Texas Breweries History: Pabst Brewing Company
Pabst Brewing Company, one of the oldest of the great brewing
companies in America, celebrated its 150th Anniversary in 1994 . Since
its humble beginning in 1844 in Milwaukee Wisconsin, the Pabst Brewing
Company has maintained
a leading position in the brewing industry as a survivor. Jacob Best and
his four sons would be amazed if they could see the progress of their
brewery today.
The famous "Blue Ribbon" label did not get started until 1882. Prior to 1882,
Phillip Best Brewing Company had received awards for their beer. In 1876,
Pabst won both the highest awards for bottled beer and a gold medal. In 1878
at a Paris World’s Fair, Pabst again won more medals.
In 1882, bottling became significantly important to the brewing business.
When bottles were first used, these were generally plain and were not appealing
to the public. Pabst decided to add pieces of blue ribbons tied around the necks
of Best "Select" beer bottles. It didn’t take long before the public continued to
ask for "The beer with the blue ribbon." By 1892, this special packaging idea
became so popular that the company was purchasing 300,000 yards of silk ribbons,
which workers tied by hand around each bottle. In 1895, words "Blue Ribbon" were
eventually added to the label of Select Beer, and in January 1898, the Blue Ribbon
label was first used.
In December of 1904, Pabst Brewing Company filed suit against the Storz
Brewing Company in Omaha, Nebraska for an alleged infringement of Pabst’s
copyright trademark and device, the Blue Ribbon. Storz Brewing Company had
been using the "Blue-Ribbon" brand name on its bottled beer for about a year.
After a year of court battles, Storz discontinued the "Blue Ribbon" name from
its brand.
In 2000 the Pabst Brewing Company acquired most of the Stroh/Heilman brands.
They currently produce Colt 45 malt liquor, Lone Star, Schaefer, Schlitz,
Schmidt's, Old Milwaukee, Old Style, Stroh's, and St. Ides malt liquor.
|
