Many European beer companies manufacture their US product in the US. Does the quality suffer as a result?!
Answers: Heineken, Guinness, etc brew and bottle it in the states, rather than shipping it.
This is absolutely not true. No European brewing company has a brewery in the US.
Guinness Draught (bottles and cans), Harp bottles, and Smithwicks bottles for the US are brewed in Guelph, Ontario, Canada by Sleeman Brewing Co, who also brews all the Sapporo for North America. All the kegs of these brands, as well as Guinness Extra Stout, come from London, England.
Heineken ( as well as Heineken Light, Amstel Light, and Buckler) for North America comes from Europe. I'm not 100% as to which brewery (as they operate MANY around the globe), but I believe it's one in the company's home country of The Netherlands.
Quality often suffers as a result of shipping overseas, especially in the case of Heineken in the green bottles... skunky beer.
I would not say that the quality suffers - they don't want you to fall ill when drinking their products, but they might adjust the tastes to local preferences. Also, especially in German beers, additives may be in the oversees brew to make it last longer. This obviously has a certain impact on taste, but rest assured, beers are still good quality!
Somokes do the same thing - an American Marlboro tastes definitively different (better) from a, say, Malaysian Marlboro! But the Malaysians don't like the original - they are not used to it... with beers it is a bit the same, if you are used to your US brewed Heineken you will find 'real' Heineken tasting different!
Guinness draught is always brewed and shipped from St. James Gate. Guinness Extra Stout consumed in the US is imported from Canada. Neither have ever been brewed or bottled in the United States.