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Bud opportunity

Posted: March 22, 2010 at 12:45 PM CST

Fuel ethanol production is based on the knowledge of the centuries-old brewing and spirits industry. So it is most fitting that the Fuel Ethanol Workshop, June 14-17 in St. Louis will include a tour of the Anheuser-Busch brewery on Wednesday evening. Attendees will have the opportunity to trace the origins of the company from its beginnings to modern day in both the Budweiser and Bud Light museums and visit the malt, hops and barley houses. The tour also offers a chance to sample more than 24 varieties of draught beer and take a picture with the famous Clydesdale horses at Budweiser's Clydesdale Stable.

I plan to be in the group, for a couple of reasons. A few years ago my husband and I toured the Schells Brewery in New Ulm, Minn. Schells is experiencing a bit of a boom in the hand-crafted beer revival. It is a small brewery that dates back to the late 1800s which stayed in business during prohibition by making root beer. It never did get bought up by the big guys, and maintained a niche, partly because it’s home is a German heritage community that maintains pride in its roots. It will be interesting to see what a giant like Anheuser-Busch shares in common with Schells.

Another connection—a Clydesdale breeder lives not far from our farm, who takes great pride in having supplied horses for the Budweiser Clydesdale team. Seeing the stables will be as much of a treat as testing the beer.

Hope to see you there. Space is limited to 750 guests, who must be registered FEW attendees to participate in the brewery event. So be sure to sign up when you register.

-Susanne Retka Schill