With the Suntory-Beam saga fading out of the spotlight (for now), the buzz is leaning towards another potential acquisition. The rumor mill is once again abuzz with Diageo setting its sights on acquiring Brown Forman, owner of such beloved brands as Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve. The Guardian interviewed a researcher of equity wealth who speculated the merger would be simply swell for all involved. Meanwhile, the blogging bard of Bourbon Truth dipped deep into the documents from a recent Diageo investors meeting to unearth some potentially profound predictions regarding Diageo’s future. This could get interesting. [Bourbon Truth]

Data company Survey Analytics recently polled hundreds of people in 42 states to investigate recent beer trends. The results?

Average consumer spends more than $1,200 a year on beer – The highest reported amount was $10,000 while the lowest was just $100. Twenty-two percent of consumers buy and drink beer two to three times a week while 20 percent imbibe just once a week and 9 percent pop open a bottle more than five times per week.

Budweiser is a polarizing brand – The King of Beers managed to top the charts in both the best and worst brands of beer. Fifty-one percent of people rated it as their favorite while 46 percent named it their least favorite. Other brands that rounded out the best list: Coors (13 percent), Corona (12 percent) and Stella (10 percent).

Only 5 percent of consumers use price to determine favorite breweries – What did they base their favorite brand on? Who has the best ads (32 percent), where the beer is brewed (29 percent) and what style of beer the brand makes (22 percent).

Craft beer and home-brewing trends continue to grow – Fourteen percent of people surveyed had brewed their own beer at home and enjoyed it while 68 percent are interested in taking craft brewing lessons from their favorite craft brands such as Dogfish Head and Breckenridge Brewery.

Most of these conclusions could be read and considered with a resounding “duh” by beer snobs, but if there’s one thing Survey Analytics accomplished, it shows we’re still divided as a nation between our megabrands and our microbrews. [Survey Analytics]

In other analysis news, The Drinks Business profiles what it believes to be the big emerging trends in wine drinking in 2014. Amongst the topics covered: supply and demand, discovery, communication and big data, and Millennials (aka the people who like Macklemore). [The Drinks Business]

Over in the science world: Gizmodo hosts a video teaching how to perfect your beer pour in 5 steps, the Daily Camera shows how Avery Brewing is working with Colorado University’s biotech lab to improve quality control, and a university professor at Oregon State explains why some beer drinkers like hops so much.

Finally today, a crossover post from our sister site Film Racket, here’s a listicle of the Top Ten Films About Drinking, courtesy of Bill Gilbron. Did he miss any? Drop us a line in the comments! [Film Racket]