Pabst Blue Ribbon
Explore 175 Years of Brewing History
The original brewery was founded in 1844 as The Empire Brewery, later
Best and Company, by brewer Jacob Best. The brewery was run by Jacob and
his sons. His son Phillip took control of the company in 1860. They
started the brewery on Chestnut Street Hill in Milwaukee with a capacity
of 18 barrels. Later, in 1863, Frederick Pabst, a steamship
captain and son-in-law of Phillip Best, bought 50% of the company, and
assumed the role of vice president. On March 12, 1889 the company’s name
officially changed to the
Pabst Brewing Company.
Learn more about the history of Pabst