PBR Beer is owned by Blue Ribbon Partners, an investment firm led by American beer entrepreneur Eugene Kashper. The San Antonio-based Pabst Brewing Company recently appointed Greig DeBow as CEO in August 2025 and ended its Brown-Forman flavored malt beverage partnership in early 2026.
Key Statistics
- Pabst Brewing Company was founded in 1844, making it 182 years old.
- Blue Ribbon Partners acquired full 100% ownership of Pabst in March 2021.
- The 2014 acquisition valued Pabst at approximately 700 million dollars.
- The Metropoulos family paid 250 million dollars for Pabst in 2010.
- Pabst manages a portfolio of more than 30 beer brands across the United States.
Who Owns PBR Beer?
PBR beer is owned by Blue Ribbon Partners through subsidiary Blue Ribbon Intermediate Holdings, LLC. Eugene Kashper chairs the board and directs the investment platform that holds Pabst Brewing Company.
Current Ownership Structure
The ownership simplified in March 2021 when TSG Consumer Partners exited its stake. Blue Ribbon Partners gained sole control of the brewery. Kashper directs all strategic decisions for the company today.
Acquisition History
The 2014 deal valued Pabst between 700 and 750 million dollars per PitchBook data. This was a sharp jump from the 250 million the Metropoulos family paid in 2010. Similar private equity moves have reshaped consumer brands across the independent beer market.
How Did PBR Beer Get Its Name?
The Pabst Blue Ribbon name traces to the 1880s when the brewery began tying blue silk ribbons around bottle necks. Customers started asking for the beer with the blue ribbon, and the name stuck.
The brewery officially adopted the Pabst Blue Ribbon name after appearing at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Records about specific awards from the exposition remain unclear, but the recognition cemented the brand identity.
Before that, the company was known as Best and Company. Frederick Pabst pushed for the renaming after taking control alongside his brother-in-law Emil Schandein.
PBR Beer Origin, Founders and Early Years
German immigrant Jacob Best established Best and Company brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1844. Best brought traditional German brewing methods to America during a wave of European immigration to the Midwest.
Jacob Best
Jacob Best founded the original brewery that became Pabst. His sons continued the business, with Philip Best taking over operations and expanding the regional reach.
Frederick Pabst
Frederick Pabst arrived in America in 1848 and worked as a Lake Michigan steamship captain. He married Maria Best in 1862 and joined the brewing business in 1863. When Philip Best retired to Germany in 1867, Pabst and Emil Schandein turned the company into one of America’s largest breweries.
PBR Beer Mission Statement
Pabst Brewing Company builds its mission around selling American beer brands with strong consumer recognition. The company invests in product innovation while keeping the identity of labels acquired across decades of industry consolidation, a brand-within-parent setup that resembles how Vrbo sits inside Expedia Group.
Under CEO Greig DeBow, Pabst pursues growth through new product launches like Pabst Light in April 2025. DeBow has said his focus is consumer connection and brand expansion across the portfolio.
Pabst pledges community involvement in the regions where its beers are sold. The mission reflects ownership priorities Blue Ribbon Partners set after the 2014 acquisition, a pattern visible at Forbes under its current ownership group.
Largest Shareholders of PBR Beer
Eugene Kashper
- Primary stakeholder via Blue Ribbon Partners
- Born in Leningrad in 1969, immigrated as a child
- Columbia University graduate, class of 1992
- Started beer career at Stroh Brewery in 1994
- Co-founded Oasis Beverages in Cyprus
- Has helped build 10 beer and beverage plants
Blue Ribbon Partners
- Investment platform controlling Pabst
- Focused on US beer and beverage opportunities
- Michael Levitt serves as a partner
- Holds 100% of Pabst since March 2021
- Operates the parent entity Blue Ribbon Intermediate Holdings
Previous Stakeholders
- TSG Consumer Partners held a stake from 2014 to 2021
- San Francisco-based private equity firm
- Past investments include vitaminwater and Planet Fitness
- Metropoulos family owned Pabst from 2010 to 2014
- Kalmanovitz Charitable Foundation owned it from 1985 to 2010
Who Is on the Board of Directors for PBR Beer?
The board at Pabst Brewing Company reflects concentrated ownership under Blue Ribbon Partners. Current members combine ownership representation with operational experience, a setup also seen at WWE’s private equity-backed parent.
Eugene Kashper — Chairman of the Board
Kashper guides strategic direction for the brewery. His role connects ownership interests with company performance and long-term planning.
Michael Levitt — Interim CFO and Board Member
Levitt brings over 30 years of corporate finance and asset management experience. His partner role at Blue Ribbon Partners links board governance directly to ownership objectives.
Greig DeBow — CEO
DeBow joined as CEO in August 2025, replacing Paul Chibe. His background includes leadership at 1st Phorm International, Zevia, Jack Link’s, Danone, PepsiCo, and Red Bull North America. He previously served as EVP of National Accounts at Pabst from 2015 to 2019.
Former Board Members
The original 2014 board included Brian Krumrei from TSG Consumer Partners and Eric Ottaway, CEO of Brooklyn Brewery. Composition shifted as ownership consolidated under Blue Ribbon Partners.
PBR Beer Products and Services
Flagship Lager
- Pabst Blue Ribbon original lager
- 4.74% ABV American-style beer
- Sold across all 50 US states
Pabst Light
- Launched in April 2025
- Lower-calorie version of the flagship
- Targets the light beer category
Regional Heritage Brands
- Lone Star (Texas)
- Rainier (Pacific Northwest)
- Old Style (Midwest)
- Stroh’s, Schlitz, Old Milwaukee, Stag
Contract Brewing
- Production through City Brewing Company
- Lone Star brewed at AB InBev’s Houston facility since 2025
- Brown-Forman flavored malt partnership ends July 2026
FAQs
Is PBR Beer still operational?
Yes. Pabst Brewing Company continues operating from San Antonio, Texas. The brewery launched Pabst Light in April 2025 and named Greig DeBow CEO in August 2025. Production runs through contract brewing partners.
Who owns PBR Beer?
Blue Ribbon Partners owns PBR Beer. The investment firm, led by Eugene Kashper, gained 100% control of Pabst Brewing Company in March 2021 after TSG Consumer Partners divested its stake from the 2014 acquisition.
When did PBR Beer come out?
The brewery was founded in 1844 by Jacob Best as Best and Company in Milwaukee. The Pabst Blue Ribbon name was adopted in the 1890s after the brand earned recognition at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
Is PBR Beer an American company?
Yes. PBR Beer is American owned. Blue Ribbon Partners, led by US citizen Eugene Kashper, fully owns Pabst Brewing Company. Headquarters sit in San Antonio, Texas, with American leadership across the executive team.
What is the net worth of PBR Beer?
As a private company, exact net worth is not disclosed. The 2014 acquisition valued Pabst between 700 and 750 million dollars per PitchBook data, up sharply from the 250 million the Metropoulos family paid in 2010.
