• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
RetailBeer

Drink Beck’s? You can expect some checks

By
Laura Lorenzetti
Laura Lorenzetti
By
Laura Lorenzetti
Laura Lorenzetti
October 21, 2015, 4:31 PM ET
AB InBev And SABMiller Beers On Display Following $106 Billion Deal
Bottles of Beck's beer, produced by Anheuser-Busch InBev NV, sit on display in a store in Paris, France, on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015. AB Inbev is planning to sell bonds worth as much as $55 billion to finance its $106 billion takeover of SABMiller Plc, setting a record for debt issuance to fund a corporate acquisition, according to people familiar with the matter. Photographer: Christophe Morin/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhotograph by Bloomberg/Getty Images

Were you happily gulping down Beck’s thinking it was an authentic German pilsner? Well, you may be owed your money back.

A U.S. magistrate judge in Miami has ruled that Anheuser-Busch InBev falsely led American beer drinkers to believe that Beck’s was authentically German and approved an estimated $20 million settlement, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Beck’s signature green bottle is emblazoned with a label that says it “Originated in Bremen, Germany” and is “German Quality” beer, duping customers as to its true production location. Beck’s is currently made in St. Louis after the company moved production there from Germany in 2012.

The settlement covers consumers who purchased Beck’s Light and Beck’s Dark beers since May 2011. To get your money, you’ll have until next month to fill out an online form to claim your refund. With all your receipts, you can claim as much as $50. No such luck? You can still get as much as $12 back. Each bottle purchased garners 10 cents back, each six-pack gets 50 cents, and a 20-pack is worth $1.75.

AB InBev (BUD), which just spent $104 billion to buy rival SABMiller (SBMRY), will adjust the Beck’s label to ensure beer drinkers know they’re getting a U.S.-made brew.

About the Author
By Laura Lorenzetti
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.