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Budweiser Brewery Experience

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Budweiser Brewery Experience - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

Touring The Anheuser-Busch Brewery

Published June 27, 2011 in Neighborhoods

Anheuser-Busch's Jacksonville brewery produces more than 125 million cases of beer each year, serving Florida, Southern Georgia and Southern Alabama markets. The Jacksonville site was selected in August of 1967. Two Clydesdales pulled a plow to break ground for construction in December of 1967. Construction took almost two years and the first brew was finished and shipped in September of 1969. At that time, the plant brewing capacity was 1.7 million barrels per year. Since Jacksonville's brewery establishment, there have been several expansions and bottling lines installed, increasing brewing capacity to well over 9 million barrels a year. In addition, Busch operates a 400-acre farm just north of the 600-employee brewery. There, brewery wastewater is fed into massive center pivot irrigation systems that water and fertilize the soil during growing season, producing corn, sorghum and rye grasses.

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Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.3 percent share of U.S. beer sales to retailers.  The company brews the world’s largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light, and distributes these and many other popular brands through a strong network of more than 500 independent wholesalers. Anheuser-Busch operates 12 breweries across the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and has been a leading aluminum recycler for more than 30 years. Anheuser‑Busch and its employees build on a legacy of corporate social responsibility by focusing on three keys areas: promoting alcohol responsibility, preserving and protecting the environment and supporting local communities. In the past three decades, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesalers have committed more than $875 million in national advertising campaigns and community-based programs to encourage responsible drinking and prevent underage drinking and drunk driving. Anheuser-Busch reduced total water use at its breweries by 34 percent in the last three years and the company has been a leading aluminum recycler for more than 30 years. Since 1997, Anheuser-Busch and its Foundation have invested in local communities through donations of nearly $475 million to charitable organizations.  The company also has provided more than 70 million cans of drinking water to people impacted by natural and other disasters since 1988. Anheuser-Busch is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo.

Anheuser-Busch operates 12 breweries throughout the United States, which help deliver the freshest beer possible to locations across the country. Brewery First Year of Production Site Size (Acres) 1852 St. Louis, Mo. - 119 1951 Newark, N.J.- 88 1954 Los Angeles, Calif. - 95 1966 Houston, Texas - 136 1968 Columbus, Ohio - 258 1969 Jacksonville, Fla. - 205 1970 Merrimack, N.H. - 294 1972 Williamsburg, Va. - 144 1976 Fairfield, Calif. - 170 1983 Baldwinsville, N.Y. - 370 1988 Fort Collins, Colo. - 250 1993 Cartersville, Ga. - 250 We invite you to visit one of our tour centers for a behind-the-scenes look at the brewing and packaging processes.  Free guided tours are available in St. Louis, Mo., Fairfield, Calif., Fort Collins, Colo., Jacksonville, Fla. and Merrimack, N.H.  More information, directions and hours of operation are available at www.budweisertours.com

BeastieGirl's Full Review: Anheuser-Busch Budweiser Tour- Jacksonville In Jacksonville, Florida, there is a rather larger brewery in town. It’s the home of one of many Budweiser Breweries and they invite you to take a free tour with them and share a free beer or two. Who am I to turn down a free drink (even though I would not consider myself a Budweiser fan, not by a long shot)? I thought it would be interested to at least check it out and see what it was all about. The entrance to the tour and brewery gift shop is clearly marked, with separate parking and a separate entrance from the main brewery. I entered into a small room with a brochure rack and a small desk with a greeter. They told me that a tour had just started and that I was welcome to join in. Up an elevator and down a long hallway overlooking large vats of beer, there is the beginning of the tour. A video on how beer, and Budweiser specifically, is made starts the tour off. There were several rows of seats, holding the tour group of about 12 people. After the video, our tour guide, John, walked us down what looked to be a long hallway with lots of historic pictures along the way. He began telling us the interesting history of Anheuser-Busch, which began with a wealthy soap maker, Anheuser and a poor immigrant from Germany, Adolphus Busch, the 21st of 22 children and their common interest in the beer industry way back in the 19th century. Moving along in the tour, John explained the many different people in the Anheuser-Busch family (Busch married Anheuser's daughter to make it a true family owned business) to where they are today, with the company still being run by the descendants of Busch. As well as Budweiser history, more detail on the brewing process was explained. We were shown the vats where the fermentation process begins, using Beachwood chips (which are eventually turned into mulch, used throughout the brewery property and other local areas). I couldn't help but think as we looked onto the rows of vats of the movie, Strangebrew, with Rick Moranis- but I digress. They explained about all the quality control that goes on with their beers, but most of that was behind the scenes, and the majority of the brewing process was not actually shown. Continuing down the long hallway, John talked about the many years of advertising and how the Anheuser-Busch company grew to have a hand in many different businesses, including a railroad company that they still own and operate today. I had to laugh when looking back at some of the old advertising from the 70's and 80's that I still remember- yikes, I felt a little dated! Nonetheless, we learned about the history of the now famous Clydesdale horses. Apparently, on the day of the repeal of prohibition, the son of Augustus Busch, who was the head of the company at the time, gave him an imported Clydesdale horse. On his death bed, Augustus said that the horse was the best gift he ever received (or was it just that it reminded him of the repeal of Prohibition??). He set aside funds that are still used to this day to care for the Budweiser Clydesdale horses. Apparently, you will never see a dirty Clydesdale owned by Anheuser-Busch. After the history, marketing, and brew making is discussed on the tour, we moved along to the bottling and packaging area of the brewery. Here, I was quite reminded of the opening sequence of Laverne and Shirley. The bottles are too many to count and it's amazing how much actually goes into making the beer that is sent out to be consumed by Joe, Dick, Harry and my dad. I could have stayed and watched the packaging process all day, but we were moved on to the hospitality room, which wasn't bad as well. The hospitality room is full of tables, even couches and a fireplace and oh, yeah, you get free beer here too! John left us at this point and we were able to order anything off of the displayed beers. They had your typical selection of Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Busch, Natural Light (for those college boys, I guess) in bottles, as well as beer on tap and some pretty good pale ales and other organic beers. They had some of the Peels wine coolers available for those who want a drink, but don't want beer and Coke products were available for those on the tour under 21. Pretzels were offered as a munchy. Two free drinks are available, but not at once and they will ID you if you even remotely look under 30 (weee, I got carded!), so be prepared to have your ID ready if you are going to partake. While enjoying your drink, you can play a game of foosball or just relax and watch the plasma screen TVs showing all the new Budweiser commercials (in case you missed the Superbowl). I don't believe they will serve you more than two drinks (even if you want to pay for it) and other tour groups will eventually come in as well. I stayed for a bit, and then left to check out the bottling and packaging area again. Ok fine, I'm a freak, but it really was cool! The gift shop was so-so. If you like NASCAR, there were some interesting items, and if you want a Budweiser label for a bathing suit, you can get it here! If you have no interested in the gift shop, that's pretty much the end of the line for the tour. A ramp leads you back to the main entrance of the tour. There is a large replica of a Budweiser Clydesdale horse that you can take pictures with (but don't sit on him, it's against the rules!). Everyone was super friendly on the Budweiser Brewery tour and although it seemed like there wasn't a whole lot of opportunity to ask questions, our guide, John really covered everything well, so I didn't have any questions, which was nice. The entire facility was wheelchair accessible and restrooms were available near the Hospitality Room. In all, the tour lasted about 30 minutes (not including the drinking time) and was 100% free- hard to believe, I know. Tours are available every half hour. If you are in Jacksonville and have the time, this is a fun and educational (about beer) tour.

Budweiser might be the one of the best-selling beers in the world, but Bud Light is king in the United States. Both are produced at the Jacksonville plant. No matter the label, brewing beer requires large amounts of grain - mainly barley - which is mixed with water. A by-product is spent grain, which Steve Foppe, general manager of the Jacksonville facility, equates to grounds left in the filter of a coffee maker. Unlike coffee grounds that are thrown away, Anheuser - Busch has a decades-old practice of selling its waste. The collection area behind the brewery smells like fresh, moist bread as spent grains are dumped into waiting trucks. Last year, 166,000 tons of grain were shipped from the plant. On the bottling side of the plant, the recycling efforts are automatic and varied. Robotic arms remove plastic ties from pallets and feed them into shredders. All around the plant are containers full of materials - plastic, paper, metals - that are sold or given away to after-market companies. Cardboard boxes used to transport empty bottles into the plant are the same ones used to package filled bottles for shipping to stores. Damaged boxes are automatically crushed and baled. Bottles and cans that are rejected from the assembly line are crushed and vacuumed into waiting trailers and will be shipped away for reuse. Daniels said Anheuser - Busch 's most impressive conservation efforts involve water. He said the company's ability to reduce water use and recycle what it does use provides lessons everyone can embrace. "They've done what I need to do at home," he said. "I need to take shorter showers and use less soap."

Anheuser-Busch is pleased to announce the Jacksonville Beermaster Tour. In addition to our complimentary tours, the Beermaster Tour is a unique opportunity to experience a behind-the-scenes look at the brewing of Budweiser. The Beermaster Tour includes a visit to the Brew Hall, Primary Fermentation Cellar, Lager Cellar, Packaging Facility, Quality Assurance, and Finishing Cellar, including sampling directly from a Finishing Tank. To commemorate your experience, a variety of gifts are provided for each guest. For additional questions or information, please call Jacksonville: (904) 751-8117

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Budweiser Brewery Experience

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Budweiser Brewery Experience - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Jax’s Anheuser-Busch Plant Getting Upgrades As Part of Brewer’s $1B Modernization Plan

Anheuser-Busch has announced plans to invest more than $1 billion in its U.S. breweries over the next two years to “strengthen operations and deepen connections with communities,” according to the brewer.

Close to $400 million will be spent in 2021 at 12 U.S. breweries – including the one in Jacksonville at 111 Busch Drive on the city’s Northside.

New can lines, sustainability projects like solar panel installments and water treatment, along with new seltzer capability upgrades will be done at the Jacksonville location over the next two years, according to Anheuser-Busch. A breakdown of the cost for the Jacksonville-specific upgrades wasn't available.

Nearly 600 employees work at the Jacksonville brewery, which has an annual economic impact of  nearly $450 million, Anheuser-Busch estimates.

“Right now, our big dream is the recovery of our country. It’s the reopening of our neighborhood restaurants and bars, it’s cheering on our favorite teams and gathering together in person. We are here to find a better way to lead a safe and strong recovery, and we’re starting by investing across our U.S. supply chain to protect the industry and the millions of people who rely on it for their livelihoods, ” said Michel Doukeris, CEO of Anheuser-Busch in an email to WJCT News.

The pandemic has hit bars and restaurants that serve beer particularly hard.

“We are committed to protecting peoples’ livelihoods across our entire supply chain – from farmers and bartenders to truck drivers and team members in our own facilities,” said Dave Taylor, U.S. Chief Supply Officer at Anheuser-Busch in the same email.

To help bars and restaurants impacted by COVID-19, Anheuser-Busch said it has donated more than $2 million in partnership with the U.S. Bartenders Guild, the James Beard Foundation and others to support the industry 

The $1 billion capital expenditure program will span across 26 states with nearly $100 million of the  investment going toward sustainability projects.

In a major change resulting from the pandemic, Anheuser-Busch's Budweiser brand isn’t advertising in this year’s Super Bowl. Instead, the brewer decided to reallocate its advertising dollars to help support vaccine awareness and education in partnership with the Ad Council through various marketing efforts throughout the year.

Anheuser-Busch owns and operates more than 120 facilities across 27 states and employs more than 19,000 people.

The beer industry in the U.S. creates more than 2.1 million jobs and generates more than $328 billion in economic activity each year, according to Anheuser-Busch.

Bill Bortzfield can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @BortzInJax .

Clydesdales

Stay up-to-date with the World-Renowned Budweiser Clydesdales and learn more about Warm Springs Ranch: the official breeding facility for the Budweiser Clydesdales.

St. louis stables

The official home of the World-Renowned Budweiser Clydesdales is an ornate brick and stained-glass stable built in 1885 on our historic 100-acre brewery complex. At Anheuser-Busch, we value our storied history. And with a legacy that transcends beer, we especially take pride in our Budweiser Clydesdales. Now, you can get up-close and person with one of our Gentle Giants when you join us for a Clydesdale VIP Experience.

Warm Springs Ranch

Warm Springs Ranch is the official breeding facility of the Budweiser Clydesdales. Resting on 300-plus acres of rolling hills in the heart of Missouri, our state-of-the-art establishment will take your breath away.

Built in 2008, the property features a mare/stallion and foaling barn, veterinary lab, and 10 pastures: each with a customized walk-in shelter. Warm Springs Ranch is home to more than 70 Clydesdales ranging from foals to stallions.

Book a tour to see the Budweiser Clydesdales up close and personal!

From the Prohibition era to Super Bowl commercials, there is perhaps nothing more iconic in Budweiser’s storied history than its team of Clydesdale horses. More than just a mascot, the Clydesdales have been an integral part of Anheuser-Busch for more than 80 years.

A Black Sheep, Anheuser-Busch & Jacksonville

Aug 7, 2016 • Ennis Davis

A look inside Anheuser-Busch's economic, environmental and cultural impact involved in operating a Jacksonville-based brewery where 99.6 percent of everything utilized in the manufacturing process is recycled.

Although Philadelphia was the first place in this country where lager beer was made, it wasn’t long before the brewing industry had discovered Jacksonville. As early as the 1870s, Philadelphia-based brewer Bergner & Engel was regularly sending refrigerated railcars, loaded with barrels of beer, to its West Bay Street depot in LaVilla’s Railroad Row. Bergner & Engel would cease operations during prohibition but by that time brewers in St. Louis had taken note of Florida’s gateway city. With assistance from his inlaws, the Schorr family of St. Louis-based Schorr-Kolkscheider Brewing Company, German immigrant William Ostner established the Jacksonville Brewing Company in 1913. Later called Jax Brewing Company, Ostner’s flaghship project, Jax Beer, a German-style pilsner, became one of the most popular drinks in the southeast. During Jax Brewing’s early 20th century heyday, the Durkeeville brewer was one of the city’s largest employers, churning out 200,000 barrels of beer annually.

60 years later, beer still means big business in Jacksonville and the rest of the country. According to the Beer Institute’s 2015 Beer Serves America Economic Contribution Study , an estimated 196 million barrels of beer are produced by more than 5,150 brewers in the United States annually. The same report states that in Florida there were 222 breweries with a combined direct workforce of 1,384.

https://www.beerinstitute.org/assets/map-pdfs/Beer_Economic_Impact_FL.pdf

The lion’s share of those jobs are located in Jacksonville and a direct impact of another brewer with historical ties to St. Louis. A fixture in Jacksonville’s manufacturing scene since 1969, Anheuser-Busch’s third largest U.S. brewery produces 9 million barrels of beer annually. Anheuser-Busch’s roots date back to 1852 with German American brewer George Schneider establishing the Bavarian Brewery in St. Louis. In 1960, the operation was purchased by William D’Oench and German-born soap manufacturer Eberhard Anheuser. In 1869, Anheuser’s son-in-law Adolphus Busch purchased D’Oench’s share. In 1957, Anheuser-Busch became the largest brewer in the United States.

Recently, Modern Cities was invited for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Jacksonville brewery with plant general manager Craig Tomeo, brewing business process manager Brittany Bass, and brewmaster Carl Belshause. Also included was a trip to the brewery’s tasting room for a five course meal developed by Riverside favorite Black Sheep, to pair local foods with various brands produced at the brewery and its Home Brew Club.

Covering 1.4 million square feet, the manufacturing operations of the brewery are pretty impressive. Operating 24/7, the 205-acre plant site recieves regular shipments of raw ingredients by rail, accommodates 235 trucks each day and even includes its own natural gas power plant. Brands produced include Budweiser, Bud Light, Busch, Busch Light, Michelob Light, Michelob, AmberBock, Michelob ULTRA, Natural Light, Natural Ice, Shocktop and Landshark.

To ensure consistency, every product produced in the brewery is sampled every day at 3:00pm by staff. When asked how he found his way into the brewing business, Belshause, a millennial and Riverside resident of six months, responded “I’ve always been in manufacturing and always liked beer. So I found a way to put them togetherâ€.

<h1>Economic Impact</h1>

Anheuser-Busch’s economic and cultural impact on Jacksonville far exceeds the property lines of the facility that attracts 50,000 visitors a year with its offerings of free tours. Once beer has been brewed it’s sent to three bottle lines, three can lines and one draft line for packaging. As many as 125 million cases of beer are produced annually and 8.5 million cans of beer are filled daily and producing more than 125 million cases of beer annually. Cans are manufactured at the Anheuser-Busch’s Metal Container Corporation’s (MCC) plant in Jacksonville’s Westside. Here, machines and 200 employees turn 25,000-pound rolls of aluminum into cans. for Anheuser-Busch, Pepsi and Monster Energy. To accommodate the growing demand for beer, Anheuser-Busch is currently investing $175 million to expand MCC to produce aluminum bottles locally. 75 jobs will be created as a result. An additional $20 million is being invested in the brewery to package aluminum bottles that will be produced by MCC.

The brewery’s three bottling lines are supplied with bottles made by the Anchor Glass Container Corporation. A Jacksonville manufacturer dating back to 1926, Anchor Glass is Florida’s only glass manufacturing plant and the Anheuser-Busch brewery is its only client. Employing as many as 400 during peak production periods, it makes 2.7 million beer bottles a day. Cardboard trays and cartons are manufactured at WestRock’s massive mill in nearby Fernandina Beach. In operation for over 75 years, the Fernandina Beach plant employees 480 producing 900,000 tons of paper annually.

Then there’s North Florida Sales and its workforce of 250 at its Southside operation near UNF. The company is Anheuser-Busch’s wholesaler customer in town, distributing the brewery’s beer to the local market. St. Augustine’s Burkhardt Sales is another wholesaler that services St John’s county. Also, the brewery is one of the Florida East Coast Railway’s major intermodal customers. As recent as 2011, the FEC has been recognized as Anheuser-Busch’s intermodal carrier of the year for providing nearly 8,000 shipments of beer to multiple wholesalers in South Florida.

<h1>Sustainability, Conservation & Cultural Impact</h1>

99.6% of everything utilized in the brewery’s manufacturing process is recycled. Materials such as plastic, paper and metals are sold or given away to other companies. Rejected bottles and cans are recycled and its water consumption has been reduced by 50% over the last five years. The brewery’s wastewater is sent via pipeline to two company owned Nutri-Turf Land Application Farms in the northside of town. Established in 1975, the 1,100-acres of farms water and fertilize soil, growing sod, hay and ocassionally corn for local livestock farms.

The company is also known for being involved with community events and hosting special events on its pretty. Past events include Day Fresh with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Brew at the Zoo. At the plant, car shows are hosted around Memorial Day and Veterans Day and Oktoberfest is held the last weekend in September. If you’re ever on the Northside of town, management invites you to drop by for a tour or beer appreciation class to learn more about their Jacksonville operation.

Free guided tours are available at Anheuser-Busch breweries in Jacksonville, St. Louis, Fairfield, CA, Fort Collins, CO. Jacksonville, Fla. and Merrimack, N.H. Visit www.budweisertours.com for more information, directions and hours of operation.

<h1> Photos: A 5 course meal with AB and Black Sheep </h1>

<h1> Photos: A tour inside AB’s Jax brewery </h1>

<h1> Photos: AB’s local economic impact </h1>

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at [email protected]

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Budweiser clydesdales to make 5 stops at winn-dixie stores across northeast florida, guests are allowed to meet, take pictures with celebrated steeds.

Carianne Luter , Digital Media & Engagement Manager

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales are coming to Northeast Florida!

The horses will visit five Jacksonville-area Winn-Dixie stores from Dec. 13 to Dec. 17.

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They will be making stops in Jacksonville, Neptune Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach and the brand-new Grand Cypress Winn-Dixie in St. Johns County.

The celebrated steeds have been the source of awe and fascination since their debut in 1933 and Winn-Dixie is honored to host them during the holiday tour. Customers will have the opportunity to meet and take photos with the Budweiser Clydesdales at each free appearance.

Here is when and where the events will take place:

Tuesday, Dec. 13 from 5–7 p.m. at Winn-Dixie – 703 Chaffee Road, Jacksonville, FL 32221

Wednesday, Dec. 14 from 5–7 p.m. at Winn-Dixie – 8560 Argyle Forest Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32244

Thursday, Dec. 15 from 5–7 p.m. at Winn-Dixie – 1209 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, FL 32266

Friday, Dec. 16 from 5–7 p.m. at Winn-Dixie – 100 Little Cypress Drive, St. Johns, FL 32259 (corner of Race Track Road and Phillips Highway)*

Saturday, Dec. 17 from 2–4 p.m. at Winn-Dixie – 290 Solana Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

These events are free to attend.

Southeastern Grocers (SEG), parent company of Winn-Dixie, will also officially reveal its newest Winn-Dixie location on Wednesday, Dec. 14 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony beginning at 7:30 a.m. in St. Johns County.

The Grand Cypress store is the grocer’s first ground-up store built in more than a decade. During the event they will have music, free giveaways, the Clydesdales and more!

When: Grand Opening Ceremony – Wednesday, Dec. 14, 7:30 a.m. (doors open at 8 a.m.)

Live Entertainment & Giveaways – Thursday, Dec. 15, 2 – 6 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 16, 2 – 7 p.m. World-Famous Budweiser Clydesdales, Friday, Dec. 16, 5 – 7 p.m. Weekend Community Celebration

• Saturday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Winn Win Twinns appearance, noon – 2 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 18, noon – 4 p.m.

Where: Grand Cypress Winn-Dixie (Southwest corner of Race Track Road & Phillips Highway)* 100 Little Cypress Drive St. Johns, FL 32259

Copyright 2022 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.

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Anheuser-Busch to Invest $170 million in Jacksonville Metal Container Corporation Facility

• Press Release
• Posted 2 Hours Ago --> Sep. 2, 2015 at 2:50 PM

Jacksonville, Fla. — Anheuser-Busch today announced a $170 million expansion project at its Metal Container Corporation (MCC) facility in Jacksonville. As part of the company’s plan to increase production of the popular Budweiser and Bud Light aluminum bottles, the project will create approximately 75 new jobs at the facility.

“We are pleased to maintain such strong partnerships with the city of Jacksonville and state of Florida, where we’ve proudly brewed beers, produced packaging and done business for nearly 50 years,” said Pete Kraemer, Vice President of Supply at Anheuser-Busch. “The growing demand for our Budweiser and Bud Light aluminum bottles has helped drive growth and development in Jacksonville. We appreciate the support of our partners in Florida and thank our employees for their dedication.”

Anheuser-Busch first began producing the aluminum bottles in 2013. Jacksonville will be the second MCC facility to produce them. Anheuser-Busch has also operated a brewery in Jacksonville since 1969.

“Our employees, local leaders and the Jacksonville community have helped make this facility successful,” said Bryan Sullivan, Jacksonville plant manager, Metal Container Corporation. “Selecting Jacksonville as the next site for aluminum bottle production is a tremendous opportunity for our employees and local community as we increase production and add sustainable local jobs.”

The facility expansion is made possible through an incentive program in collaboration with the state of Florida and city of Jacksonville.

Metal Container Corporation, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch, operates seven facilities in the U.S. The operation also produces cans and lids for major U.S. soft drink companies, including PepsiCo. and Monster Beverage Corporation.

About Anheuser-Busch

For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch and its world-class brewmasters have carried on a legacy of brewing America’s most-popular beers. Starting with the finest ingredients sourced from Anheuser-Busch’s family of growers, every batch is crafted using the same exacting standards and time-honored traditions passed down through generations of proud Anheuser-Busch brewmasters and employees. Best known for its fine American-style lagers, Budweiser and Bud Light, the company’s beers lead numerous beer segments and combined hold 46.4 percent share of the U.S. beer market. Budweiser and Bud Light Lime Lime-A-Rita were named Brands of the Year for the Beer and the Spirits, Malt Beverages and Wine categories, respectively, by Ace Metrix® in 2014. Anheuser-Busch is the U.S. arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev and operates 16 local breweries, 17 distributorships and 23 agricultural and packaging facilities across the United States, representing a capital investment of more than $15.9 billion. Its flagship brewery remains in St. Louis, Mo., and is among the global company’s largest and most technologically capable breweries. Visitor and special beermaster tours are available at its St. Louis and five other Anheuser-Busch breweries. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.

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• Press Releases

September 1, 2015

Anheuser-Busch to Invest $170 million in Jacksonville Metal Container Corporation Facility

Investment driven by popular aluminum bottle; adds local jobs

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. (September 1, 2015) – Anheuser-Busch today announced a $170 million expansion project at its Metal Container Corporation (MCC) facility in Jacksonville. As part of the company's plan to increase production of the popular Budweiser and Bud Light aluminum bottles, the project will create approximately 75 new jobs at the facility.

“We are pleased to maintain such strong partnerships with the city of Jacksonville and state of Florida, where we've proudly brewed beers, produced packaging and done business for nearly 50 years,” said Pete Kraemer, Vice President of Supply at Anheuser-Busch. “The growing demand for our Budweiser and Bud Light aluminum bottles has helped drive growth and development in Jacksonville. We appreciate the support of our partners in Florida and thank our employees for their dedication.”

Anheuser-Busch first began producing the aluminum bottles in 2013. Jacksonville will be the second MCC facility to produce them. Anheuser-Busch has also operated a brewery in Jacksonville since 1969.

“Our employees, local leaders and the Jacksonville community have helped make this facility successful,” said Bryan Sullivan, Jacksonville plant manager, Metal Container Corporation. “Selecting Jacksonville as the next site for aluminum bottle production is a tremendous opportunity for our employees and local community as we increase production and add sustainable local jobs.”

The facility expansion is made possible through an incentive program in collaboration with the state of Florida and city of Jacksonville.

Metal Container Corporation, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch, operates seven facilities in the U.S. The operation also produces cans and lids for major U.S. soft drink companies, including PepsiCo. and Monster Beverage Corporation.

About Anheuser-Busch

For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch and its world-class brewmasters have carried on a legacy of brewing America's most-popular beers. Starting with the finest ingredients sourced from Anheuser-Busch's family of growers, every batch is crafted using the same exacting standards and time-honored traditions passed down through generations of proud Anheuser-Busch brewmasters and employees. Best known for its fine American-style lagers, Budweiser and Bud Light, the company's beers lead numerous beer segments and combined hold 46.4 percent share of the U.S. beer market. Budweiser and Bud Light Lime Lime-A-Rita were named Brands of the Year for the Beer and the Spirits, Malt Beverages and Wine categories, respectively, by Ace Metrix® in 2014. Anheuser-Busch is the U.S. arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev and operates 16 local breweries, 17 distributorships and 23 agricultural and packaging facilities across the United States, representing a capital investment of more than $15.9 billion. Its flagship brewery remains in St. Louis, Mo., and is among the global company's largest and most technologically capable breweries. Visitor and special beermaster tours are available at its St. Louis and five other Anheuser-Busch breweries. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com .

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George Strait, Chris Stapleton in concert at EverBank Stadium. Here's what you should know

The echoes from two Luke Combs concerts will barely have time to fade before another big country crowd heads to Jacksonville's EverBank Stadium, this time for a triple bill of George Strait , Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town on Saturday, May 11.

Strait is about as big a star as you'll find anywhere in country music, and Stapleton isn't far behind. In fact, all three acts have headlined shows at venues in the Jacksonville area.

Strait is a "neotraditional" country star, sort of a throwback to the days when country music leaned heavily on pedal-steel guitars and fiddles. He's sold something like 120 million albums and has a record-setting 60 number-one hits. He's in the Country Music Hall of Fame, was named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music and has won more Country Music Association awards than anyone. Only Elvis Presley and the Beatles have released more gold or platinum albums.

Here's what you need to know about the show.

Where is George Strait playing in Jacksonville?

The concert is at EverBank Stadium , home of the Jacksonville Jaguars .

Who is opening for George Strait in Jacksonville?

First up is Little Big Town, a quartet that's toured with Strait in the past and has been named Vocal Group of the Year several times each by the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Awards. The band has played Jacksonville shows at Freebird Live , Metropolitan Park, the arena, the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Daily's Place, plus they did a 2012 show at Mayport Naval Station before a Georgetown-Florida basketball game aboard an aircraft carrier and played at Florida Country Superfest in the stadium in 2013.

Chris Stapleton is a Kentucky native who wrote hit songs for Strait, Kenny Chesney and Luke Bryan before busting out on his own with his quadruple-platinum debut album, "Traveler." He's won ten Grammy Awards and is the reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year and Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year. Four of his five studio albums have gone platinum or better and all five topped the country charts. He's played at least three times at Jacksonville's arena and once at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.

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How much are George Strait tickets in Jacksonville? 

Tickets are available through the stadium's website, everbankstadium.com , ranging from $125-$650.

Has George Strait ever played a concert in Jacksonville? 

Strait has been coming to Jacksonville since at least 1988. He played at the old Jacksonville Coliseum in '88, '94 and '95, headlined a huge country show at what was then called Alltel Stadium in 2000 and played the arena in '11 . He was scheduled to play at the arena in 2008 but came down with the flu backstage and had to reschedule for the following year; Little Big Town was the opening act for that show and played anyway.

Didn't George Strait retire from touring years ago?

Strait made quite a big deal about retiring from the road, even going on a Cowboy Rides Away Tour in 2014 and releasing a live album from the final show. He was back on the road a few years later, sort of, playing almost exclusively at the arena in Las Vegas from 2016-21. He now plays "limited engagements" that are a week or two apart.

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What other stadiums is George Strait playing on this tour? 

The tour includes stops at the home stadiums of the Indianapolis Colts, Iowa State Cyclones, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants/Jets, Utah Utes, Texas A&M Aggies, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders.  

Where can I park for the George Strait concerts? 

Parking options range from $49-$107.50. There are thousands of spots in lots and garages in the nearby downtown area.

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 What time do parking lots open for the George Strait concert? 

How many people will be at the george strait concert .

Officials are expecting around 40,000-45,000 fans. 

What time does the stadium open for the George Strait concert? 

Gates open at 4:30 p.m.

Can I jump into the EverBank Stadium swimming pools if I get overheated during the George Strait concert? 

No, the “spas” on the north end of the stadium will not be open during the concerts. The entire north end of the stadium, which is behind the stage, will be closed to the public. The seats in Daily’s Place, the amphitheater attached to the southern end of the stadium, will be used as a cooling-off area for fans.

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Can I leave the stadium and come back in? 

No. There is no re-entry allowed. 

What time does the first act come on stage? 

Little Big Town is scheduled to take the stage at 5:45 p.m., Chris Stapleton is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. Strait starts his show at 9:15 p.m.

Will the George Strait concert be rescheduled if it rains? 

Acts may be postponed due to lightning, but the shows are rain or shine. The stage will be covered, but the fans won’t be. 

What can I bring with me to the George Strait concert? 

Policies will be mostly the same as at a Jaguars game. You can bring in one factory-sealed water bottle that is 16.9 ounces or less. All bags brought into the stadium must be clear and no larger than 12-by-6-by-12 inches. Backpacks of any kind (even clear) are prohibited, and no outside food or beverages are permitted. 

Can I bring a camera to the George Strait concert? 

Not if it has a detachable lens, but you can shoot all the photos you want with your smartphone. Go-Pros, HD video cameras and drones are also prohibited. 

Can I hold up my phone and record the whole George Strait concert? 

There’s no rule against that, but the people sitting behind you will hate you for it.