Rumors are flying again that Anheuser-Busch is courting a buyout from Inbev, a rival brewery based in Belgium. Needless to say, such a buyout would not only be a devasting blow to St. Louis, but also to a beer brand that has stood strong, proud and independent for nearly 150 years. Is the current leadership really willing to sellout, just to boost international sales? Is Busch IV really willing to be the Busch that handed over his family's legacy?

Sure, AB will claim a merger or acquisition won't mean the end of AB as an independent company. But we've all seen what happens to our Fortune 500 companies that get gobbled up by bigger firms. Ralston Purina and May Co. come quickly to mind. Let's hope it's only rumors this time.

What do you think? Are the rumors true?

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(Photo by Mark Renders, Getty Images)