Pabst Brewing Company

Pabst Brewing Company
	File:Pabstlogoforinfobox.jpg
Industry	Alcoholic beverage
Founded	1844 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Founder	Jacob Best
Headquarters	San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Key people	Frederick Pabst
Products	Beer
Owner	Blue Ribbon Partners
Parent	Blue Ribbon Partners
Website	pabst.com

The Pabst Brewing Company () is a U.S.-based brewery with its headquarters located in San Antonio, Texas. Originally established in 1844 in Milwaukee by Jacob Best, the company was later renamed to honor Frederick Pabst, who played a pivotal role in expanding the business during the late 1800s. By the early 20th century, it ranked among the top American brewers, overseeing a collection of historic brands such as its flagship Pabst Blue Ribbon, along with Schlitz, Old Milwaukee, and Lone Star.

Following the closure of its Milwaukee brewery in 1996, Pabst transitioned to contract brewing arrangements, most recently partnering with City Brewing Company. The company has undergone several ownership transitions and, as of 2021, is fully controlled by Blue Ribbon Partners, an enterprise led by beer industry figure Eugene Kashper.

Founding

The origins of the company date back to 1844 when brewer Jacob Best and his sons founded The Empire Brewery in Milwaukee with an initial brewing capacity of 18 US barrels. Ownership passed to Phillip Best in 1860. In 1863, Frederick Pabst, a steamship captain and Phillip’s son-in-law, purchased a half interest and took on the role of vice president. By 1866, after additional family share transfers, Pabst ascended to president while Emil Schandein served as vice president; Lisette Schandein later held the vice-presidential position until 1894.

Expansion was driven by strategic acquisitions and favorable market conditions: after the death of rival C.T. Melms in 1869, Best acquired Melms’ brewery, increasing production capacity. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 eliminated several competitors in Chicago, allowing further growth opportunities. By 1874, Phillip Best Brewing Co. had become the largest brewing company nationwide. Its leading product, Best Select lager, was introduced to the market in 1875. By 1893, Pabst distinguished itself as the first U.S. brewer to surpass annual sales of one million barrels.

20th century

Throughout much of the twentieth century, Harris Perlstein directed Pabst after assuming the presidency in 1932 following a merger with Premier Malt Products Co., where he had previously been president. Perlstein emphasized innovation and research; under his guidance, Pabst partnered with American Can Company to develop the first beer cans, standardized quality control across its breweries, and made substantial investments in marketing efforts. The company’s sales peaked at in 1978 before experiencing a significant downturn.

During Prohibition, Pabst adapted by shifting production from beer to cheese manufacturing, marketing over of Pabst-ett Cheese. Once Prohibition ended, beer production resumed and the cheese division was sold to Kraft.

Pabst gained recognition for its Milwaukee brewery tours that featured the Sternewirt Pub where guests could enjoy unlimited beer tastings. This attraction included a statue honoring Captain Frederick Pabst and offered popular brews such as Pabst Blue Ribbon and Pabst Bock, drawing both tourists and local university students alike.

Kalmanovitz period

In 1985, Paul Kalmanovitz, a self-made entrepreneur in the beer and real estate sectors, took control of Pabst Brewing through a hostile takeover valued at $63 million, executed via his holding company S&P Co., which had been the owner of Maier Brewing Company since 1958. Following Kalmanovitz’s passing in 1987, S&P legally merged with the Kalmanovitz Charitable Trust.

By 1996, Pabst had outsourced all beer manufacturing to Stroh Brewery Company, utilizing Stroh’s La Crosse plant after its acquisition of G. Heileman Brewing Company. This decision resulted in the closure of Pabst’s historic Milwaukee brewery, ending a 152-year local operation and effectively turning Pabst into a contract brewer. In 1999, Pabst purchased the Stroh brand, while the La Crosse facility was sold to City Brewing Company. By 2001, production responsibilities had shifted to Miller Brewing Company, with corporate headquarters established in San Antonio.

Under pressure from the IRS to divest assets by 2005 to preserve tax-exempt status, S&P argued it could not secure buyers at fair market value and was granted an extension until 2010.

In 2006, CEO Brian Kovalchuk stepped down and was succeeded by Kevin Kotecki, who moved the company’s headquarters—with roughly 100 employees—to Woodridge, Illinois, near Chicago along historic US Route 66.

Between 2005 and 2010, Pabst experienced notable growth: volume of the "PBR" brand rose by 69%, gross margins climbed 48%, operating profits increased by 81%, and net revenue per barrel grew by 28%.

On May 28, 2008, a former Pabst Brewery building in Newark, New Jersey was extensively damaged by fire during demolition activities.

Metropoulos period

Investor C. Dean Metropoulos purchased Pabst on May 26, 2010, for approximately $250 million. Less than a year later, on May 14, 2011, Pabst announced its headquarters would move to Los Angeles, California. The company retained a data center in its previous base of operations in San Antonio, Texas. The closed brewery complex in Milwaukee was planned for a $317 million redevelopment featuring restaurants, entertainment spaces, retail outlets, residential units, and office facilities—an initiative that sparked public discussion within Milwaukee.

Kashper period

On November 13, 2014, Blue Ribbon Intermediate Holdings, LLC—a partnership between beer industry entrepreneur Eugene Kashper and private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners—finalized the acquisition of Pabst Brewing Company. The transaction was reportedly valued near $700 million. The redevelopment of the historic Pabst campus proceeded with plans converting the brewhouse into a hotel and repurposing other buildings into condominiums and office spaces.

In July 2015, Pabst revealed intentions to return to Milwaukee by renovating a former church and training facility located on the original brewery grounds into a microbrewery and taproom. This project was completed in Spring 2017 and showcased both new brews and classic beers from Pabst’s lineup. Nevertheless, the taproom closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was subsequently acquired by Central Waters Brewing Company in 2021.

In November 2018, Pabst initiated legal action against MillerCoors, accusing them of attempting to terminate their longstanding brewing contract that produces an estimated 4 to 4.5 million barrels annually—Pabst’s exclusive contract brewing arrangement since Anheuser-Busch does not provide such services. The dispute was resolved out of court with renewal of the contract. In 2019, Pabst entered into a new 20-year production agreement with City Brewing Company. In 2020, Pabst exercised an option to acquire Molson Coors’s Irwindale brewery but sold it to City Brewing in 2021. As of 2022, production is transitioning from Molson Coors to City Brewing and is projected to conclude by the end of 2024.

International Operations

Pabst Blue Ribbon America extends its reach globally through a licensing arrangement and joint venture with China Pabst Blue Ribbon. The brand is produced, promoted, and distributed by CBR Brewing Company, a China-based firm owned in the British Virgin Islands. CBR partners with Guangdong Blue Ribbon Group in this enterprise, operating under a sub-license granted by Pabst Brewing Company. Recently, China Pabst introduced a high-end beer called Pabst Blue Ribbon 1844, retailing domestically at US$44 per bottle.

In 1999, Sleeman Breweries, located in Guelph, Ontario and a subsidiary of Sapporo Breweries, acquired Stroh Canada. This acquisition included Canadian rights to multiple brands, among them Pabst. Sleeman currently handles the production and distribution of these beers within Canada.

Pabst Blue Ribbon

The flagship label, Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR), was initially launched as Best Select and later renamed Pabst Select. Its name honors the blue ribbons tied around bottle necks from 1882 until 1916, a tradition that resumed after Prohibition and lasted until 1950.

The lineup features the Original lager (4.7% ABV), Pabst Extra (6.5% ABV), Pabst Easy (a 3.8% low-calorie option), and Pabst Non-Alc (containing less than 0.5% ABV).

Since July 2019, Pabst has broadened its offerings on the U.S. East Coast to include Hard Coffee beverages, alongside hard tea, hard seltzers, and whiskey products under the PBR brand.

Offerings

Pabst’s collection encompasses heritage brands such as:

Around fifty percent of Pabst’s total production volume is attributed to the Pabst Blue Ribbon brand itself; the remainder consists of these other owned labels. Additionally, the company brews Ice Man Malt Liquor, St. Ides High Gravity Malt Liquor, as well as private label beers for venues like McSorley's Old Ale House and Southampton Publick House.

Jacob Best

Named after Pabst’s founder, Jacob Best Pilsner is a pale lager bearing his name.

Ballantine

Through its acquisition of Falstaff Brewing Corporation in 1985, Pabst took ownership of Ballantine Brewery. Ballantine XXX Ale remains its flagship beer and has been continuously produced since Prohibition. The Ballantine IPA was reintroduced in 2014 after being off the market for nearly twenty years.

Schlitz

Once brewed by Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Schlitz stood as one of the world’s best-selling beers during the early 1900s. Presently, Pabst produces several Schlitz malt liquors, including Schlitz Red Bull and Schlitz High Gravity variants.

Blatz

Blatz was formerly a significant competitor in Milwaukee before being acquired by Pabst in 1968 and then sold to G. Heileman Brewing Company in 1969. Although Pabst continued contract brewing Blatz into the 1990s before discontinuing it, the brand was revived in 2007 and is currently brewed under contract by Miller Brewing Company.

Old Milwaukee

Originally created in 1890 by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, Old Milwaukee is a pale lager that was reintroduced in 1955 as an affordable beer option.

Colt 45

The malt liquor known as Colt 45 was first manufactured in 1963 by the National Brewing Company based in Baltimore, Maryland.

St. Ides

St. Ides malt liquor was introduced in 1987 by McKenzie River Corporation and gained significant recognition during the late 1980s and early 1990s through endorsements from well-known rap artists.

Stroh's

Stroh's is an American-style lager that traces its origins back to the Stroh Brewery Company, established in Detroit, Michigan, in 1850.

Old Style

Old Style Lager was launched in 1902 by the G. Heileman Brewing Company located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It maintains a strong regional presence throughout the Midwest and is famously served at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Production resumed in La Crosse under contract with Pabst in 2016 through City Brewing Company, which also introduced Old Style Oktoberfest.

Lone Star

Brewed by the Lone Star Brewing Company in San Antonio, Texas, Lone Star was the company’s primary brand and promoted as "The National Beer of Texas."

Olympia

Olympia, an American-style pale lager, was first brewed in 1896 by the Olympia Brewing Company in Tumwater, Washington. Pabst owned and produced the brand from 2014 until 2021.

In 2018, Pabst became involved in a class-action lawsuit over alleged false advertising related to the use of Tumwater Falls imagery and the slogan "It's the water," despite brewing being conducted with Southern California water. The lawsuit proceeded through 2020 but was dismissed in 2022 after the plaintiff failed to prove potential future harm. Pabst ceased production of Olympia beer in January 2021.

Rainier Beer

Rainier Beer, brewed by the Rainier Brewing Company in Seattle, Washington, continues to enjoy popularity within the Pacific Northwest region.

Schmidt's of Philadelphia

Produced by the Christian Schmidt Brewing Company founded in 1860, Schmidt's of Philadelphia is unrelated to Schmidt Beer from St. Paul.

Schmidt Beer

Schmidt Beer originated with the Jacob Schmidt Brewing Company in St. Paul, Minnesota, established in 1855, and remains favored across the Upper Midwest.

National Bohemian

National Bohemian is a Bohemian-style American pilsener that serves as the flagship product of the National Brewing Company based in Baltimore, Maryland. Approximately 90% of its sales are concentrated within the Baltimore area.

Andeker

Pabst launched Andeker, a premium European-style lager, in 1939. Following its discontinuation during the 1960s and a short revival between 1972 and 1986, Andeker was reintroduced at Pabst’s microbrewery located in Milwaukee. Known for its full-bodied character and balanced taste, it is available on tap as well as in growlers and crowlers.

Red, White and Blue

Red White & Blue was produced by Pabst from before Prohibition until the mid-1980s. The brand experienced growth during the early 1980s through marketing initiatives; however, cost-cutting reformulations led to diminished quality perception and declining sales, ultimately resulting in its discontinuation.

Awards

Great American Beer Festival Honors:

Year	Distinction	Classification	Brew
1990	Silver Medal	American Lager	Pabst Blue Ribbon
1990	Silver Medal	Malt Liquor	Olde English 800
1991	Gold Medal	American Lager	Pearl Lager Beer
1991	Gold Medal	American Malt Liquor	Olde English 800
1992	Gold Medal	American Malt Liquor	Olde English 800
1992	Silver Medal	American Lager	Hamm's
1992	Silver Medal	American Dry Lager	Olympia Dry
1993	Gold Medal	American Dry Lager	Olympia Dry
1993	Bronze Medal	Mixed/Non-Alcoholic Beverages	Pabst NA

At the Great American Beer Festival, Pabst Brewing Company was honored multiple times and was named "Large Brewing Company of the Year" in the years 2011, 2012, and 2016.

World Beer Cup Recognitions:

Year	Distinction	Classification	Brew
1996	Gold Medal	American Style Malt Liquor	Olde English 800

The company’s range of products has regularly been acknowledged within the industry for excellence across diverse categories, bolstering its market position and reputation.

External links

Pabst Brewing Company
History of Pabst Brewery
Paul Bialas Photography & Brewery Books, showcasing contemporary photographs of historic breweries
Olympia Beer: The Death of a Brand
Old Style Beer: History
Illustrated History of the Olympia Brewing Company
Pabst Brewing Company and the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition Urban Myth Debunked