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In 1844, German immigrant Jacob Best and his four sons decided to ply their homeland's renown for brewcraft by setting up shop on Chestnut Hill in Milwaukee. Quality beer was made, the locals were impressed, word spread and by the mid-1850s, Best decided to open a branch sales office and warehouse in Chicago. Jacob's son Philip set up the Chicago location, and was often accompanied on his many Lake Michigan boat trips by his lovely daughter, Maria.
Enter Captain Frederick Pabst, Great Lakes steamship captain and firm believer in the future of American brewing. Call it fate or blind luck, but Frederick and Maria's paths crossed, and he quickly saw much more in her than her brewery-owning father. He saw his future wife. They married in 1862 - and Frederick wasted no time plunging into the family business.
Captain Pabst bought half-interest of the brewing company in 1864, when the entire operation was turning out just 5,000 barrels a year. But his plans were far bigger. A traditionalist with a firm grasp on free-market capitalism, Pabst sought out the best brewmasters of his day, even traveling abroad to pitch his idea of beer-making nirvana to those who would listen. He increased the brewery's capacity by convincing stockholders to sink profits into bigger, better equipment. And soon it all came together: By 1873, the company was producing 100,000 barrels annually. Captain Pabst was its president.
Under the Captain's guidance, Pabst Brewing Company became known far and wide for good, honest beer, brewed for those who appreciate classic taste and value. And as the years rolled on, a whole slew of classic regional brands joined the Pabst family. Though each has its own distinct flavor and character, every one is still brewed to the Captain's exceptionally high standards.
So when you hoist your favorite Pabst brand, remember Jacob Best, thank his granddaughter Maria for taking business trips with dad, and always take a moment to salute the Captain.
