Is Beck’s your German pilsner of choice? Then you very well may be due a refund.
That’s because Beck’s, which bills itself as a German brew, is actually produced in St. Louis, far from the land of schnitzel and brats.
A class action suit was brought against Beck’s, saying that Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) fooled customers into thinking Beck’s was an authentic German beer, the Wall Street Journal reports. The court sided with the plaintiffs and preliminarily approved a settlement that would allow Beck’s drinkers to claim a refund of up to $50 for beers purchased since 2011.
A final approval hearing will take place in the fall. Even so, there’s catch to cashing in on that refund — you’ll have need to have your receipts for those past beers.
Beck’s, originally developed in Germany, was brewed by local German families until 2002. That’s when the brewery was sold to Belgium’s Interbrew, which was eventually swallowed into the behemoth Anheuser-Busch InBev. Beck’s production was moved to Missouri in 2012.
However, Beck’s cans still announce its provenance with slogans such as “German Quality” and “Originated in Bremen, Germany,” which the lawsuit claimed were misleading. Anheuser-Busch agreed to adjust that labeling to ensure it’s clear the beer is produced in the U.S.