole story was generated by a story in the Chicago Tribune. Greg Hall, brewmaster of Goose Island has come out in a number of sources since the original Tribune article to dispute much of what the paper reported. He said recently in the Chicagoist that Goose Island is staying in business as an Independent Brewery.
http://www.chicagoist.com/archives/2006/05/18/this_gooses_for_you.php
He also made it very clear that the Tribune never contacted Goose Island about the story.