In 1844, German immigrant Jacob Best and his sons established the Empire Brewery in Milwaukee, WI and produced 300 barrels of Best Select lager in their first year. The beer’s name was officially changed to Pabst Blue Ribbon in 1898. In 1920, when Prohibition began, Pabst started to produce cheese, then resumed brewing beer once Prohibition ended. As a beer known today for its iconic can, it is fitting that PBR was first to introduce canned beer in 1935. Even without traditional advertising, Pabst Blue Ribbon continues to be one of the fastest-growing consumer brands in the country, embraced by a wide cross-section of the population.