Another independent brewer gobbled up

News today that SAB MIller of South Africa has bought, or at least will buy, the Dutch brewer Grolsch. This is another step in the global consolidation in brewing. SAB Miller are also rumoured to be interested in Scottish & Newcastle, although the Grolsch buy may quieten those rumours. And anyway, surely Carlsberg will do anything to get a hold of S&N's Russian interests (BBH) because, without that share, Carlsberg's growth options look very limited. S&N still look, therefore, more likely to be broken up than to be bought as a whole lot!