Pabst Brewing: The New American Icon?

We've recently been bombarded with emails asking about replacements for Budweiser/Bud Light.  We've been doing a lot of talking about craft beers and brewers, but we do see the need for a cheap, somewhat mass-produced, easy drinking beer for those long hot days or those cool late-night drinking binges.  It's tough to drink a lot of Sammy A.  I know, I've been trying.

Since the July 14th announcement that Anheuser-Busch agreed to sell their American company to the Belgian giant, Pabst Brewing Company has gone to some lengths to make sure people know that they “will be the last of the famous iconic U.S. brewers to be fully independent and American-owned.”

Pabst Blue Ribbon–which is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity–along with Schlitz, Stroh, Schaefer, Rainier, Olympia and quite a few others are brewed by the Pabst Brewing Company… which has NO BREWERIES.

Schaefer–which is currently enjoying a resurgence in my own personal drinking–and Schlitz–if you, or Officer Farva can even find it–fall into a category known as “virtual brewing.” These beers are owned by F&M Schaefer Brewing Co., and Stroh Brewery Co., respectively. Both labels are owned by Pabst Brewing Co., which contracts the brewing out to Miller Brewing.

Is this complicated yet?

The beers of Pabst Brewing are indeed American owned, but they are brewed by a company that is owned by South African Breweries. While I do not agree with their statement that they are “fully independent,” it is seemingly a better choice, especially during a time when we are trying to discover what is American and what is not.