As an expert sommelier and brewer, I can tell you that Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) is not technically a Coors product. While it is true that PBR is currently brewed by the MillerCoors company, it is important to understand the history and relationship between these two companies.
Pabst Brewing Company was originally founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1844, making it one of the oldest breweries in the United States. PBR gained popularity over the years and became an iconic American beer brand. However, in recent times, the brewing operations of Pabst have been contracted out to other breweries.
In 1996, Pabst Brewing Company closed its last brewery in Milwaukee and began contract brewing with Miller Brewing Company, which later merged with Coors Brewing Company to form MillerCoors. This means that PBR is brewed by MillerCoors under contract, but it is not owned by Coors.
The contract brewing arrangement between Pabst and MillerCoors has been a subject of controversy and legal disputes in recent years. Pabst filed a lawsuit against MillerCoors in 2016, claiming that the latter was attempting to terminate their brewing contract, which would have put Pabst out of business. The dispute centered around the price that MillerCoors was charging Pabst for brewing its beer.
The contract dispute between Pabst and MillerCoors was settled in November 2018, just before it was set to go to trial. The details of the settlement were not publicly disclosed, but it ensured that Pabst would continue to have its beer brewed by MillerCoors for the foreseeable future.
It is worth noting that contract brewing is a common practice in the beer industry. Many smaller breweries do not have the capacity or resources to brew their own beer, so they enter into contracts with larger breweries to produce their beer according to their recipes and specifications. This allows smaller breweries to focus on marketing and distribution while still being able to offer their beer to consumers.
While PBR is currently brewed by MillerCoors, it is not a Coors product in the sense of being owned by Coors. Pabst Brewing Company has a long history and iconic status in American brewing, and despite the contract brewing arrangement, PBR retains its distinct identity and brand.