Bitter Brew: The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America's Kings of Beer

Bitter Brew traces the history of the Busch family of St. Louis, Missouri, founders of Anheuser-Busch, from the Civil War through Prohibition to the present day. William Knoedelseder chronicles how the family transformed a small brewery into a multibillion-dollar international corporation and made Budweiser an iconic brand. The book documents the family's immense wealth and power alongside scandal, heartbreak, tragedy, and unexpected deaths. It presents the story as one of prosperity, hubris, and loss, while also serving as a chronicle of American progress and decline over 150 years. The narrative covers the contentious succession within this American dynasty and explores how a family business managed to dominate an industry while struggling with internal dysfunction.