The Pabst Brewing Company: The History of an American Business

In 1948, Thomas Childs Cochran, Professor of History at New York University, completed what is perhaps the most in-depth historical study of an American brewery ever undertaken. The result was The Pabst Brewing Company: The History of an American Business. During the book's preparation, the author was granted full access to the Pabst corporate archives, nearly all of which has since been lost or destroyed. Without Cochran's work, much of the Pabst story might have remained forever untold. The book's incredible depth of research offers unmatched insight into the ups and downs of a major American brewer, with a particularly strong focus on the period between 1873 when the brewery was first incorporated and 1919 when National Prohibition loomed. However, in chronicling the company's history, Cochran paints a picture that goes well beyond the Pabst saga, and provides a detailed glimpse into both the development and decline of America's "golden age" of brewing. Added to this 2006 reprint edition is a multi-page photo section filled with images from the archives of the Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee.