Anheuser-Busch asks Hay Merchant to stop making fun of them with Bud Light water bottles

Most craft beer-loving Houstonians got a kick out of it when the staff of Hay Merchant — the just-opened passion project of Anvil co-founder Kevin Floyd — poured out cases of 40-ounce Budweiser and Bud Lights to use in their new craft beer bar as water vases. Cute, right?

Well, somewhat less amused was Anheuser-Busch, which seemed to find the comparison drawn between their beer and water to be a touch hurtful.

Two-time visitors at Hay Merchant Thursday noticed, then, that many of the Bud and Bud Light water vases from Wednesday's opening had been replaced with King Cobra bottles, a hideous and hilarious malt liquor. My server that second day, Stewart Martin, told me that AB reps had come in at the beginning of shift to respectfully ask that Hay Merchant not use their empty vessels to serve water.

And as a gesture of good will, the reps offered cases of Cobra as a replacement. Anvil and Hay Merchant partner Bobby Heugel confirmed the story, and said Hay Merchant gladly accepted the replacement bottles (Saint Arnold and AB share a distributor), although this girl is kinda sad to see the joke die.

The staff actually prefers the Cobra bottles, Stewart says, because they're clear and thus easier to keep filled for guests. Hay Merchant, FTW.