Pabst Brewing Company
1734898
226044147
2008-07-16T16:04:24Z
Mkpumphrey
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/* External links */
{{Infobox Brewery
| name = Pabst Brewing Company
| image = [[Image:PabstLogo.JPG]]
| caption =
| location = [[Woodridge, Illinois|Woodridge]], [[Illinois]]
| owner =
| opened = 1844
| production =
| active_beers =
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Ballantine Ale]]|style=[[Blonde Ale]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Black Label]]|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Blatz]]|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Champale]]|style=[[Malt Liquor]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Colt 45 (malt liquor)|Colt 45]]|style=[[Malt Liquor]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=Country Club|style=[[Malt Liquor]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Jacob Best]]|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Lone Star (beer)|Lone Star]]|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Lone Star (beer)|Lone Star Light]]|style=Light [[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=McSorley's Ale|style=[[Blond Ale]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=McSorley's Irish Style Lager|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=McSorley's Black and Tan|style=[[Porter (beer)|Porter]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[National Bohemian]]|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Old Milwaukee]]|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[old style beer|Old Style]]|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Olympia Brewing Company|Olympia]]|style=[[Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=Pabst Blue Ribbon|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Pearl Brewing Company|Pearl]]|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Pearl Brewing Company|Pearl Light]]|style=Light [[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=Piel's|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=Rainier Lager|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Schaefer Beer|Schaefer]]|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Schlitz]]|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=Schmidt's|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Special Export]]|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[St. Ides]]|style=[[Malt Liquor]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=Stag|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Stroh's]]|style=[[Pale Lager]]}}
{{brewbox_beer|name=[[Pabst Ice]]|style=Ice}}
| seasonal_beers =
| other_beers =
}}
{{POV-check|date=March 2008}}
'''Pabst Brewing Company''' is an American company founded in 1844 by Jacob Best. Best known for [[Pabst Blue Ribbon]] beer, it is historically associated with [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin]], where it was founded, although its corporate headquarters are currently in [[Woodridge, Illinois|Woodridge]], [[Illinois]]. Pabst retains a datacenter in [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]], [[Texas]], the previous location of its headquarters. In 1999, the Pabst Brewing Company began transferring its production to [[Miller Brewing Company]] on a contract basis. In 2001, it closed its last brewery in [[Allentown]], [[Pennsylvania]].
==History==
The original brewery was founded as '''The Empire Brewery''', later '''Best and Company''', in 1844 by the immigrant German brewer, [[Jacob Best]]. The brewery was run by Jacob, Sr. and his sons Patrick, Luke, Charles, Jacob, Jr., and Lorenz. He started the brewery on Chestnut Street Hill in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]] with a capacity of {{convert|18|oilbbl|m3}}. Later, in 1863, [[Frederick Pabst]], a steamship captain and son-in-law of Phillip Best, bought a share in Best and Company, by which time the brewery was already selling a [[lager]] which they began bottling in 1875 under the name Best Select.
Best Select became a popular beer, which the by now named [[Phillip Best]] Brewing Company entered in competitions, gaining several awards - sometimes winning against its rival [[Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)|Budweiser]]. So in 1882 the company started selling the beer with a [[blue ribbon]] tied around the neck to signify it was an award winning beer.
In 1889 the name of the brewery was changed to Pabst Brewing Company. And 1895 brought additional honors when Pabst became the first U.S. brewer to hit the million-barrel per year mark. The beer was so successful that Pabst began ordering millions of yards of blue ribbon. One factory in 1902 worked around the clock for nearly a year to complete a contract for 10 million yards of ribbon.
When Fredrick Pabst died on New Year's day of 1904 he left control of the business to his sons Gustav and Fred Jr. In 1906, the Pabst Brewing Company first began to use caps on bottles instead of [[cork (material)|cork]]s. Growth continued up to [[Prohibition]] when alcohol production was made illegal. Fred Jr. and Gustav successfully guided the company through the discouraging years of prohibition by switching to malt syrup, tonic, cheese and [[Low-alcohol beer|near beer]].
When the beer returned in 1933, minus the blue ribbon, it quickly became a national brand brewed in several locations across the country. In 1935, Pabst was the second brewer, following Krueger Beer, to put beer in [[Beverage can|can]]s. Called "Export", the cans came with a picture of a can opener on the side, with opening instructions.
During [[World War II]] all cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon were painted a military green and were exclusively made for the troops because of [[tin]] [[rationing]]. During the 1950’s, Pabst sponsored [[boxing]] on [[CBS]], a detail that can be seen in vintage footage of some of [[Jake LaMotta]]'s fights used by [[Martin Scorsese]] in his classic film ''[[Raging Bull]]''.
In 1958, with an annual production of {{convert|3.9|Moilbbl|m3}}, Pabst Blue Ribbon had now sold a total of {{convert|100|Moilbbl|m3}} since first being brewed, an event commemorated by adding the red stripe to the logo. Annual sales figures climbed each year, helped by Pabst cutting the price of the beer, until it reached a record high of {{convert|18|Moilbbl|m3}} in 1977.
Although impressive, [[Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)|Budweiser]] had achieved the same output nearly ten years earlier, and would never again see Pabst Blue Ribbon as a competitor. Although it had fallen from the number one spot, the brewery continued into the 1960's as one of the country's top producers.
[[Image:PBRtimes3.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Cases of Pabst.]]
Pabst was also renowned in Milwaukee for its brewery tours. A statue of King [[Gambrinus]] welcomed visitors, who gazed upon a vast, beer-filled warehouse as they were informed that another, equally-sized warehouse sat in the basement--for distribution to Wisconsin alone. Visitors to Pabst's tour were rewarded with sometimes bottomless glasses of beer at its end-of-tour Sternewirt Pub. Complete with a statue of Captain Frederick Pabst and waitresses pouring from pitchers of Pabst Blue Ribbon, Pabst Dark, and Andeker, the pub was popular with both tourists and locals, especially students from nearby [[Marquette University]] and the [[University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee]]. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEEDA1E39F937A35755C0A963958260&sec=travel&spon=&pagewanted=all] [http://www.sudswineandspirits.com/milwaukeehistorytour.htm]
In 1983 it purchased another famous name in U.S. brewing, Olympia. Then in 1985 Pabst itself became a takeover target when it was absorbed by General Brewing. By the 1990's Pabst was once again positioning itself to regain former glory as it became one of the first foreign brewers to set up operations on the Chinese mainland.
Pabst then entered a period of poor management and decline. After several messy years spent fighting corporate buyouts, Pabst was sold for $63 million to [[Paul Kalmanovitz]] in 1985. Advertising stopped. Quality dropped. Drinkers turned elsewhere. At the time of Kalmanovitz’ death in 1988 it seemed like the brewery would have to close, but Lutz Issleib took and kept the Pabst brand alive, although production was fairly static.
In 1997 one of the saddest chapters in Pabst's proud history was written. Facing the cold reality of bleak financial performance at its flagship brewery, it closed all Milwaukee facilities—brewery and headquarters. A century-and-a-half after its birth the last barrel rolled out its fabled doors.
Corporate headquarters was moved to [[San Antonio, Texas]].
Economics eventually forced closure of all of Pabst's breweries in 2001, though the transfer of production to the [[Miller Brewing Company]] is a continuation of sorts because Miller was founded in the Plank-Road Brewery which had been established by some members of the Best family, just after the original Best brewery was founded.
In Canada, PBR is brewed and distributed by Sleemans Brewery in [[Guelph, Ontario]]. A large proportion of the brand's success comes from its popularity in the Greater Toronto market. The company recently began selling Pabst Blue Ribbon in 473-mL (16-fl. oz) cans.
In 2004, Students at [[Oregon State University]] approached marketers at Pabst Brewing Company. Pabst agreed to sponsor an unofficial [[Fraternities and sororities|fraternity]] based on Pabst Blue Ribbon's famous letters. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3469/is_49_55/ai_n11852544]
Pabst's long obsolete [[Pabst Brewery Complex]] in Milwaukee has been targeted to be developed into restaurants, entertainment venues, stores, housing and offices. The $317 million project is currently the subject of much debate in Milwaukee. [http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=330664]
[[Image:IMG 2147.JPG|left|thumb|The former Pabst Brewery in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]]]
One of the last of the major Milwaukee brewers, Pabst suffered during the 1980's from an ill-fated dichotomy; the very essecence of its success was bound to sideline the brewer from volume competition with Budweiser and the other major American brewers of the 70's. Pabst's Milwaukee brewing process, with a death-grip on tradition, quality, and the "old ways" which made it famous, was in stark contrast to its major competitor, Budweiser, who chose to mass advertise, diversify, and field several modern breweries nationwide outside St. Louis. This antiquation eventually brought the end to Pabst market share and, eventually in 1997, its Milwaukee operations.
Two major events in the beer market revolutionized the mass beer market from 1970 to 1990, none of which Pabst fully participated in. To understand the context of these changes, it's important to note the top selling beers in 1970 in contrast to twenty years later in 1990. The top beers (sales - U.S.) in 1970 were 1) Budweiser, followed by Pabst Blue Ribbon, Schlitz, and Miller High Life. By the 80's, the market had been totally re-invented due to the advent of "Lite" beer by Miller and subsequent light beer additions by other brewers. Furthermore, a federal judge had ordered Coors Brewing Company to expand its operations outside of the Rocky Mountain area, forcing Coors to ship their product east of the Mississippi for the first time. The resultant reordering of beer sales by 1990 stacked up with Budweiser still on top, followed by Miller Lite, Bud Light, and Coors Light. Only Budweiser had remained from the original hierarchy, and was the only "non-light" beer remaining on the listing. Pabst had not followed the media frenzy of its major competition, and its choice to not advertise coupled with its staunch adherence with tradition (note how many times other beers change their labels, for instance) gave rise to a grass roots revival later in the next millennium; a resurgence in market share of which Pabst is now fully enjoying.
==Pabst Blue Ribbon==
[[Image:PabstBlueRibbonmm.jpg|left|thumb]]
[[Image:Pabst Blue Ribbon Ad 1911.jpg|right|thumb| A 1911 advertisement showing a blue ribbon tied around the bottle.]]
'''Pabst Blue Ribbon''', colloquially known as PBR, is the most famous product of the Pabst Brewing Company.
Originally called '''Best Select''', and then '''Pabst Select''', the current name came from the blue ribbons that used to be tied around the bottle neck, a practice that ran from 1882 until 1916.
The distinguishing quote on the bottom of the can reads as follows: "This is the original Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer. Nature's choicest products provide its prized flavor. Only the finest of hops and grains are used. Selected as America's Best in 1893."
To the contrary, there is evidence to suggest that no such award was given, as contemporaneous accounts indicate that many vendors were frustrated by the fair's refusal to award such prizes. One account says that the only prizes awarded by the executive committee were bronze medals in recognition of "some independent and essential excellence in the article displayed," rather "than merely to indicate the relative merits of competing exhibits."<ref>''The Book of the Fair: an historical and descriptive presentation of the world's science, art, and industry, as viewed through the Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893, designed to set forth the display made bythe Congress of Nations, of human achievement in material form, so as to more effectually to illustrate the profess of mankind in all the departments of civilized life'', by Hubert Howe Bancroft. Chicago, San Francisco : The Bancroft Company, 1893. 10 v. [approx., 1000p.] :illus. (incl. ports.), 41 cm.</ref>
The beer is primarily known today as the choice beverage of the [[counter-culture]]. In 2002, after years of decline, sales of PBR skyrocketed in areas like [[Portland, Oregon]], much to the confusion of company heads. As it turned out, its low price and gritty, urban image appealed to the city's thriving [[Indie (culture)|indie]] and [[hipster (contemporary subculture)|hipster]] scenes, resuscitating the brand and lending it a great deal of trendy cachet. Despite their website featuring art competitions and photos of young people dressed in [[alternative culture|alternative]] fashions, Pabst has chosen not to fully embrace the counter-cultural label or appeal to it arguably because the very same "authenticity" that made it popular would be challenged by over-marketing. Instead, the company has opted for subtlety, finding clever ways to target its growing niche through the surreptitious sponsorship of indie music concerts, local businesses, [[dive bar|dive bars]], and radio programming such as [[NPR]]'s ''[[All Things Considered]]''. These techniques have proven effective and have been rewarded with remarkable growth in sales- the production of PBR has more than doubled since its revival in the early 2000's. Pabst's success is seen by some analysts as a model for advertising to a new generation of media-savvy, [[anti-consumerist]] youth culture.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/11/19/story10.html?jst=s_cn_hl | title='Pabst gives marketing campaign a blue ribbon for effectiveness' | publisher=''Columbus ''Business First'' | date= November 16, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=a6ZkYz6vWDD0&refer=muse | title=`Murketing' to Hipsters Saves Pabst, Boosts Apple: Book Review | publisher=''Bloomberg'' | date=June 27, 2008}}</ref>
Pabst Blue Ribbon is 4.73% alcohol by volume in most markets<ref>Verified by phone call to Pabst Brewing Company on November 13, 2007.</ref>, though a 3.2% alcohol by weight brew is produced for certain markets.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
==Old Style==
'''Old Style''' was first brewed in 1902 by the [[G. Heileman Brewing Company]] in [[La Crosse, Wisconsin|La Crosse]] [[Wisconsin]] under the name Old Style Lager; it has since grown popular in [[Wisconsin]], the [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]] metro area, [[Minnesota]], eastern [[Iowa]], [[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]], and Southwestern [[Michigan]].
Old Style was originally marketed only in [[Wisconsin]] and the [[Minneapolis-Saint Paul|Twin Cities]], under the [[advertising slogan|slogan]] "Pure brewed in God's Country". Eventually, Chicagoans [[vacation]]ing in [[Wisconsin]] developed a taste for the beer, and it began to gain popularity in the [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]] area as well. In 1950, Heileman's and Old Style became [[sponsor]]s of the [[Chicago Cubs]]; the relationship continues to this day, and Old Style is still sold by beer vendors in [[Wrigley Field]].
In 1996, Heileman's was purchased by the [[Stroh Brewing Company]], including the Old Style name. In 1999, Pabst bought out Stroh's and shortly thereafter licensed out all brewing to Miller. When Pabst bought the Old Style name, it did not buy the beer's recipe.
The original Heileman's/Old Style brewery in La Crosse is now owned by the [[City Brewing Company]]. City Brewing Company is now brewing La Crosse Lager, which is the original Old Style recipe and is [[Bottle conditioning#Krausening|krausened]] for thirty days; this beer may also be the basis for the brewery's nationally-distributed DB Hobbs brand.<ref>[http://www.kroger.com/great_meals/wine/Pages/house_wine.aspx Kroger - Great Meals - Wine - House Wines<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Old Style advertising has often emphasized coldness, with images of ice and snow. In one such series of TV ads, the background music was an excerpt from "L'Enfant" by [[Vangelis]].
Old Style has been a sponsor of the Cubs radio broadcasts since 1950, representing the longest lasting corporate sponsorship of any teams in the [[USA]]. Competing St. Louis brand [[Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)|Budweiser]] has also long been a sponsor of the TV broadcasts, and while its presence is prominent at Wrigley Field, Old Style is more specifically associated with the Cubs and Wrigley Field.
==Awards==
''Awards at the [[Great American Beer Festival]]:''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Beer
|-
| [[1990]]
| [[Silver]]
| American Lager
| Pabst Blue Ribbon
|-
| 1990
| Silver
| Malt Liquor
| Olde English 800
|-
| [[1991]]
| Gold
| American Lager
| Pearl Lager Beer
|-
| 1991
| [[Gold]]
| American Malt Liquor
| Olde English 800
|-
| [[1992]]
| Gold
| American Malt Liquor
| Olde English 800
|-
| 1992
| Silver
| American Lager
| Hamm's
|-
| 1992
| Silver
| American Dry Lager
| Olympia Dry
|-
| [[1993]]
| Gold
| American Dry Lager
| Olympia Dry
|-
| 1993
| [[Bronze]]
| Mixed/[[Non-Alcoholic]]
| Pabst NA
|-
| [[1994]]
| Gold
| American Light Lager
| Pabst Genuine Draft Light
|-
| 1994
| Gold
| American Malt Liquor
| Olde English 800
|-
| 1994
| Silver
| American Dry Lager
| Olympia Dry
|-
| [[1995]]
| Gold
| American Light Lager
| Pabst Genuine Draft Light
|-
| 1995
| Gold
| American Malt Liquor
| Olde English 800
|-
| 1995
| Gold
| American Specialty Lager
| Olympia Dry
|-
| [[1996]]
| Gold
| American Light Lager
| Pabst Genuine Draft Light
|-
| 1996
| Silver
| American Lager
| Pabst Blue Ribbon
|-
| [[1997]]
| Gold
| American Style Specialty Lager
| Olde English 800
|-
| 1997
| Gold
| Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverages
| Pabst NA
|-
| [[1998]]
| Gold
| Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverages
| Pabst NA
|-
| 1998
| Silver
| American Style Light Lager
| Pabst Genuine Draft Light
|-
| [[2000]]
| Silver
| Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverages
| Pabst NA
|-
| [[2003]]
| Gold
| American Style Light Lager
| Old Style Light
|-
| 2003
| Gold
| American Style Lager
| Old Milwaukee
|-
| 2003
| Silver
| American Style Lager
| Rainier
|-
| 2003
| Bronze
| American Style Light Lager
| Old Milwaukee Light
|-
| 2003
| Bronze
| American Lager/Ale or Cream Ale
| Old Style
|-
| [[2004]]
| Gold
| Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage
| Old Milwaukee NA
|-
| 2004
| Gold
| American Style Light Lager
| Rainier Light
|-
| 2004
| Gold
| American Style Lager
| Old Milwaukee
|-
| 2004
| Silver
| American Lager/Ale or Cream Ale
| Special Export
|-
| 2004
| Silver
| American Style Light Lager
| Old Milwaukee Light
|-
| 2004
| Silver
| American Style Specialty Lager
| Schlitz Malt Liquor
|-
| 2004
| Bronze
| American Style Lager
| Schlitz
|-
| 2004
| Bronze
| American Style Premium Lager
| Pabst Blue Ribbon
|-
| 2004
| Bronze
| American Style Specialty Lager
| St. Ides Malt Liquor
|-
| [[2005]]
| Gold
| American Style Premium Lager
| Pabst Blue Ribbon
|-
| 2005
| Gold
| American Style Lager
| Stag
|-
| 2005
| Gold
| American Style Light Lager
| Old Milwaukee Light
|-
| 2005
| Silver
| American Style Premium Lager
| Olympia
|-
| 2005
| Silver
| American Style Lager
| Rainier
|-
| 2005
| Bronze
| American Cream Ale or Lager
| Special Export
|-
| [[2006]]
| Gold
| American Style Lager
| Pabst Blue Ribbon
|-
| 2006
| Gold
| American Style Light Lager
| Old Milwaukee Light
|-
| 2006
| Silver
| American Cream Ale or Lager
| Lone Star
|-
| 2006
| Bronze
| American Style Lager
| Blatz
|}
''Awards at the [[World Beer Cup]]:''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Beer
|-
| 1996
| Gold
| American Style Malt Liquor
| Olde English 800
|-
| 1996
| Silver
| American Style Malt Liquor
| Schlitz Malt Liquor
|-
| 1996
| Bronze
| American Style Malt Liquor
| Country Club Malt Liquor
|-
| 1996
| Bronze
| American Style Ice Lager
| Schlitz Ice
|-
| 1998
| Gold
| American Style Malt Liquor
| Schlitz Malt Liquor
|-
| 2006
| Gold
| American Style Premium Lager
| Pabst Blue Ribbon
|-
| 2006
| Gold
| American Cream Ale or Lager
| Old Style
|}
''Golden Icon Awards by Travolta Family Entertainment:''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Beer
|-
| 2006-[[2007]]
| Golden Icon
| Best Domestic Beer
| Old Style Light
|}
== Notes ==
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<div class="references-small"><references/></div>
==External links==
*[http://www.pabst.com Pabst Brewing Company]
*[http://www.kelleyad.com/mktcasehist.htm Olympia Beer: The Death of a Brand]
*[http://www.oldstylebeer.com/history.asp Old Style Beer: History]
*[http://www.brewerygems.com/olympia.htm Illustrated History of the Olympia Brewing Company]
[[Category:American beer brands]]
[[Category:Beer brewing companies based in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Companies based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1844]]
[[Category:History of Olympia, Washington]]
[[Category:Companies based in DuPage County, Illinois]]
[[de:Pabst Blue Ribbon]]